Join the UrbanWire down at Marine Terrace Market as we sip through a wide range of creative drinks from Cornershop to put its whimsiness to the (taste) test.

Front view of Cornershop’s simplistic and welcoming stall. Photo by Chloe Loh.

The Marine Terrace Market might seem like your usual hawker centre-market hybrid, but if you peek around its corners, you’ll find a quaint little drink stall specialising in the most unexpected drink at a hawker centre: Matcha.

Named ‘Cornershop’, accurate to its location, the business describes its purpose as ‘bringing a touch of whimsy to the Marine Terrace Market’. So, we reviewed some of their drinks and ranked them on a ‘Whimsiness Scale’ from 1 to 5 based on how amusing or playful we think they are. 1 being no element of whimsy at all, and 5 being super-mega-silly-never-done-before-amazing-spectacular-whimsy.

We tried a total of 15 drinks, and in this article we’ve shortlisted five of their ‘whimsy-est’ flavours. 

  1. Salted Maple Hojicha Latte

An iced Hojicha latte sitting on thick salted maple syrup. Photo by Hannah Teoh.

Their Salted Maple Hojicha Latte averaged at a level 3/5 on the Whimsiness Scale for us. 

If Singapore had the four seasons, this would definitely be on the autumn menu. The hojicha was rich, nutty, and not too sweet, making it the perfect combination for the salted maple to cut through. While undeniably a tasty concept, the flavours overall were rather subtle and a bit too well-paired, dimming its element of whimsy for us. 

Regardless, its flavour profile is definitely a rare find, and we foresee it being very palatable for anyone who comes across this stall. So, if you’re new here and looking for something refreshing yet unique to try first, check this out!

2. Earl Grey Matcha Latte

A creamy matcha latte with Earl Grey syrup on the bottom. Photo by Kimberly Tan.

The Earl Grey Matcha Latte averaged at a level 4/5 whimsiness level for us.

This drink tasted like the perfect venn diagram of flavours – the distinctive fragrant flavours from the matcha and Earl Grey met in the middle with their subtle sweetness. The flowery sweetness from the Earl Grey complemented the matcha flavour perfectly. We were truly in awe of the stunning execution of this creative drink, from a hawker centre stall of all places! Cornershop prides itself on using high-quality ingredients in its drinks, and this drink is all the evidence we needed. Undoubtedly whimsical and well done.

3. Death by Matcha or Hojicha

Hojicha powder sprinkled atop Hojicha foam on Hojicha latte. Photo by Hannah Teoh.

Their ‘Death by Matcha or Hojicha’, which is essentially a super concentrated Matcha latte or Hojicha latte, averaged at a level 3/5 on our Whimsiness Scale.

Dubbed the Matcha or Hojicha ‘dinosaur’ by us, these drinks were as overwhelming as they sounded – in a good way, of course. We got to try both the Matcha and Hojicha versions separately, and the ‘Death by Matcha’ almost lived up to its name. The Matcha foam made the Matcha latte underneath so thick and filling in our mouths that we were almost gasping for air. For the real Matcha enthusiasts – or anyone looking to get their daily caffeine intake in one gulp – this drink is the real deal.

The ‘Death by Hojicha’ was identical in structure to its matcha counterpart, but we Matcha amateurs found it a lot more palatable. I must say, Cornershop makes a mean hojicha latte – its rich roasted flavour felt like a palate cleanser after the strong Matcha, despite quadrupling in concentration.

4. Honey Yuzu Matcha Fizz

A carbonated, soda-like beverage with matcha throughout, topped with dried lemons. Photo by Kimberly Tan.

This ‘Honey Yuzu Matcha Fizz’ averaged at a solid 5/5 on our Whimsiness Scale, no doubt about it.

We were floored by this combination. I mean, who thinks of combining yuzu, matcha, and soda? Unbelievable. It tasted just like you might imagine, awesome. The fizzy water was sharp, bubbly and sweet. The clean matcha taste paired with the lemon-y yuzu made so much sense on the taste buds. I truly could never imagine having a matcha soda, much less having one in a hawker centre in Singapore! The whimsiness was very much alive.

5. Black Sesame Matcha Latte

A beautiful colour gradient of green matcha into white milk, into a grey-ish black sesame concentrate. Photo by Kimberly Tan.

The ‘Black Sesame Matcha Latte’ also averaged at a level 5/5 for whimsiness in our books.

One of Cornershop’s most popular drinks, this beverage was truly a show-stopper. Even before taking a sip, I could smell the savoury scent of the black sesame. The subtly sweet matcha mixed with the gritty, savoury black sesame almost scared us off at first, but after a few more sips, it became addictive. The black sesame flavour was almost nostalgic, an echo of most traditional Asian desserts. Married with the rich matcha, it was edgy yet comforting. 

Conclusion

Overall, this taste testing experience at Cornershop was truly an eye (read: mouth) opening experience. Every time a new drink came out, we felt like extras in that scene from Ratatouille when Remy eats the strawberry and cheese at the same time, causing a firework of colours to explode in his mind. Basically, it was really good. 

Stalls like Cornershop are proof that creativity in Singapore’s food and beverage industry can thrive in small, lesser-known spaces. So, if you’re looking for a wonderfully whimsical business to #supportlocal, come down to Marine Terrace Market every Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to visit Cornershop!

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