Yan Xi Tang: Bubble Tea with an Artistic Flair

Trends come and go, but bubble tea is forever.

It’s no secret that Singaporeans love their bubble tea. Unless you’re a young fetus, you probably would’ve lived through the Mesozoic era of standalone, under-the-block bubble tea shops nearby schools with their plastic-heat-cup-seal machines.

Bubble tea has been around for decades. Back then, you couldn’t even choose the level of sugar that you wanted. All you’d get to choose is the condiment. Colourful jelly, grass jelly, tapioca bubbles, coconut shreds…

Level of sugar, we don’t even know her. Diabetes, on the other hand.

Nowadays, there are a few mainstays in the Singaporean bubble tea scene. Most would be familiar with KOI Thé, or maybe even homegrown brand LiHO. One up-and-coming brand that you might’ve seen in the different parts of Singapore is Yan Xi Tang.

Taking Singapore by storm, Yan Xi Tang is the first to deliver premium milk tea incorporated with elements and styles of the Qing Dynasty’s royal court. They recently opened their fourth and newest outlet in White Sands, Pasir Ris, but their outlets can be found scattered around the sunny island of Singapore.

Yan Xi Tang has a huge range of flavours. There are unique ones such as Grape Fresh Milk with Golden Raisins, and Grape Roselle Strawberry Tea with Nata De Coco and Aloe Vera, and then there’s your usual fare, such as Honey Green Tea, or Jasmine Pearl Milk Tea.

The first time I sat down with Clement Tan, the genius mind behind Yan Xi Tang, to chat about his business, the first thing that struck me was how passionate he was about his menu. Non-verbatim – he mentioned that customers of all ages went to Yan Xi Tang for their drinks, even the older population who tend to stray away from overly sweet drinks. Because Yan Xi Tang uses fresh ingredients in their menu, their drinks are not overly or artificially sweet. Because of their huge menu, it’s certain that there’s something for everyone.

The level of care and concern that goes into every one of his drinks is staggering, and the latest addition to his menu proves this. Clement added hot tea that’s good for the ladies when they’re on their periods, underscoring his passion for drinks that care for his customers.

That’s not the only amazing thing about Yan Xi Tang – if you’ve ever passed by their store, you’d be swept away by how different their store looks from other mainstream bubble tea stores. Inspired by the Qing Dynasty’s royal court, their designs are a stark contrast to the minimalistic, simplistic approach that other bubble tea stores have taken with their branding.

I’m a huge fan of both Story of Yan Xi Palace and Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace, and Yan Xi Tang doesn’t disappoint in this aspect, with design styles and elements incorporated from that time.

Also, if you’re not a complete kantang and can read Chinese, you’re in for a proper treat. The names of the drinks are amazingly cute. There’s “皇帝乌龙奶茶”, which directly translates to “The Emperor’s Oolong Milk Tea”. The actual drink is “Golden Oolong Milk Tea”, which makes so much sense when you think about how emperors are traditionally associated with golden robes and finery. Even the title of their menu is adorable – “太后爱品茶” translates to “Empress Dowager Likes to Taste Tea”.

We’re essentially all Empress Dowagers sip-sipping on Yan Xi Tang’s bubble tea, ring and pinky finger sticking out and covered in nail guards.

Singapore National Day Special 2023

In celebration of Singapore’s birthday, Yan Xi Tang has a special offer on Purple Rewards! Purchase the first drink at S$2.50, and the subsequent drinks come at S$2, no matter how many you buy. All drinks must be bought in one transaction, though.