Buah keluak is a common ingredient found in Nonya recipes. But over at Asylum Coffeehouse, the flavours of the poisonous nut comes reimagined into a novel, aromatic blend that is used to brew up cups of joe instead. The café takes cues from its location, on the first floor of a Peranakan shophouse at Jalan Besar, to serve up a modern menu inspired by tradition.
Enter the white-clad space, and sip on espresso-based drinks made using the house-special four-bean Keluak blend. Its full-bodied notes of nuttiness and chocolate are best brought out in a mocha to yield a rich, bold cuppa. For fruitier notes, the rotating selection of pour-overs might feature the floral Colombia and Brazil with hints of caramel and passionfruit.
Beyond the beans, Asylum Coffeehouse elements of local culture also come through in other parts of the café, such as the crockery which is supplied by Mud Rock Ceramics.