Yumtea Holborn - Review - Holborn - London - The Infatuation
"‘I miss you very matcha’. Please note: this is not our attempt at mild, beige flirting but simply what’s written above the cartoon cake that will smile at you from Yumtea’s window as you walk up High Holborn. Sweetness, of both the punny compliment and Japanese patisserie variety are the priority here, and everyone who steps within three feet of its golden honey toast already knows it. Students and office workers who require a sugary life raft stop by for a matcha float, or to eye up the glass display counter of swirling, creamy fruit cakes with sponge so light it’s practically levitating. Try to nab one of the few stools—there’s something deeply medicinal about spending a lunch break eating chicken katsu-filled shokupan within the calming, dinky cafe.
photo credit: Koray Firat
photo credit: Koray Firat
video credit: Rianne Shlebak
photo credit: Koray Firat
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Food Rundown
Chicken Katsu Sando
Sincere apologies to Kingsmill, but we simply can’t look at you the same after our fateful encounter with this light, milky shokupan. The chicken katsu itself could be thicker, but the smear of sweet curry sauce goes a treat with the milkiness of the bread.
photo credit: Koray Firat
Honey Toast
Gorgeous and golden enough to be the break-out star of a St. Tropez instant bronzing lotion campaign, this honey toast is a proper sugar hit. It’s thicker than your average honey toast and you should seek out the particularly crispy caramelised spots around its edges.
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video credit: Koray Firat
Lemon Roll
The looping sponge in this rolled cake doesn’t want to be sponge. It’s got its heart set on being a cloud and you know what, it’s doing a pretty great job. The air-light texture, pitch-perfect creaminess, and hum of citric lemon makes this perfect for anyone who falls in the “I’m just not a super sweet dessert person” camp.
photo credit: Koray Firat" - Heidi Lauth Beasley