19-Year-Old Sells ‘Duck Shit Tea’ At Cute Tea Kiosk That Opens On Weekends Only
This whimsical shop sits beneath a large tree and sells bubble tea, matcha and a controversial ‘duck shit tea’. How does a poly student afford rental for a unit that only opens twice a week? 8days.sg speaks to the baby-faced teen.
In a quiet corner of an old HDB estate in Balestier sits a little tea kiosk with a quirky name: Tea By The Tree. The shop is housed in a unique standalone block, flanked by a large rain tree that provides shade and inspired its moniker. The unit has just enough space for brewing apparatus, a counter, a shelf bearing ingredients — and its young tea master. It boasts a cosy Taiwanese tea joint vibe.
No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.
Open on weekends only
The mod bubble tea shop is run by 19-year-old student-entrepreneur Louis Koh, a final-year optometry student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. “I’m going back to school,” he explains matter-of-factly, explaining why the business only operates on Saturdays and Sundays.
He launched the kiosk a couple of months ago in April 2025 during his school holidays, as he wanted to do something productive with his break. “I’ve always loved tea and thought, why not give it a shot? It began as an experiment, and honestly, I didn’t expect people to come.”
But they did. In fact, his first week of business was unexpectedly chaotic. “I remember running out of sugar syrup mid-rush and having to boil more while managing orders alone. That was stressful,” he laughs. “I was not prepared at all.”
Louis isn't entirely new to the F&B world though. "I've had some experience working part-time in F&B, so this doesn't feel all that different," he shares. He worked as a server at Watami Japanese restaurant and Awfully Chocolate.
Teen inherited shop unit from grandpa
If you’re wondering how a 19-year-old can afford to rent a shop that only opens twice a week, well, the space was passed down to Louis by his grandfather, who was its previous owner. “This place holds deep sentimental value,” Louis shares. “It felt right to carry on the legacy my grandad started, honouring both his hard work and the memories tied to this place.”
While he’s tight-lipped about what his grandpa used to sell at the shop, or what his parents do for a living, Louis does reveal that the store is about a 15-minute drive from where he lives.
Aside from free rent, Louis tells 8days.sg that excluding renovation costs (which he declined to share), he invested around $4,000 to get Tea By The Tree off the ground. “I used my savings, mostly from Chinese New Year red packets and past part-time jobs,” he shares.
“It’s not a huge amount compared to other F&B setups, but for a 19-year-old, it felt like a lot.” The money went into equipment, ingredients, and packaging. He also commissioned someone to design the shop’s logo and signage.
Hello, 'duck shit tea'
Louis uses four tea bases sourced from a farm in Guangdong, China: Honey Red Tea, Osmanthus Oolong, Tie Guan Yin, and a cheekily named varietal that often catches customers off guard – Duck Shit.
Say what? Yes, duck shit tea. “It’s a unique variety of Dancong oolong tea with floral and toasted notes,” Louis explains. The name comes from a local myth in China: apparently, villagers named the tea “duck shit” to stop others from stealing their prized crop. “It tastes better than it sounds,” he laughs.
Summer passion
Teas imported directly from a farm in China
“I wanted to focus on good tea, made simply but well,” Louis shares. “You don’t need too many options if each cup is brewed with care.”
He adds: “By sourcing straight from the farm, we’re able to maintain a close relationship with our suppliers, support traditional farming practices and bring our customers fresher, more flavorful teas,” he explains.
Louis shares, “I actually met my tea suppliers during a holiday to China a few years ago.” As for tea brewing, he picked up most of his knowledge from watching tutorials on Chinese social media platforms Xiaohongshu and Douyin, diving deep into the techniques of steeping time and water temperature through trial and error.
Tie guan yin prepared Yakult Bliss style
"Business has been going well overall. There are definitely good days and bad days, but I'm still managing to turn a profit," Louis says, though he avoids going into specifics.
From schoolboy to weekend towkay
Louis, who juggles classes during the week, is chill about balancing both roles. “My friends have been incredibly supportive – some come by often, and others help spread the word. I’m really thankful,” he says.
“The most rewarding part is seeing people return. When they say they like what I’ve made, it’s honestly the best feeling.” He shares that many of his customers are strangers who stumble across the kiosk but later become familiar faces. “It’s a warm feeling – like I’ve built a little community around the tree.”
Plans to keep selling tea after graduation
“I can see this becoming a long-term side project,” Louis says. “My parents have always encouraged me to aim high, so I’ve got a lot of ideas — maybe expanding the menu, working with other brands, or even opening more outlets.”
While the business has potential to grow, Louis is clear about his priorities for now. “I want to finish my diploma and further my studies in uni, but I will continue to run this shop after graduation.”
“Eventually, I hope to open it daily,” he adds. “Maybe I’ll build a team or tweak my schedule. It’s all part of figuring things out.”
Tea By The Tree is located at 2A Balestier Rd, #1-705A, S321002. Open Sat and Sun, 12.30pm-6pm. More info via Instagram & Tiktok.
Photos: Tea by The Tree
No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.
8days.sg is now on #tiktok! Follow us on www.tiktok.com/@8dayseat
Related Stories
Shopping
