[REVIEW] It's SIXPACK by Aik Cheong Coffee

Let's brew coffee like a pro at home! ❤

I have been drinking a lot of coffee at work, and until recently switching to a full work-from-home, I realise I need some good coffee to keep me going every day. That's when I start to stock up plenty of Aik Cheong Coffee because it is just so handy, delicious and comes with a wallet-friendly price tag. 

Do you know that Aik Cheong Coffee has been around since 1955? From being labelled as our grandparents' favourite local coffee, to becoming an innovative beverage producer we see today, I am sure Aik Cheong Coffee has accompanied our family throughout the journey.

Its current product ranges include: 

❤ Kopi-O (Black Coffee - bag / powder)

❤ 3-in-1 CoffeeMix

❤ Hainan Coffee

❤ White Coffee

❤ Milk Tea (Teh Tarik)

❤ Hot Chocolate Malt Drink

❤ Instant Oatmeal Cereal

❤ VitaFlakes Cereal

IT'S Coffee

Since my first try of IT'S Coffee last year, IT'S Coffee instant beverage has been my to-go cup at work because it is so convenient to enjoy my coffee wherever I want. While the colorful vibrant cup design is sure to cheer up our day, we can choose among 6 delicious flavours according to your mood of the day: 

❤ IT’S Long Black Extra Shot

❤ IT’S Flat White Extra Shot

❤ IT’S Cappuccino Choco Topping

❤ IT’S Teh Tarik Gula Melaka

❤ IT'S Chocolate Marshmallow

❤ IT’S Matcha Latte Nata De Coco 

IT'S Granola

Aik Cheong Coffee has also prepared some healthy snack for us to pair with our beverage. It is so convenient to grab a cup of IT'S Granola anytime anywhere we like, and enjoy the healthy berries or fruits and nuts mix to kill our hunger pangs. 

Available in 2 flavours now: 

❤ Mixed Berries

❤ Mixed Fruits and Nuts 

IT'S SIXPACK

What's more interesting here is that we can turn our home into a cafe with the *NEW* IT'S SIXPACK series which is available in 4 flavours:

❤ IT’S SIXPACK - Cappuccino Choco Topping

❤ IT’S SIXPACK - White Coffee Salted Gula Melaka

❤ IT’S SIXPACK -  Teh Tarik Gula Melaka

❤ IT'S SIXPACK - Chocolate Marshmallow

With 4 different flavours, it can cater to different times of the day. Life is definitely more exciting when you mix and match while adding some fun into life with Aik Cheong Coffee. 

This instant drink is super easy to prepare - in just 1-2-3 steps! Each box comes with a complete 6 sets (sachet with premix, toppings, and brown sugar), each item individually packed so you can choose to add or adjust the ingredients based on your preference. For instance, I prefer to skip the brown sugar for less sweet coffee. 

True to its name "SIXPACK", each box serves 6 persons well, so don't forget to ask your friends and family to join the party and enjoy the beverage!

IT'S SIXPACK - Chocolate Marshmallow

(Chocolate premix, marshmallow and brown sugar)

Hot chocolate is always best stress reliever ever! Just mix the chocolate premix with 220ml hot water and then let the marshmallow melt in the rich chocolaty concoction. You can adjust the amount of brown sugar according to your liking.

[[ Note: To insert video - ohfishiee_chocolate.mp4 ]]

Here's a quick tutorial on how to prepare a delicious cup of chocolate marshmallow in just 3 steps.

IT’S SIXPACK - Cappuccino Choco Topping

(Cappuccino premix, choco toppings and brown sugar)

Another favourite of mine is the cappuccino which I get to enjoy it at home with a dash of chocolate powder topping just like how it is usually served in cafes. 

[[ insert video - ohfishiee_cappuccino.mp4 ]]

As you can see from the video above, just mix the cappuccino premix with 220ml hot water and garnish with choco topping. If you like a sweeter version of cappuccino, feel free to add some brown sugar.  

IT’S SIXPACK - White Coffee Salted Gula Melaka

(White Coffee Salted Gula Melaka premix and freeze dried coffee)

Something closer to the local Malaysian flavour is the rich concoction of creamy, authentic white coffee and deep smoky caramelised taste of salted gula Melaka. I am delighted that the taste is so well-balanced. Plus, Gula Melaka is a wholesome sugar naturally low in GI, definitely a healthier alternative for coffee lovers. 

