Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar in Chow Kit, KL
The idea of mixing anything beyond milk in our cups of coffee seems outlandish, but Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar is here to prove that it is not impossible.
Tucked along a stretch of modern eateries at Jalan Doraisamy, inside The Row, the bar stands out with its kopitiam-style decor. And more eye-bogglingly, a lineup of lattes that come with ingredients that most would avoid in their drinks – century egg and fermented bean curd.
Yup, you read that right.
Curious, we visited the bar to try out the lattes and bring you this review.
The drinks at Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar
Century Egg Latte
Just one whiff of the Century Egg Latte (RM18.50) from Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar, and it’s enough to tell any unsuspecting patron that it’s coffee that’s laced with century egg.
For the uninitiated, century eggs are preserved duck, chicken, or sometimes quail eggs encased in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, and quicklime for weeks or months. The result turns the whites of the egg dark brown and almost jelly-like, while the yolk takes on a creamy, deep emerald hue and a serious sulphuric punch.
Usually, century eggs are paired in cold salads or stirred in hot, gluey porridge for an umami kick. But when paired with coffee…well, it leaves something to be desired.
Besides the obvious garnish of a skewered whole century egg on top, the bottom of the cup holds mashed-up century egg, which might just have you thinking that it’s boba or even grass jelly.
One sip of the drink through the straw, and you get the fragrant taste of coffee, strong and bitter, first. Then comes the gelatinous bits of century egg. Besides adding an unusual texture to each draw of liquid into your mouth, the undeniable sulphuric taste and smell of the fermented egg make themselves present.
But thankfully, the strong coffee was able to mask most of its astringent and sulphuric taste.
Fermented Bean Curd Latte
Another coffee that curious souls might want to try from the bar is the Fermented Bean Curd Latte (RM13.50). Perched on top of the drink is a deep-scarlet cube that resembles a dessert.
But don’t be fooled – that’s actually the fermented bean curd.
Sometimes dubbed ‘soya cheese’, fermented bean curd is mostly applied as a condiment when eating plain dishes such as porridge or rice, or used sparingly in stir-fried vegetables or meats to amp up the umami flavour.
Again, a whiff of this latte and you could immediately smell the liquor-like fragrance that wafted from the cup. When the contents of the drink are mixed altogether, the salty, bitter, and slightly sour fermented bean curd completely overpowers the already strong coffee.
Besides that, it has an alcohol-like taste, given that the bean curd is fermented. It’s safe to say that this won’t be everyone’s cup of coffee.
Orange Macchiato
The least outlandish of the bar’s unique drinks lineup was the Orange Macchiato (RM18.50). The coffee was definitely different. It came served in a hollowed-out orange with an orange wedge, with a tiny milk jug on the side.
When mixed, the bitter coffee was accentuated by the acidic orange juice, resulting in a strong yet fragrant cup of coffee.
Compared to its more daring counterparts, it was a welcome, palate-cleansing finale.
The ambience at Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar
Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar is located at The Row, boasting an unobstructed view of the Petronas Twin Towers from its entrance.
Inside, the bar charms with its retro decor – eccentric art pieces and posters of classic Chinese films like Chungking Express and God of Gamblers plastered on the walls, next to kopitiam-style furnishings. Shot glasses of liquor and chilled mugs of beer served alongside Malaysian staples like Nasi Lemak and Wan Tan Mee is exactly the kind of vibe the bar is going for.
Unique lattes at Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar in Chow Kit
The ‘unique’ lattes are certainly not for the faint-hearted — if you’re after something familiar, you’re better off sticking to a plain latte or a Kopi O.
But if you’re looking for a quirky night out with a scenic backdrop of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar makes for an ideal spot to settle in with good company, cold beer, and perhaps a little adventure in your cup.
Kwong Cheung Loong Kopitiam Bar 广昌龙茶室吧
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Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by Brooklyn, Xinyee.
The post You Can Try Lattes With Century Egg & Fermented Bean Curd At This Kopitiam-Style Bar In KL appeared first on TheSmartLocal Malaysia – Travel, Lifestyle, Culture & Language Guide.