Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)
Address: Morihana. Lot B, Jalan Ekoflora Utama, Taman Ekoflora, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia (Located within Santai Square)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/etM3RzpvEBLb9dr47
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Uji Matcha Latte = RM14.00
Korea Strawberry Mochi Fraisier = RM32.00
Rose Watermelon = RM20.00
Service Charge 6% = RM3.96
Do take note that this Place only accepts Cash or Wireless Payment.
Debit / Credit Card Payments are Not Available.
In addition, if you use PayNow, They will convert the Price and charge in SGD instead of RM.
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
In addition, Prices are listed on the Pastries Section.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
This was an Adorable Little Bakery in Santai Square that I either saw on a Facebook Reel or TikTok Video.
(I'm sorry I couldn't remember which one was it)
Apparently they went viral previously for their Rose Watermelon Cake. Pairing a Wet Fruit such as Watermelon with something as Delicate as a Cake is such a Strange Concept so I thought I'd gave this a try.
Adorable Looking Exterior like some Adorable Cartoon Cottage, the Interior was a Big Nicely Renovated Somewhat Homely Looking Modern Cafe that for some reason gave me a Very Taiwan Cafe Vibe. The Music they played were some Soft Music Instrumentals. The Staffs were Friendly and Welcoming and looks like a Small Family Business. I later got to know that the Main Baker is the Wife of the Male Owner I met.
Perhaps because Santai Square itself isn't a Very Popular Place, there were originally no other Customer except me at 12.30pm Noon when I reached on a Saturday, but it filled up when a Larger Group came in. Anyway it took 4 Mins for Both Cakes to be served up together and 5 Mins for the Matcha Latte. Everything was served up in 5 Mins.
Uji Matcha Latte = RM14.00
Indeed upon tasting, the 1st Thing that hits me was the Strong Presence of Real Matcha. This is quickly followed up with a Presence of Milkiness. Both Matcha and Milky Elements interesting seems to be in Equal Balance and doesn't taste like one is trying to Dominate the Other. Also, while the Beverage is Sweet, I also thought it wasn't overly sweet. Pretty Decent for a Matcha Latte.
Rose Watermelon = RM20.00
This is of course their Signature Cake, and the Whole Reason why I'm here in the First Place.
Visually Pleasing, this was Quite a Decent Cut Size too.
I thought it was interesting when the Staff specifically took the time to explain to me that this Cake needs to be eaten from Top to Bottom in order to taste its Full Flavours. While I appreciate this Explaination, this also tells me that some Customers have probably complained about this Cake too.
From the Bottom-Up, this Cake is made up of:
Bottom Layer is a Yellow Cake
Followed by Cream Cheese?
Followed by a Watermelon Slice
Followed by another Layer of Cream Cheese.
Followed by another Yellow Cake
Finally topped off with a Gelatine Layer, and decorated with Strawberry, Lychee and Beautifully Peppered with Edible Dried Flowers
Just from my Description of the Layers, you can see how serious they are in constructing this Cake.
All my Initial Thoughts about whether a Wet Fruit like Watermelon making this Cake Nua Nua were completely tossed out the Window when I took my Bite of it.
And guess what? I TOTALLY GET IT.
The Key Element in this Cake is that 2 Cream Cheese Layer which the Watermelon is sandwiched between. Because of this Cream Cheese, the Watermelon never got the chance to drip and Nua Nua the Rest of the Cake. This is such a Clever Use of Cream Cheese. Whoever designed this Cake is probably a Very Experienced Baker who truly understands what she is doing.
Actually upon further tasting, I also cannot confirm this is Cream Cheese, but it is a Good Tasting Cream.
Doesn't taste like those Cheapo Whipped Cream you'd normally get from Phoon Huat. I reckon the Cream they used is at least Some Standard.
This Watermelon however is really the 1st Wow Factor in this Cake.
Without it, the Whole Cake just taste like a Regular Strawberry Cream Cake you can find from any Bakery. Its inclusion gives a Refreshing Juicy Texture that really excites your Palette even more so than a Regular Fruit Cake because a Watermelon is just not a Fruit that you would normally come across in a Cake like this. This Whole Cake also tastes Very Light, Not Overly Sweet and also Not Jelak.
Notice I mentioned the Watermelon was the "1st Wow Factor in this Cake"?
Because just when I thought I already understood this Cake... Suddenly I tasted abit of Rose Bandung!! Hahaha I got my 2nd Wow Factor, so THATS why this Cake is called a "ROSE Watermelon"! They used Rose Water too!
Wah... Damn High Level man this Cake. It kept surprising and keep me guessing all the way till the End.
