Toya Tento, located at the base of a residential apartment block in Waterloo, features a menu centred around soy bean products. While the emphasis is mostly on sweet offerings, there are also savoury options available.

Matcha Warabi Mochi ($14.80)

The warabi mochi seemed freshly made, slightly warm, with a subtle vegetal note from the matcha, but without any bitterness. The mochi balls were tender, with a firmer texture that contrasted nicely with the soft stretchiness of the warabi mochi. The red bean paste had a sweet nuttiness but was served cold, which felt a bit out of place with the warm mochi. The traditional pairing with nutty kinako was pleasant, but the addition of kuromitsu was particularly enjoyable, adding a rich, molasses-like sweetness.

Soy Kuzu Mochi ($5.50)

This was cool and refreshing, with a texture somewhere between the firm bite of agar jelly and the elastic bounce of konjac jelly. Though flavourless on its own, it was perfectly complemented by the kuromitsu and kinako, the rich sweetness of the syrup balancing well with the nuttiness of the powder.

Genmaicha Soya Milk (380 mL, $7.50). This was made with genmaicha, organic soybeans, water, and sugar.

The drink had a fragrant genmaicha aroma, with a pleasant roasted nuttiness and a soft vegetal green tea quality. The flavour was subtle but elegantly noticeable, with a creamy mouthfeel that masked the soy notes and added depth.

Black Sesame Smoothie (380 mL, $7.50). This contained black sesame, organic soybeans, water, and sugar.

It had a thick, rich black sesame flavour, with a slight grit from the ground seeds. The combination of black sesame and soy gave the drink a savoury quality, while the sweetness was well restrained.

Black Bean Smoothie (380 mL, $7.50). This was made with black turtle beans, water, and sugar.

It was extra thick and creamy, similar to blended red bean, though less sweet and less nutty. The black turtle beans had a mild, slightly sweet, mushroom-like flavour. While the drink had a smooth, inoffensive taste, its thickness made it less enjoyable to drink, even for a smoothie.

The complimentary barley tea was a bit weak for our preference but still refreshing on a warm day.

Overall, Toya Tento delivered an impressive range of soy-based products, many with a Japanese-inspired twist, despite being a Chinese establishment. The variety of flavour combinations showcased their commitment to quality ingredients across the board.

Toya Tento is located 5 Sam Sing St, Waterloo NSW 2017.