[[ insert video - ohfishiee_whitecoffee.mp4 ]]

It only requires 2 steps to prepare - so easy peasy! Mix the coffee premix with 220 ml hot water, stir well and don't forget to add the freeze dried coffee for a burst of coffee flavours.

IT’S SIXPACK - Teh Tarik Gula Melaka

(Teh Tarik Gula Melaka premix and Nata de Coco)

Lastly, IT'S SIXPACK allows us to prepare a good cup of teh tarik with that beautiful layer of foam, in the comforts of our home. It is very interesting to add crunchy Nata de Coco into the teh tarik, as it adds texture to the overall beverage. Delicious! 

[[ insert video - ohfishiee_tehtarik.mp4 ]]

Follow these two steps and you just can't go wrong with the teh tarik! 

Time to shop for Aik Cheong Coffee's IT’S Coffee, IT'S Granola and IT'S SIXPACK series.

Now available at major offline stores such as AEON Big, Giant and Mydin,

as well as online stores such as Shopee and Lazada. 

Don't forget to follow Aik Cheong Coffee on social media for latest updates and news!

Shop now:

Shopee: https://shopee.com.my/aikcheong

Lazada: lazada.com.my/shop/aik-cheong-coffee-roaster/ 

Aik Cheong Coffee

Website: www.aikcheong.com.my 

Facebook: fb.com/aikcheongcoffee

Instagram: @aikcheong_official

IT’S more than just

Facebook: fb.com/itsbyacc

Instagram: @its_by_acc 

#aikcheongcoffee益昌咖啡 #做_自己 #BeYourSelfAlways #itsbyacc #itsmorethanjust 

#ITS #ItsCup #itstimetobelieve #Hoot9eeeee #InilahMasanya #VITAMEDIA #ASKPERT

FiSh's Diary: It's Mid-2021

Hi! ❤ I am back with another super duper long personal post (suddenly feeling so motivated to pen down something raw and detailed about my personal life since MCO 1.0 on 18 March 2020 until MCO 3.0 which we are currently stuck at).

Now that I checked back my old posts, I realised my last personal post was about my thoughts on MCO 1.0 back in April 2020 and my baking diary (something I was glad that I learned last year). To my surprise, I did not do any summary-of-the-year for 2020 which I never fail to do for the past many many years to recap the key happenings of each month of that particular year.  

You can see here for the previous years:

2019: First Half of 2019 / Note to Self / 5 Changes in Me After 25 / Second Half of 2019

2018: My Travel Diary (Jan-June) / Diary: July & August / It's a Wrap (Sept - Dec)
2017: First Half of 2017 / Second Half of 2017
2016: Another Step into 2017

2015: Note to self for a better 2016

2014: New Year Resolution in 2015 / It's a Wrap for 2014

2020.

I know it's already 5 months past 2021, but now that I finally muster my courage, sit down and think about the path I have taken throughout 2020 - the details of each event, the people and the career I have been spending most of my time and effort on. Frankly, 2020 feels like a wasted year. Don't get me wrong here, I am of course very thankful and truly appreciate all the opportunities that came along in the social media line - thank you for the continuous support and shower of gifts such as beauty products, haircare, fragrances, accessories, fashion items, hotel sponsors, food deliveries, etc. Really thank you because all these kept me going and motivated to continue doing what I have been persistent with over the years. ❤ 

2020 being a wasted year is beyond that. Partly because of the pandemic as everyone became extra cautious with each decision and kinda stayed stagnant to watch how the situation went. Little did I know, I was the main culprit of having wasted my entire year avoiding making decisions, avoiding unspoken conflicts that may reveal the dark truth, and ultimately avoiding being brutally honest to myself.

Career, on its own, is a killer (in some good ways tho), consuming the biggest chunk of my time every weekday weeknight (and sometimes weekend too). But I treat it as an investment to myself because it is in the midst of leading me somewhere brighter and better. And I am glad to have very kind superiors and colleagues whom I constantly seek feedback from, in the search for consistent improvements over time. Of course, people do get tired but if you are tired yet you want to continue the journey, then fight with all the energy you have :'). I may not excel in areas that some people are naturally good at, but I believe I can excel in areas that I know I have potentials in. Thank you to the person who has spent 5 years giving me close guidance and building my character to become who I am today.

