[FOOD] Review: Matcha Eight Premium Japanese Ice Cream @ LaLaport BBCC

It's time to fix the cravings for icy cold dessert!

Located along Gourmet Street at LaLaport BBCC, Matcha Eight has been one of the most popular ice cream parlours in town recently. In case you are wondering, this is not your ordinary ice cream brand. Matcha Eight is the first in Malaysia to serve artisanal, premium and 100% natural Japanese tea ice cream made of the finest single-origin tea powder imported from Wazuka town, Kyoto Prefecture.

The sencha, matcha and hojicha single-origin tea powder is harvested by these Japanese farmers who have been running the family-inherited tea plantations for decades. Then the Michelin-starred Master Chef Takuji Takahashi from Kyoto develops the recipe for each of the ice cream flavours to bring out the most authentic tea taste in the ice cream.

Matcha Eight is a creation of culinary art and currently it is offering sencha, matcha and hojicha series of varying tea richness / intensity to suit everyone’s palate. There are 8 types of premium Japanese tea ice cream flavours to choose from:

❤ 1. Lovesick Girl (Light Sencha)
❤ 2. Soulmate (Medium Sencha)
❤ 3. Maybe It's Love (Light Matcha)
❤ 4. Matcha Me Tonight (Medium Matcha)
❤ 5. Hocus Matcha-cus (Strong Matcha, Bitter Aftertaste)
❤ 6. Melodrama Queen (Strong Matcha, Tea Aftertaste)
❤ 7. Hojilicious (Light Roasted Sencha)
❤ 8. Ho Ho Hoji (Strong Roasted Sencha)

Another noteworthy point about Matcha Eight is that the ice creams contain zero additives and preservatives, so what you get is all-natural, authentic and premium Japanese tea ice cream.

Personally, I have tried all the 8 flavours and my preference is more inclined towards the stronger, more intense flavours. For Matcha series, my favourite is Matcha Me Tonight, a classic blend of Matcha Eight that balances creaminess with the moderate bitter-sweetness of matcha. So rich in matcha taste, yet not overly intense or sweet for my liking.

Matcha connoisseurs can go for the richest flavour of all, Melodrama Queen - natural dark emerald green, pleasantly bitter and mildly sweet with a robust matcha aroma and taste. It is a perfect blend of matcha and sencha that you just can't find anywhere else in Malaysia.

As for the Hojicha series, I'd say the Hojilicious flavour is something for the sweet tooth - rich in earthy tone, with slight fragrance of roasted coffee and a nutty taste. Delicious! Whereas Ho Ho Hoji is a double shot of Hojilicious - extremely intense hojicha aroma tastefully balanced with strong roast bitterness. Again, my favourite! Good to have this to wash down a heavy meal and relax the mind 🙂

Wanna spice up your gourmet ice cream experience? You can choose to savour the ice cream with the signature toppings here: Mochi / Red Bean / Sakura or Stars Gold Flakes. For me, I'd think you can't go wrong with the classic chewy mochi and a dollop of sweet red bean.

If you love the flavours, you can also purchase the pints from their official website and enjoy them at the comfort of home!

Verdict:

1. Amazingly crafted artisanal ice cream with the widest range of sencha, matcha and hojicha ice creams you can ever find in Malaysia.

2. An ideal option for those who prefer less sweet ice cream, with richer tea taste.

3. The price point is rather on the higher side, but you pay for the quality ice cream you get - it is worth every penny!

Come hop over to LaLaport and enjoy a delicious cooling Japanese treat without having to fly to Japan!

Matcha Eight

Lot G-68, Ground Floor,

LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre,

2, Jalan Hang Tuah,

Bukit Bintang,

55100 Kuala Lumpur.

Website: www.matchaeight.com

Facebook: fb.com/matchaeight

Instagram: @matchaeight

ZALORA Tentastic Birthday Sale - Mark Your Calendar!

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY, ZALORA!

Can you believe it has been an amazing TEN (10) years since Zalora first started the online fashion shopping trend in Malaysia? I still remember during my early college years when my friends and I used to shop for Zalora deals and bargains. Fast forward to many years later, Zalora has transformed into a one stop platform to meet our fashion, beauty and lifestyle needs.