Bravo really Bravo. Ultimate Flair Level Unlocked. ็็ๅคชๅๅฎณไบ. Clap Clap Clap~
Korea Strawberry Mochi Fraisier = RM32.00
Ordered this because it seems like this is their 2nd Most Popular Cake among Google Reviewers. Visually you can already tell why with its Stupidly Adorable Smiley Face. The Whole Thing just looks like a Super Cute Bui Bui Marshmallow Man with Cream and Strawberries.
The Cream they used here seems to be slightly different from the one used in their Rose Watermelon. It has a Slightly Heavier, Creamier More Milky Taste? I liked the Little Bits of Edible Gold Flakes to give it abit of Pizzazz.
When I bite into this, I see its Main Gimmick immediately. Its actually just a Strawberry Cake wrapped in a Mochi Skin. The Mochi is Soft but Not Sweet Type. The Cake itself tasted like its made of Premium Ingredients, not Cheap Tasting but... that's it. Its literally just a Cream Cake wrapped in a Mochi Skin. Nothing Else surprised me here.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM14.00 (S$4.50) for the Matcha Latte is certainly Not Cheap, but I guess it is acceptable for a Modern Cafe? What I did like is how Both the Matcha and Latte Elements tasted in Balance with Neither trying to Outdo each other.
You get an Equal Mix of Matcha Bitterness mixed in Nicely with the Latte Milkiness and the whole thing isn't Overly Sweet. For a Matcha Latte, I'd say this is a Pretty Decent One.
At the Price of RM32.00 (S$10.30) is Very Expensive for this Mochi Frasier. Personally, I don't feel this is worth the price because while it is Competent as a Cake using Premium Ingredients, its Main Gimmick is just that it looks Cute. (And maybe it has a "Korean" tag to it)
The Actual Cake itself is basically a Standard Strawberry Cream Cake wrapped in a Mochi Skin. That's it. there are No Other Hidden Gimmicks within. Maybe its just me, but the Soft Mochi and the Soft Cake, ่ฝฏไธๅ ่ฝฏ type of Gummy Soft Texture just doesn't do it for me for this one. Compared to the Layered Complexity of their Signature Rose Watermelon, this one really Pales in Comparison in terms of Taste, Texture and Overall Complexity and it even cost More. Hey if you are someone who like Mochi though, don't let me stop you from getting this one.
At the Price of RM20.00 (S$6.50) to be fair is also Not Cheap by any means for their Signature Rose Watermelon but THIS is the type of Cake that you really appreciate the Amount of Thought and Effort that has gone into it.
Visually Pleasing Exterior, it cleverly solves the Challenge of using an Extremely Wet Fruit like Watermelon. The Fact they are so Bold to stick it right in the Middle Layer cleverly sandwiched between 2 Layers of Cream to reign in the Liquid was Genius.
Whoever designed this, must have experimented and Failed Many Times before finding the Right Technique for this to work. The End Result is a Surprising Watermelon Juicy Texture that really excites your Palette.
The Element that really takes this over the top for me is that Added Rose Water which shoots through out of nowhere giving an Unexpected Local Bandung Flavour to an otherwise Normal Strawberry Cream Cake. They can totally omit this and it would still be a Really Good Cake, but they didn't and I appreciate this Additional Flair they did.
Compared to the Earlier Korean Mochi Cake, this Rose Watermelon is on such a Different Layered Complexity, so Different in Skill Levels and it even cost Significantly Cheaper in comparison.
From what I understand, it was the Owner's Wife who made their Cakes. I didn't meet her personally, but I'm sure she must have been a Very Creative, Calm and PATIENT person. If you are a Baker, you will know the type of Special Unique Patience and Calm that I am talking about.
As for this place, I have absolutely no issues. My only concerns are the somewhat troublesome Payment System that doesn't accept Credit Cards, but mostly how ๅทๆธ ๆธ this Entire Santai Square seems to be. I'll be brutally honest to say that I'm not sure if if it is sustainable in the long run.
Moving on, I really am enamoured with this Rose Watermelon. Its a Cake that I wished I thought of it myself. For the Amount of Hard Work and Effort for it and the Decent Service I've experienced, I am going to have to give my Top Score for this Place. Nicely Done.
Is this Cake specifically worth queuing 7 Hours in JB Kastam for? Of course not, nothing ever is. If you are ever near the Taman Setia Indah Area, looking for a Cafe to chill and ๆๅก, willing to swing over to Santai Square, can accept the Prices on their Menu, I can certainly recommend to come give this Bakery Cafe a Try.
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