Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: 61, Jalan Harmonium 23/12, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bm9SMesyBh6UTfqX8
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Sukku Malli Tea = RM4.90
Nannari Surbath = RM10.90
Service Charge 6% = RM1.42
Click here for the Full Menu(Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
This was a Unique Cafe / Restoran I only knew about when I was recommended to it by a Really Friendly Local Indian Grab Driver when we were discussing about Indian Cuisines.
His Exact Words were:
"This Place Good Bryani. Filter Coffee Silver Cup. Don't Drink Immediately, wait a Few Minutes first. Also Brewed Coffee tell them you need Cow Milk, Not Condensed Milk.
Located just a Road Away from Aeon Mall Tebrau City, its a really Very Adorable, Nicely Airconditioned Bollywood Themed Restoran. Really Bollywood Inspired, Everything is Very Bollywood. From the Posters you see before you even enter, to the Fragrant Incense Aroma and the Groovy Rhythm that I find myself bobbing my head to, to even the (Tattered) Menu that shows Scenes from Iconic Bollywood Movies I reckon. Really Very Bollywood Themed.
Quite a Popular Place too at 9.30am on a Sunday morning. Even though Bollywood Themed, I'm not the only Chinese Customer there. What I was impressed with is as soon as I entered the Restoran, there is a Very Friendly All Smiles Young Indian Lad who attended to me. This immediately gave me a Very Good Impression of this Place.
As he handed me the Menu however, I noticed it's all torn up in the corners so I asked for another one. he very kindly obliged but this other Menu is also Torn at Corners. Hahaha end up both of us smile at each other. Perhaps this Restoran should work on refreshing and re-printing New Menus to replace their Current Torn and Tattered ones.
The Grab Driver mentioned about their Bryani being Very Good. That said, I wasn't in the Mood for Bryani that time but instead I decided to order their Classic Indian Drinks instead. It took 6 Mins for Everything to be served up together.
Kumbakonam Degree Coffee = RM7.90
This is a Drink that I first tried before at Oh Yeah Banana Leaf Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur and honestly I wasn't impressed with it because I thought it just tasted like a Normal Milk Coffee. Recalling the Grab Driver's Recommendation, he mentioned:
"Filter Coffee Silver Cup. Don't Drink Immediately, wait a Few Minutes first. Also Brewed Coffee tell them you need Cow Milk, Not Condensed Milk."
Served in a Metal Receptacle, this is the Closest Description of "Filter Coffee Silver Cup" ☕ that the Grab Driver described. Really Unique, its really 2 Drinks in One. A Dark Black Coffee as the Base Dish and a Smaller Cup containing a White Liquid. This is a Completely Different Presentation compared to the Version I had in KL the other time.
Quality of the Black Coffee
The Aroma that wafted from this was Superb. There was a Very Unique Aroma of some sort of Smoked Burnt Wood with a Very Noticeable Woody Presence. As soon as I took a Sip of this, I was immediately impressed. Really Strong Coffee,
Drinking this is abit like Drinking "Liquid Wood Fragrance" is how I would describe it. Really Strong Coffee no joke. This reminded me of the Immense Coffee Strength of the Turkish Coffee I had in Damascus (Bukit Bintang) in KL. Superb Power Gao Gao.
Quality of the White Foamy Liquid
This 2nd Liquid in the Set is actually a Sweetened Milk. Not sure whether Cow or Goat Milk (I'm guessing Cow Milk because it doesn't have any ็พ้ชๅณ). Nice Creamy Milky Taste, it is really Very Sweet having mixed with Sugar. Actually come to think of it, the Sweetness is More Earthy, than Simple Sugar. You know that Caramel Flan Custard Desert? Now imagine it being a Liquid and this is how this Milk's Sweetness kindda taste like.
I suppose the Idea is to mix both the Coffee and this Sweet Milk together but of course due to my Condition, I only mixed in a little bit. So here is how the drink tasted: If I add about 1 Tsp worth of that Sweet Milk, the Woody Fragrance Flavour from the Black Coffee was almost immediately Muted. The Coffee still retains its Coffee Strength.
When I added about 2 Tbsps or More of that Sweet Milk, this Milky Sweetness dominates the Flavour of the Coffee and interestingly transforms the Whole Drink into a Typical Classic Milk Coffee making it taste Exactly like that Version I had at Oh Yeah Banana Leaf Batu Caves. Ahhh so that place served their Kumbakonam Coffee with the Sweet Milk already pre-mixed compared to this Place in JB. No Wonder.
Sukku Malli Tea = RM4.90
Looks and smells like Teh-O-Halia Ginger Tea, this IS Ginger Tea. From I understand, this Classic Indian Drink is made by frying Ginger and Cardamom. Served in a Glass Cup, you cannot choose Zero Sugar for this, only Less Sugar. That said, Less Sugar is still quite sweet for me and I cannot finish this one.
