Monday 8 June 2020

Covid-19 MCO : Day #83 (Tono)


Last Saturday I was in the office. Instead of nipping out to Family Mart for the yummy sandwiches and my favorite cranberry nut loaf, I brought my own lunch. Oops forgot to snap photo hah..hah...

There is this new soya bean place called Tono@Damansara Uptown. It opened not long before the MCO started. At first I had no idea what it was when I saw this contraption inside the shop.


Now I know it is a machine for pressing soya bean milk.


Interesting, eh? You can see the soymilk being made right in front of you.


The menu is very simple.


Plain and flavored soymilk in two sizes 380ml and 830ml as well as cold tofu-fah and hot tofu-fah with or without toppings.

So I decided to pop by in the afternoon to satisfy my curiosity.


This young lady was ahead of me and I was admiring her sundress. I love the color and the design. This dress would have looked good on me 30 years ago. If I were to wear this now, I would look like a very ripe nangka, ready to be plucked. Sorry, I digress.


I always prefer cold desserts, and to experience all the toppings, I chose the Tono Signature which comes with Maiya Peanut, Taro Ball(s) and Peach Gum. I paid using Grabpay and I was given a number to wait for my order.


The young lady put in a big order and I overheard her telling her friend that this is her new favorite. The soymilk must be  very good and I regretted not getting one.


Business appears to be picking up and I hope Tono does well. It used to be very deserted when they first opened.


The young lady got her order and mine followed soon after. Service is fast.


I was very eager to tuck in.


The crushed peanuts are packed separately.


The taro balls look like chickpeas, don't they? 


Nice or not?


What I appreciate is that it is barely sweet. Those with sweet tooth would find it too bland. But I love it like that.


The crushed peanuts were fresh and taro balls chewy.


All right lah, I won't say that the taste is so special. 


You do get a fair bit of peach gum if that is your thing.


The taufu-fah is broken up and curdled as I dug in. It was a nice dessert, that I can say. Maybe once they allow dine-in I will go there and eat on-site. When this is served in a nice bowl, I might be able to judge better. Somehow our brain perceives taste differently when we eat from a plastic tub or a beautiful ceramic bowl. 

I decided to try their soymilk the next day. I got it via Grabfood.


All the flavors, 380ml each. I want to know what is so special about the soymilk.


The bottles all come sealed except one, the Choco, I think they missed it.


This is my opinion of all the flavors I tried.

1. Plain (0 Sugar)
- the consistency is thin. This soymilk has got a mild "green" taste though I can say it is pleasant and refreshing.

2. Black Tea
- I expected not to like this because I thought black tea with soymilk is strange but I was pleasantly surprised. The taste was rather refreshing. This soymilk is lightly sweetened and the sweetness level is acceptable to me.

3. Black Sesame
- It is lightly sweetened with a fragrant sesame flavor. This drink is thicker in consistency and I like it. The taste is just like tau sar pau filling. You will like this only of you like black sesame flavor.

4. Red Bean
- This one is much sweeter and contains mashed red beans (including the skin). You can taste the red bean flavor and I also like this one.

5. Yuri Matcha
- This was surprising because I usually do not like green tea mixed with anything. It was sweet but nor overtly so and the green tea flavor was very subtle and pleasant, not overpowering at all. I thought it was refreshing and I liked it.

6. Choco
- I disliked this one. The cocoa flavor was flat and if you expect this to taste like chocolate milk, you will be disappointed. I won't buy this again.

7. Almond
- I also disliked this one. I have drunk almond milk before and I found this one tastes funny. I can't describe it and I won't buy this one again.

In conclusion, I don't find the soymilk outstanding, just that you get flavors other than plain. My curiosity is satisfied and if I do want a treat to quench my thirst on a hot day, I would get either the Black Sesame, Red Bean or Yuri Matcha



In the meantime, their more established competitor is also open for takeaways. I can't wait to visit but I will do so only when dine-in resumes.

24 comments:

  1. Thanks for the thorough review and for drinking 8 bottles of soy milk to review for us, thank u thank u. I think they press the soy milk raw to have the green taste.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When you have the chance to come to Uptown, you can try and let me know what you think.

      Delete
  2. Good to see soylab. Wonder when I can go uptown again. Thanks for writing about uptown to share with us. Everytime after reading your posts is like visited uptown virtually already. Thanks, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I noticed yesterday that they are open for dine-in.

      Delete
  3. Muahahahahaha!!!! Nangka!!! I wonder what name you would use to call me. LOL!!!

    Bad timing! Hopefully they will be able to catch up and make up for lost time. Sad that many can't make it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Labu? LOL! I hope that they can survive. I am always rooting for those who sell nice products and give good service.

      Delete
  4. I have never tried such a dessert, it was nice to see your city on the photos and the street life.
    I also liked the dress:) we - ladies:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pretty dress, I wish I could wear it :( LOL!

      Delete
  5. I think I prefer soy milk and taufufah in its original form and flavour. All these toppings and different flavours are too 'fancy' for me though I do like peach gum. So, you 'eat' with your eyes too. When they allow dine-in, you might like it better when it's presented to you in a golden bowl with a golden spoon...lol! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am with you on that - in original form and flavor. These shops get creative to draw in more customers but some creations are just weird and fall flat. Yes, I like to be served with nice crockery and cutlery hee..hee...

      Delete
  6. You made me crave for some soy milk and taufoofah now!

    Can't wait to read your review once you can dine-in at the outlet.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great review on all the 8 flavors! Cant wait for them to open outlets elsewhere..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully if this outlet does well, they could consider other outlets. But right now business is slow and risky. Not a time to expand.

      Delete
  8. First impression, not cheap eh, 1 bottle for RM9 and you bought so many! The soy milk specialties shop near my place offers savoury Tau Foo Fah, have you tried savoury TFF before? I tried & I don't like, LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Savoury tau foo fah? I've not even seen it, let alone taste it. I can't imagine what it tastes like! People are getting over creative these days. There are some traditional tastes you shouldn't mess with, I think. Hey, you should blog about it, I'd be interesting.

      Delete
    2. Savoury taufufa is very common in Taiwan. I have eaten them a few times.

      Delete
    3. Got ah? I am curious too. They put minced meat is it? LOL!

      Delete
    4. They put chili oil and bean paste.

      Delete
    5. Yes, it's commonly available in Taiwan & China. The one I tried got choy poh, crunchy You Tiao aka Yao Zha Guai, meat floss, spring onion & soy sauce.

      Delete
    6. I can't imagine what it'll taste like with all these condiments you mentioned...choy poh (sweet type?) & you tiao I think still can accept but soy sauce & spring onions?...rather funky if you ask me..sounds more like a tofu dish at a tai chow place than tau fu fah! >_<

      Delete
  9. Come to think of it, I have not taken taufoofah for a long time! I must go find out whether the stall nearby my house has reopened or not...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have started to like taufoofah. Last time I was not a fan.

      Delete
  10. I would like to try all the flavours of the soymilk, so interesting.

    ReplyDelete