In just a blink of an eye, Zalora has developed so much and is now celebrating its 10th birthday with ZALORA Tentastic Birthday Sale - oh I am definitely in when Zalora offers amazing presents on its birthday 😛

Happening from 20 to 29 March 2022, you will be enjoying ZALORA sitewide deals up to 80% OFF on selected items of your choice, ranging from the newly added lifestyle category to luxury designer items, and everyday fashion pieces. I am sure you can find something that suits your loved ones there - be it for male, female or even children!

Apart from the discount deals during the big ZALORA Tentastic Birthday Sale, ZALORA is offering up to RM 1,000 guaranteed cashback for us shoppers! I personally love earning cashbacks because it helps me to save so much while shopping, and I can use the cashbacks for my future purchases. Can't wait for the great deals!

Exclusively for shoppers, ZALORA is giving away birthday vouchers / promo codes every day from 20 - 29 March! On top of that, we can also shop, play and win fun prizes worth up to RM 10,000 in total. That sounds very tempting to me as I get to slash the price further on discounted items. Let's enjoy shopping together!

Head over to ZALORA now and

grab the exclusive discounts and giveaways during this

ZALORA Tentastic Birthday Sale from 20-29 March 2022!

4 Of The Biggest Fashion & Beauty Trends For 2022

Are you wondering what the biggest fashion and beauty trends will be in 2022? Each year, there are always new trends that emerge that shape the industry for that year (and often longer), and you will want to keep on top of these to stay current. The world has changed a lot since the start of the pandemic, and this has had a big impact on how people lead their lives, which in turn has impacted fashion and beauty. With this in mind, keep reading to discover a few of the biggest fashion and beauty trends that will shape 2022 and possibly beyond.

1. Sustainability

Perhaps the biggest trend in fashion and beauty (and other areas of life) right now is sustainability. Many people are finding ways to reduce their environmental impact, especially after seeing some of the shocking climate events from around the world in recent years. Sustainability has become a major trend and a way for people to reduce their impact while still looking their best. In addition to buying from ethical and eco-friendly brands, this also involves moving away from fast fashion and using second-hand clothes buying apps.

2. Skinimalism

Skincare is always an important area of beauty, but in 2022 people are focusing on the health of their skin as opposed to using all kinds of different products and using makeup. This is a trendknown as “skinimalism” and it is thought that sensitivity emerging from mask-wearing, stress, and overuse of aggressive skincare has led to this trend. People are now finding high-quality, gentle skincare products for their skin type that will help to improve the health of their skin. If going for a more makeup-free look is your kind of style, then skinimalism is for you.

3. Updos & Hair Grips

In hair, updos are proving to be popular, including buns, knots, braids, and twists. These styles are popular because they can be practical by keeping the hair up but also look fantastic and stylish. They are also versatile and a possibility for those with short, medium, and long hair. Additionally, updos are good for work or chores around the house, but they are also worn for special occasions (many people will be going to weddings this year). The key to updos is understanding different hair grips and having the right hair grips or pins for the style that you want to achieve.

4. Comfort

Although life is returning to normal, people are still favoring comfort when it comes to outfits, particularly those that are still working from home. Clothing that is comfortable yet practical and professional is proving to be a major trend and one that could be here to stay. This also includes footwear, with people favoring smart-looking trainers and flats instead of heels.

These are a few of the biggest fashion and beauty trends that are shaping 2022. It is clear that the pandemic is still having a major impact on fashion and beauty with these trends, and many of them could be here for a long time to come.

Party Theme Ideas for Your Birthday Bash

Life seems to be going back to normal after two years of lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You have a big birthday coming up - perhaps your own or one for a family member - and you want to plan the most epic party ever. Where to start? There are many ways to celebrate a fun and creative theme - decor, props, lighting, and of course, costumes!

Check out our list of fantastic party ideas to throw the best bash of the year. 

Fantastic fantasy

This theme can incorporate anything, but the most popular fantasy-themed parties are HarryPotter, Lord of the Rings, and Marvel. There are plenty of characters to choose from, and many shops now have themed fancy dress outfits, making it that much easier to go all out and look the part. 

What could be better than dressing up as Lord Voldemort or Spiderman for your birthday? You can get really creative with this theme. Transform your home into Hogwarts, travel to Middle Earth, or join the Avengers for a magical birthday party you and your child won’t forget. 

