Popular Singapore dessert joint Nine Fresh is opening in Metro Manila

What do you get when you mix silky bean curd with grass jelly and taro balls? You get hodgepodge of flavors and textures that all come together on your palate. This is the dessert concoction that is distinctly Nine Fresh, a Singaporean brand that has Taiwanese origins. 

“Back when we first started eight years ago in Singapore, it was something that was new. We had it in Taiwan — in Jiufen — where taro balls originated from. But we didn’t have it in Singapore so we thought we could bring it closer—bring this little piece of Jiufen closer to home,” shared VaNnessa Tan, Co-Founder of Nine Fresh.

This food concept, which was inspired by their travels, has now grown into 18 outlets throughout the city-state that has a melting pot of cultures.

This 2020 marks their first year to venture outside their home court. “We know that Filipinos are dessert lovers. We have a strong following of Filipinos residing in Singapore so we thought of making Philippines are first stop,” revealed Tan.

Filipino foodies would be happy to know that the local outposts will feature locally sourced ingredients. “In Singapore we don’t have ube balls, but in Manila we are introducing the ube balls.”

This unique dessert concoction has three bases — grass jelly, bean curd, and ai-yi jelly—which you can mix and match with a variety of bean, jelly, and chewy toppings. For those not familiar with the concept, it is highly recommended that you try their bestsellers first, all of which have tried and tested flavors that have sustained the brand’s popularity in Singapore.

Nine Fresh is poised to launch in two Metro Manila locations soon — in SM City Manila and in SM Fairview. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can get when Nine Fresh opens.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can create your own dessert by choosing your base — even mixing all three — and selecting your preferred toppings from over 20 varieties. No need to fly all the way to Singapore to get a taste of this healthy treat, as it will soon be available in the local market.

Nine Fresh will open its first two branches in SM Manila and SM Fairview late February or early March. Website

— LA, GMA News