KUCHING’S café scene might be buzzing with new names, but Teapack has carved out a flavour of its own — mixing the city’s love for milk tea with the heritage of Foochow pastries.
At the heart of it all is Johnson Tie Sing Leong, who’s just as obsessed with soft, chewy junnvpiang as he is with creative packaging.
We caught up with him for a quick-fire chat about nostalgia, branding and what’s next for this proudly Sarawakian brand.
Teapack draws inspiration from Foochow pastries — what sparked the idea of blending this heritage into your menu?
My uncle is a master of Foochow snacks, and that really inspired me. I thought, why not bring that heritage into our concept?
It sets us apart from other milk tea brands — we’re not just serving drinks, we’re serving culture on a plate.
Was there a particular pastry from your childhood that inspired one of the items here?
The mangi! It’s something I grew up with. People usually compare it to youtiao — or chakoi, as we call it in Sarawak. But instead of being hollow, the middle is filled with blended sugar, which gives it that sweet bite.
How important is it for Teapack to stay proudly Sarawakian, especially in such a competitive café scene?
Super important. Back then, Foochow snacks like junnvpiang and mangi were only found in Sibu and Bintulu. So we felt it was our job to bring those flavours here — to make sure Kuchingites could enjoy them too.
Pastries are often tied to nostalgia. How do you modernise Foochow flavours without losing authenticity?
We keep the flavours traditional but wrap them in a modern café vibe. That means not just the food, but also the branding, packaging and feel of the place. When people walk in, they know it’s a café where they can chill — but when they bite into the pastry, that’s where the nostalgia kicks in.
Teapack’s packaging is quite distinctive — from resealable plastic bags to sturdy boxes. Why invest in design instead of just using ordinary packaging?
We wanted our traditional food to be more than just something you eat and forget. Packaging helps us brand it properly. If you buy a junnvpiang in an ordinary plastic bag, it’s just another snack. But put it in a nice box? Suddenly, it feels special.
How do you see packaging as part of the overall Teapack experience?
It’s super important. Packaging makes people remember us. Sometimes, customers even keep the boxes or bags — and when they do, our brand sticks around with them a little longer.
Teapack once offered lifestyle items like tumblers and tote bags. Any plans to bring those back this year?
Yes! We’re planning to bring them back for our sixth anniversary. People still ask about the old tumblers and tote bags, so we know they’re excited for a comeback.
Do you think packaging and merchandise help tell Teapack’s story as a Sarawakian brand?
Definitely! Our merch always features Foochow snack icons. It’s a fun way to share our story — you’re not just carrying a bag, you’re carrying a piece of Foochow heritage.
What do you hope customers learn about Foochow culture when they try your pastries?
That Foochow food isn’t just tasty — it’s also good value. Our snacks are affordable but made with quality. That’s something we want people to remember about Foochow culture: simple, yummy and made with care.
What’s next for Teapack?
We’re dreaming bigger. Right now, we’re only in Kuching, but we want to open across Sarawak. Imagine having Teapack in every major town — bringing Foochow snacks to everyone, everywhere.