Magnificent medieval

For the history lovers out there, travel back in time to brave knights, gorgeous gowns, and drinks out of goblets. Take this theme further with fun party decoration ideas such as novelty swords, dragon costumes, and banners to bring to life a sense of awe and wonder. Plus, what could be more fun than sword fights with your friends?

Stunning Seasons

Connect with nature by getting inspired by the four seasons. Taking any element of the seasons, get everybody to dress up as either spring, summer, autumn, or winter.

For spring and summer, include lots of flowers, bees, baby lambs, and even a beach theme. You can use decorations and costumes for winter and autumn, including snowflakes, Christmas, autumnal red leaves, and animals like hedgehogs.

Party Pirates

Ahoy, Me Maties! Grab a sword and pirate’s hat and climb aboard. Whether you want to channel Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, or your own style, a pirate-themed holiday is a fun fancy dress experience for those who love action and adventure. 

Depending on what materials you can get and your budget, you can transform your garden into a private’s ship or a desert island and create a map to hunt for lost treasure. You could even get someone to walk the plank!

Fabulous Fairies

There’s nothing more enchanting and beautiful than a fairy party out in the woods or garden. The more flowers and leaves there are, the better! Location is an essential part of this theme, as you want to create a sense of magic and a connection between fairy folk who live in the outdoor world.  Then get your magic juices flowing with decorations of butterflies, flowers, fairy dust, and even toadstools. Hanging fairy lights and bunting from nearby trees would look beautiful above the party table too. 

Most importantly, make sure everybody dresses up for the party. Ask guests to wear fairy wings and bring a magic wand. Or, for some party activity ideas, you could get creative and make a wand together.

Laco - New Pilot Watches in Trendy Military Look are Here!

To kick off the model year, Red Army Watches Malaysia aims to bring in the German timepiece brand Laco two new pilot watches in a trendy military look. 

Laco Augsburg Oliv 39 and Laco Aachen Oliv 39

The two limited editions "AugsburgOliv39" and "AachenOliv39" are each limited to 250 pieces and present the classic typography of the famous observation watches with their dials in a refined shade. The authentic vintage charm is underlined by the bronze-colored case and the retro-look strap. 

For over 100 years, pilot watches have been flying high. As one of the most successful watch types ever, it owes its great popularity to the unmistakable design and functionality it demonstrates in all its elements. The characteristic instrument look of the dial is not a design gimmick, but results from its history as a technical tool in the cockpit, which was used for positioning and navigation as well as for many flight-specific calculations.

Laco stands for pilot watches like hardly any other brand and presents not only authentic replicas of the historical originals, but also modern interpretations. To this day, these timepieces radiate an elemental spirit of adventure and inspire explorers and individualists with an active lifestyle. 

With the two new watches, each limited to 250 pieces, Laco is following upon the success of the "Oliv42" models launched last year, which sold out in a very short time. By reducing the case size by 3mm to 39mm, the watches have a much slimmer appearance and canal so be worn on narrower wrists. The stainless steel case is covered with a bronze-colored PVD coating, which emphasizes the "used look" character. 

The warm hue harmonizes expressively with the olive green dial. Inspired by military units and special commandos, the natural tone provides a fitting background for the strikingly matter-of-fact typography. The numerals, indexes and hands are coated with the luminous Superluminova "Old Radium", which has a brownish vintage tone during the day, but glows intensely green in the dark. 

Precise drive is provided by the high-quality automatic movement Laco 21, which can be seen through the sapphire crystal case back. It is based on the proven Miyota 821A caliber and offers a power reserve of 42 hours, as well as a stop-second function, which allows precise setting of the time. 

Optionally, Laco also offers the option of upgrading to the Laco 31 caliber. This upgrade offers an increased power reserve of over 60 hours, as well as thermally blued screws as an additional visual highlight. The distinctive "field watch" look is complemented by rugged vintage-look leather straps. As a tribute to the history of the pilot watch, they are equipped with decorative rivets, which, like the buckle, once again pick up the color tone of the case.

The "Augsburg Oliv 39" and the "Aachen Oliv 39" are available immediately directly at Red Army Watches stores and online www.redarmywatches.com.my at a recommended retail price of MYR 2,200.00 each.

For more information, please visit: 

Red Army Watches Online Store: www.redarmywatches.com.my

Red Army Watches Facebook Page: fb.com/redarmywatchesmalaysia

Red Army Watches Instagram: @redarmywatches_my

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