Afternoon of green tea delectables

MATCHA or green tea has become popular among food enthusiasts recently due to its unique blend of mildly bitter and savory flavors.

This traditional East Asian drink has now spread to different continents and is being used in various contemporary culinary creations.

Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral’s W XYZ Bar is also jumping on the matcha trend by incorporating green tea into its pastries and desserts for a themed afternoon tea set.

Savoury items include (from top left) Kaffir Lime Chicken Slider in Charcoal Bun, Teriyaki Skewers with Cured Vegetables, Smoked Salmon on Fried Mantou with Masabi Mayo and Cold Soba Noodles with Leek and Bonito Flakes.

The hotel has partnered with Niko Niko Matcha, a matcha and Japanese green tea provider in Malaysia, for its “Matcha Me Up!” promotion.

Executive chef Muhammad Nor Hanis Nordin from Aloft Sentral mentioned that they conducted several food-tasting sessions to perfect the recipes for their afternoon tea menu.

“For example, we experimented with incorporating different fruits into the cheesecake and played around with flour proportions to achieve the best texture and taste,” he said.

W XYZ Bar’s version of moist cheesecake is served with mango slices and espresso syrup made from matcha.

For starters, diners can try the Cold Soba Noodles with Leek and Bonito Flakes.

Plenty of sweet treats await diners at the ‘Matcha Me Up!’ afternoon tea promotion at W XYZ Bar. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star

The noodles may be served in a small saucer with light broth, but they are quite filling.

To add more protein to the menu, diners should try the Kaffir Lime Chicken Slider in a Charcoal Bun.

The tender and juicy chicken meat is wrapped in two crisp buns, providing a delightful mix of texture and taste.

Other savory items on the menu include Teriyaki Skewers with Cured Vegetables and Smoked Salmon on Fried Mantou with Masabi Mayo.

The selection of delectable cakes and pastries will make the afternoon tea session memorable.

The Matcha Scones are served with clotted cream, fruit jam, and zesty lemon curd for a variety of taste profiles.

The Matcha Tiramisu in White Chocolate Cup is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

It is both a visually appealing culinary art and a delicious dessert, with the matcha balancing out the sweetness of the tiramisu.

The Matcha Cream Puff with Tangerine Compote is another must-try pastry.

W XYZ Bar also offers exquisite drinks to complement the food.

The Iced Dalgona Green Jack combines cold milk, matcha foam, and jackfruit flavor for a creamy and refreshing beverage.

For those who prefer hot drinks, there is also the Hot Matcha Latte.

The “Matcha Me Up!” afternoon tea set is priced at RM168nett for two persons and is available daily until October 1, from 3pm to 5pm.

Location: W XYZ Bar, Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral, No.5, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Kuala Lumpur. Contact: 03-2723 1188, Email: kulal.b&[email protected]. Business hours: 9am to midnight, daily.

Note: The content above is the author’s personal observation and should not be considered an endorsement by StarMetro.