As a Ginger Tea, the Gingery Presence is there absolutely and it is a Decent Ginger Heat in my Throat. I don't taste any Cardamom however. This really just taste like a Gingery Sugared Teh-O-Halia.
Just for fun, I added some of that Sweet Milk from the Kumbakonam Coffee Set and half expected it turned into Teh Susu. but because of the Unique Creaminess and Sweetness of that Sweet Milk, the end result is indeed Teh Susu, but like a More Atas Better Tasting Version hahaha.
Nannari Surbath = RM10.90
Compared to the 2 Drinks, this one has a More Modern Conventional Taste. Again, there is No Zero Sugar Version, only Less Sweet which is still Very Sweet for me. From what I researched, this is supposed to be made from a Herb called "Nannari Root" hence its name. Its a Popular Cold Drink in India during the Summer Heat.
When I drank this, I immediately understand why its Popular. Nothing Herbly about this, drinking this is like drinking a Sweet Cold Syrupy Cordial. The Unique "Tadpole Eggs" within are called "Sabja Seeds" or more commonly known as Basil Seeds and these apparently are a Natural Body Coolant and Digestive Aid. Overall a Sweet and Refreshing Drink, this drink has Mass Appeal I reckon and wouldn't be out of place if sold at a Conventional BBT Shop tbh. I reckon most people would not have issues with this.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM7.90 (S$2.50) is Definitely Worth the Money for this Superb Kumbakonam Coffee. Quality was Very Much Better compared to the one I had at Oh Yeah Banana Leaf Batu Caves in KL the other time,
THIS one tasted More Authentic. This is Not your Standard Kopitiam type of Nanyang Kopi-O. The Black Coffee is So Gao Gao Woody Fragrant and Strong, that I would consider this as Elite Tasting as the Superb Turkish Coffee I had at Damascus (Bukit Bintang). No Joke this thing is Very Strong. Really Very Strong.
If you are ordering this however, I would take care to not spam that Sweet Milk because once you mix it in, I feel the Unique Woody Fragrance of the Coffee would be lost and all you get is just a Regular Normal Milk Coffee taste. Enjoy the Black Coffee at its Strongest first before you adjust it to your liking.
At the Price of RM4.90 (S$1.60) is an OK price for the Sukku Mali Tea. What it is, is basically a Sweet Teh-O-Halia.
It really taste so much like a Teh-O-Halia, that I think THIS is the Original Form of Teh-O-Halia that originates from India before its renamed to Teh-O-Halia? I'm not sure about the History but this really feels like it.
At the Price of RM10.90 (S$3.50) for the Nannari Surbath is the Most Expensive of the 3 Drinks, but it probably has the Most Mass Appeal because its a Good Tasting Sweet Syrupy Drink that totally won't look out of place if served in a Conventional BBT Shop.
Sweet and Cooling, there is Nothing Herbly or ้ๅฃๅณ about this that I think even Children will enjoy it. Its so Refreshing and Sweet, that I consider this like the "Dessert" among the 3 Drinks if it makes any sense.
Overall I have no issues with this Place. While I didn't try the Foods here, I thought the 3 Drinks I bought felt Affordable and Unique for what they are. I definitely enjoy the Kumbakonam Coffee the Most because it was such a Atas Level of Coffee.
Definitely No Issues with the Customer Service as the Friendly Welcoming Young Indian Lad that attended to me with All Smiles immediately gave me a Very Good First Customer Impression. I just wish this Restoran replaces all their Old and Tattered Menus though.
Although I did not actually try their Foods, the Quality of their Drinks tells me their Foods probably also ๅบ่ฏฅไธไผๅทฎๅฐๅช้ๅป. If you are here in Taman Desa Tebrau craving for some Indian Food in a Unique and Comfortable Air-Con Bollywood Themed Restoran, I can certainly recommend to give this place a Try. Definitely don't miss out on their Superb Kumbakonam Coffee! Really Good First Impression, I really don't mind coming back in the Future to try out their other Items in the Menu. To the Kind Grab Driver who recommended this place to me, Nandri! เฎจเฎฉ்เฎฑி! (Thank You!) ๐❤️
Pass by many times but yet to try their food, next time must drop by to try. I like those brew coffee taste much better.The one at Teabag coffee I only go for cawanmas brand. kaw kaw kopi-o 100 bags for RM35.00, only available at their restaurant.
ReplyDeleteThis Kumbakonam coffee no joke, really superb high level but best not to dilute with milk. India makes some superb coffee and teas. that time stulang laut I still remember their railway cutting tea fuiyoh power also ๐
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