Tom Chang Jiang White Coffee is one of the most popular beverages that originated from Ipoh. During one of our Grab rides to Ipoh Night Market, our driver also recommended that we visit a Chang Jiang outlet to savour their “White Coffee”. During this visit to Ipoh, under the recommendation of our church friend, we headed to the Chang Jiang White Coffee outlet at Kin Loong Valley. After visiting this outlet, we strongly recommend a visit to Kin Loong Valley while you’re visiting Ipoh Malaysia and here’s why…
About Chang Jiang White Coffee Kin Loong Valley
Chang Jiang is actually the originator of the “white coffee” in Ipoh. It started the founder, Mr Kong Wing Kheong who trialed many roasting methods to attain the aroma of the white coffee that we taste today. The new coffee that Mr Kong created then, was lighter in colour than the conventional coffee. Hence, he named it “white coffee“. His son, Mr Kong Kin Loong, took over the reigns and mechanised the process to produce white coffee on a large scale. His efforts to enhance the brand and its offerings has brought white coffee to become the mainstream coffee that it is in Ipoh today.
Hence, you would know by now that Kin Loong Valley is actually named after the 2nd generation Mr Kong. The original location of Chang Jiang White Coffee Kin Loong Valley is actually known as Tasik Cermin or, Mirror Lake. The entire Kin Loong Valley is so picturesque and we’re so glad that this venue was recommended to us!
Once inside, we were blown away by the location of Chang Jiang White Coffee at Kin Loong Valley. The restaurant itself is located RIGHT NEXT to the edge of the valley! There are 2 main sections of seats at Chang Jiang White Coffee Kin Loong Valley. The first section upon entry is not that impressive – though you can see the side of the valley through the gaps and windows. But if you venture further into the bigger seating space next door, that is where you want to be seated. If you can snag one of the seats by the streams, that would be probably the best seats in the house.
Chang Jiang White Coffee Kin Loong Valley Menu – What’s Available
During this visit, we tried what were in our opinion, the “must-try” at Chang Jiang White Coffee Kin Loong Valley:
1. Chang Jiang White Coffee (Of Course!). This time, we had the hot version at 5.20RM
2. Wangher Crossover. This is the name given for the Yuan-Yang (Coffee mixed with Tea) at Chang Jiang White Coffee. We went for the iced version at 5.30RM.
3. Chang Jiang Toast – Kaya Butter. They have the steamed version for the same price of 6.60RM but yeah, we went with the OG.
4. Traditional Dry Sauce Wanton Noodle – 9.90RM. Which we noticed doesn’t come with char siew.
5. Mama Curry Noodle Soup – 11RM. Simply because the photo looks so enticing!
We started with the beverages and were immediately impressed by the fragrant Chang Jiang White Coffee (5.2RM). We guess that if you go to a coffeeshop of the namesake, ordering the OG would always be good. In this case, Chang Jiang White Coffee was really good. You can taste the smooth rich flavours of the coffee, mellowed with the condensed and evaporated milk. A really good cup of Nanyang-styled white coffee.
As for the Wangher Crossover (Iced-5.5RM), Chang Jiang White Coffee’s take on the Yuan-Yang (aka coffee and tea mix), we thought it was good but…
Let’s talk about the good parts first.
Eventhough the Wangher Crossover was iced, the taste was not diluted unlike many iced drinks that you’d get out there. We could taste the richness of the coffee and mild subtle taste of the tea.
Here’s the “but”.
As Yuan Yang originated from Hong Kong, where Hong Kong milk tea takes centre stage, it is actually more difficult for a coffee joint like Chang Jiang to replicate a good tasting cup of Yuan Yang. This is also why when we bought both the “Cham” from Boh Tea and the “Wangher Crossover” from Chang Jiang, the Boh Tea’s Cham won it for us actually. Nonetheless, we think that Chang Jiang is doing a very good job in preserving the taste of the white coffee in their rendition of the Crossover. It also helps that they did not stick to the conventional name of “Yuan Yang”. Afterall, with a heavier taste on the white coffee, the Wangher Crossover is actually a different category of drink altogether.
As for the food options, we think it was really so-so. For instance, the Chang Jiang Toast Kaya Butter (6.60RM) was not really toasty – though we did enjoy the taste of the kaya and butter. But without the toasty bread, the entire Kaya Butter toast was only a pass. As for Traditional Dry Sauce Wanton Noodle (9.90RM), there wasn’t the old school taste. In fact, it was slightly plain. The wanton was good but with a mediocre sauce, the entire dish was not really that good. Lastly, the Mama Curry Noodle Soup (11RM) had a relatively thin curry sauce and the ingredients were actually not as generous as advertised in the menu. Not a memorable curry noodle as well.
BUT! You can still enjoy the beverages and the other main reason is this…
Chang Jiang White Coffee Kin Loong Valley – Things To Do
The real reason why you should visit Chang Jiang White Coffee Kin Loong Valley is definitely because of the beautiful scenery of the valley. At the carpark area outside the restaurant, you can catch a wide shot of the valley and next to the restaurant, there’s a small little walk to the photo spots of the valley. Nearby, after walking past a row of shops, you’ll come to the back of the restaurant that has a path around a lake that is also surrounded by the valley. A picturesque walk within Kin Loong Valley (Mirror Lake).
We also think that it is very clever of Mr Kong to have a small row of shops next to Chang Jiang White Coffee at Kin Loong Valley. Although it is not things that we would buy but we think that the idea is correct – offering reasons for visitors to still linger and not rush off, after their meal at Chang Jiang White Coffee. Instagrammable photo booths like the one you see above, helps.
Next to the restaurant, there is a merchandise store where you can also buy Chang Jiang White Coffee products before you head off. We got the OG Chang Jiang White Coffee – the 2-in-1 for health reasons (which was good as well) and the Wangher Crossover, which is good but compared to a tea-dominant Yuan Yang, still needs some time to make it into the mainstream Yuan Yang preference.
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook or Buy Us a Coffee Today!
Although the food options here are not exceptional, they are not that bad, to be honest. If Chang Jiang works on the “toasti-ness” of their Chang Jiang Toasts, we can see the perfect breakfast of toast and awesome white coffee to be enjoyed at Kin Loong Valley. Nonetheless, even if you’re heading to Chang Jiang White Coffee Kin Loong Valley solely for its beverages, the beautiful and instagrammable views of the valley, still makes it a worthwhile visit while you’re in Ipoh. Enjoy!
