Fans of Thunder Tree – a popular vegan leicha (thunder tea rice) stall with branches at People’s Park Centre and VivoCity – will have until the end of June to load up on the Hakka dish.
Thunder Tree is known for its delicious and flavorful mix of vegetable toppings and rich, piquant tea sauce made from mugwort, mint leaves and basil. Its ingredients come from Fireflies Health Farm in Lim Chu Kang. For those who aren’t familiar with the homegrown venture, Thunder Tree has gained a following among Singaporeans since opening in 1998, who can’t get enough of their MSG- and additives-free food (even local singer-songwriter Linying has raved about them during our February 2022 cover interview).
According to co-owner Cai Ying Zhao, who runs the family business with his parents and siblings, the expiry of the lease of its farm has led to a decision to shut down its F&B operations as well. After their lease was extended twice in 2014, the farm will have its premises evacuated by July. It will also have to leave the area’s 10 food farms as well as 13 non-food farmers. The 390ha plot will then be redeveloped into a “high-tech agri-food cluster“.
“It’s sad to see my parents’ business – which they have built over the past 25 years – go. But the process to tender for another plot of land is a complicated, with no guarantee that you’ll be allocated one,” says Ying Zhao when we visited the People’s Park Centre stall last Thursday, which will be closing on 31 May. Its VivoCity unit, located in Food Republic is scheduled to close on 30 June.
“As of now, maybe we’ll take a long vacation after this,” he muses.
Do you plan to visit their stalls You might want to do so during off-peak hours as we’ve observed a steady stream of customers queuing at the People’s Park Centre stall even after lunch –Their VivoCity outlet is reported to be even busier.
And, if you’re new to Thunder Tree, we recommend requesting for a side of house-made chilli with your leicha. It is a powerful kick so be careful.
Thunder Tree is located at #B1-06, People’s Park Centre (10.30am-6.30pm) and Food Republic at VivoCity (11am-8pm).
Source: Her World
