Wunderfolks Pastry and Coffee (Tampines Mall)

Wunderfolks might be a name that some whom have been following the local F&B scene would find familiar with — these folks have actually started their business during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic; first established as a home-based business, these folks had subsequently transformed their business into a physical one with the establishment of a brick-and-mortar store with their very first location being at the foot of a HDB block at Stirling Road. Since then, Wunderfolks had managed to expand its operations further with a location in East Coast, as well as other locations in shopping malls like their Junction 8 and Lot One locations. Their Tampines Mall outlet had started operations in mid-2023; just like its other locations though, this outlet had initially started off being a takeaway-only location. Interestingly, Wunderfolks have since included two dine-in seats catering to a total number of four patrons some time in February 2024 which kickstarted the establishments dine-in operations. During our visit to the location on a weekend afternoon, it is noted that they were serving up a variety of tarts as well as Tiramisu boxes; beverages available would comprise of espresso-based specialty coffee brewed using beans roasted by Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee , as well as drinking chocolate and Matcha.

Skimming through the selection of tarts which they have on display, the Coco Daisy was the one that caught our attention considering how this seemed to be a flavour that is slightly different from that which we have seen being served by other establishments. Despite the availability of dine-in at the Tampines Mall location, Wunderfolks still serves up their tarts in disposable boxes and disposable plastic cutlery, while espresso-based coffeee are being served out of paper cups with plastic lids capped onto the paper cups by default. Wunderfolks describes the Coco Daisy to be a tart that comes with elements such as pineapple curd, coconut frangipane, and coconut-whipped ganache. One of the key elements to a well-executed tart would be in the tart base; Wunderfolks seems to have done quite a decent job in creating a tart base that is of a good balance in its textures — firm enough to hold all of the elements that sits atop of it whilst not being so crusty that it disintegrates messily when a fork is being stabbed right through it at the base. When it came to the fillings, it is noted that the coconut frangipane layer came with that familiar hint of nuttiness that provides much of the flavours to gel the tropical elements together — one can also feel the shreds of desiccated coconuts in this layer as well.

As one moves on to the pineapple curd, the consistency comes close to that of the lemon curd one would find in a lemon meringue tart; the refreshing sweet and zingy notes of pineapple lingering at the back of the tongue, while the light notes of coconut from the coconut-whipped ganache further enhances the flavours of the coconut frangipane below — there is a very light hint of white chocolate that one might be able to detect, but to that strong as to interfere with everything else. Where their Flat White is of concern, their Flat White was decent for an establishment that primarily has its focus on their sweet treats rather than their specialty coffee; one that comes with a medium body with roasty and earthy notes — not too creamy or milky, and is a decent pairing to their selection of tarts. We hadn’t have Wunderfolks a try for the longest time even despite hearing quite a lot about their tarts, and this was very much due to the operating nature of their business — we weren’t too keen to make a takeaway on their tarts and having to find a space somewhere to dine at whilst compromising on the quality of their tarts at the same time while at it; we do hope that the availability of dine-in seats at their Tampines Mall outlet will enable the brand to further reach out to those holding off to try them due to the same reason as us. We do look forward to giving some of their other tarts a try — this includes the likes of their Lychee Tart and their Matcha Tart; hope that more of their locations would include a dine-in area that would make things a little more convenient for those intending to try them all these while …