A branch of The Alley LuJiaoXiang opened in Parramatta Westfield in late August to many excited customers keeping them busy into the evening. Now, I’d walked past their store in Haymarket numerous times but always passed over them for one of the other numerous options. But with their new opening closer to home, I took the chance to try their menu, starting with one of their signature drinks.
This is the Brown Sugar Deerioca & Matcha Latte ($6.90, regular, fixed ice, fixed sugar). The drink is three layered with the brown sugar deerioca, which are made from scratch, forming the base, followed by fresh full cream milk and finally the matcha.
The recommended method for enjoying the drink was to stir 9 times. Having done that, the drink was enjoyable with a balanced sweetness that allows the matcha tpo came through with a notable vegetal flavour that’s without bitterness. We’re surprised that the brown sugar didn’t overwhelm the drink with sweetness as it has in the past at other stores, but it could be that the result of the matcha. The ‘deerioca’ were satisfyingly tender and chewy with good flavour and without the starchy notes that can sometimes linger. Overall, this is a refreshing drink without being overly milky.
This Brown Sugar Deerioca & Matcha Latte was ordered at The Alley LuJiaoXiang at Shop 4067, Westfield Parramatta, 159-175 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150.