Other than the fulfilling career, the rest of the time was an internal struggle to me. While others were being demotivated due to the whole MCO thingy, I was secretly happy that I had the room to escape from doing things I was unhappy about, to meet other people's expectations and to become a person that I don't recognise being myself. To that extent I wished MCO would continue to stay on. 

At this very point when I think about it, I find myself so naive back then when I thought "things would eventually get better when xxx happen or when xxx is there". Well, I must admit that it was a mere avoidance because I thought tolerance would bring improvements to the whole situation until I realised I have tolerated to the extent that I have lost my true self.

"Don't love others too much that you forgot to love yourself ❤."

I still couldn't believe that my loyal companion was the late night tears over the past 1.5 years until I finally decided to remove the greatest toxicity from my life at the 1-year-and-8-month mark. Wow. How did I manage to do that, seriously?

I learned a great lesson. It is so easy for someone to say "I will always be there for you" simply because that person expects you to. But when you face struggles in life, one after another, that person is only there to break promises. Well, self-centred people will only stay away when I need a pair of ears, not to mention a helping hand. Putting an end to it simply meant a halt to all the emotional blackmails and narcissism. Too much time wasted on unmeaningful people in life, and too little time spent on important family and good friends in life. Anyway, the past had passed and I am glad to become me once again, to regain the friendships I had once lost, etc.

Now that I am in good hands, well taken care of. No obligations. No guilt. No emotional games. Initially it sounded funny when I was told that I need to learn to be loved and appreciated, without feeling uncomfortable for being treated well. But yeah, now I understand why I should be confident and trust that I deserve it. 

Everyone deserves to be loved and appreciated.

When you get what you deserve, cherish it :)

It is already May 2021, I have 7 months to go towards the road of fabulous 30. Not every journey in life will be smooth sailing, but hopefully every path taken will be filled with a little more love, warmth and luck.

Signing off,

FiSh @ 9 May 2021

Tips on Buying Fish + Meat at the Wet Market

Ever shopped, selected out your fruit in a large chain store, but you think half of them are already rotten when you go to the house?? You will not feel that on a wet market because you can choose whatever you want, be it red meat or seafood.

Another advantage is that you can precisely define your needs at a lower price than in supermarkets.

You can find the quality of seafood is available in retail outlets when choosing a store for fish delivery in Singapore or anywhere else from the following information.

Whole Fish

Regardless of the species, all fish have some features that signify freshness. They must have clear, light, full eyes. The eyes tend to become cloudy, pink, and sunken as they lose freshness. The gills of whole fish must be light red or pink.

Avoid fish that seem to be gray, brown, or green with drab gills. Fresh fish is supposed to be free of slime or loose peeling. When pressed softly with the finger, it should be tight and elastic because the skin is softened and glides from the bone over time.

The skin should be bright and closely adhering. Distinctive colors and patterns begin to disappear as a fish leaves the sea. However, the skin can always be vivid and bright.

Steaks or Fish Filets

Please note that fillets and steaks should be solid, flexible, and have a new, damp look without browning around the margins. The skin must be almost transparent – as though it were almost visible.

There must be no indication that the skin is bruised or reddened by blood retention. Prepackaged Steaks and filets must have a minimum amount of liquid.

Live Crabs and Lobsters

Live crabs and lobsters are meant to have leg mobility, and the lobster tail is to coil closely beneath the corps. Lobsters and crabs will never be very active when cooled, but they must at least move a little. If you don't have anytime going to the wet market then you can check getmainelobster.com for they could deliver fresh lobster in your house.

Cooked lobsters or crabs should be light red in the shells and not smell unpleasant. Lobster meat should be white with red hues or white with red or brown shades, based on the body segment or species.

Raw Shrimp

Raw shrimp meat has to be solid and odor-free. Most varieties of shells are transparent with a greyish, pink, or pink hue. The shells must not be black-edged or black-faced – this is an indication of loss of consistency.

The cooked meat of shrimps should be strong and not smell unpleasant. The meat color can be reddish-brown with white. The Tiger shrimp have blue, black coats in between shell segments.

Beef or Mutton

Must have a vivid cherry red finish, without black or brown stains. It should not be fluffy but firm to touch. It must not have excess fluid or feel warm when touched.

Chicken

Chicken should have very bright skin, but not wet. The skin should be colored evenly, without blemishes. Also, check the wings as they should be flexible when moved. It must have no or slight odor.