Ex-Mediacorp Actress Tang Miaoling’s Daughter Opens Cute Chia Seed Pudding Cafe That Cost ‘Six Figures’ To Set Up
Despite inheriting her mum’s looks, the ex-performer at Universal Studios Singapore was never interested in appearing on TV. She hopes to mimic the acai bowl craze with S’pore’s first dedicated chia pudding brand.
Move over, acai bowl – it’s time for chia pudding to have its moment. At least, that’s what Megan Lim, 26, and her boyfriend Ashraf Karim, 29, are hoping for. The couple launched Chia Puddies, Singapore’s first dedicated chia pudding brand, at Clarke Quay Central after noticing a gap in the market.
If Megan looks familiar, it might be because she’s the daughter of former Mediacorp actress Tang Miaoling, who sometimes shares photos of her on social media. With her ’90s TV sweetheart mum’s radiant smile and sparkling eyes, Megan is a natural in front of the camera too.
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The six-seater cafe exudes a cheery, Bali-esque vibe with a vibrant orange palette, rattan chairs and framed posters – all personally selected by Megan. There’s also a large mirror by the entrance for customers to do a quick teeth check for any sneaky chia seeds before heading out.
Chia Puddies specialises in chia pudding bowls and smoothies. Their chia pudding is made by soaking chia seeds in milk or coconut milk until they absorb the liquid and develop a gelled, pudding-like consistency. The menu features six pudding flavours and six smoothie options, each paired with toppings like fresh fruit, granola and almond butter. Prices start at $10.50 for the smallest bowl, while smoothies go for $9.80 each.
The case for chia
Like many, Megan started making chia pudding after hearing about the benefits of chia seeds a few years ago – the ingredient, which is a good source of protein, fatty acids, and fibre, is considered a superfood. “I started making chia puddings at home because I realised I couldn’t really get it anywhere else,” she explains. The seeds come from plants native to Mexico and parts of Central America.
While acai bowls have exploded in popularity, Megan and Ashraf, who goes by Ash, noticed that no one in Singapore was specialising in chia puddings. Ash recalls the moment they decided to turn it into a business. “We were both just casually eating it and I was like this is really good, I think we can sell it,” he says. Megan agrees: “It was a eureka moment.”
Together with a silent partner, they invested a “six-figure sum” to launch Chia Puddies in January.
Star-studded support
Megan’s mum, Miaoling, 56, cheerfully recalls being curious about chia puddings when her daughter first started prepping the snack: “I remember asking her what she was making!”
Miaoling had dropped by the café after filming her scenes for Channel 5 drama Provocative that morning – looking effortlessly chic, may we add. After leaving Mediacorp in 1994, she took a long hiatus from acting, but in recent years, she’s been easing back into showbiz – like playing Jack Neo’s wife in his 2024 movie Money No Enough 3 – and handling real estate deals on an ad-hoc basis.
Though she doesn’t own a stake in Chia Puddies, the actress has been nothing but supportive. “I’ve been dropping by quite frequently. I was just here yesterday to do a live stream to promote the cafe,” she says.
Miaoling has also cautioned the young couple about the hard work involved in F&B – something she learned firsthand. In 2018, she co-founded Korean hawker stall Star Army Stew in Ang Mo Kio with former actress Cassandra See – the business closed during the pandemic in 2020.
“I fully support them, but it’s important to know what it takes to run an F&B business,” she adds.
Megan tells us that her mum, who owned an interior design firm (Miaoling closed it after five years to care for Megan and her younger brother), offered advice on how to utilise their shop space. During our interview, Miaoling was enthusiastically ordering bouquets to brighten up the space. “I’m really proud of her,” she says, beaming. “I know all the work that’s gone into this, and how much effort it takes to finally launch the shop.”
Never wanted to follow mum’s footsteps as an actress
Despite inheriting her mum’s good genes, Megan never caught the acting bug – at least, not for TV. “I’ve never done any commercials or TV productions,” she shares. She reveals she’s never had any formal training in acting either. “No drama club, no background at all!” she quips.
Still, she enjoys performing in a different way. Before opening Chia Puddies, Megan, who studied events management in poly, was a full-time cast member at Universal Studios Singapore for two years. If you’ve ever visited the theme park’s Ancient Egypt zone, you might have spotted her as the Goddess of Egypt, a role that required her to maintain a lean and strong physique. “I loved interacting with kids while in character,” she adds.
The menu was inspired by Megan’s previous job at USS
“At USS, we have to uphold a certain standard. You want to maintain a good look for your role. The boys there were jacked – they had like six packs, so I was like, okay, I need to get in shape too. Everyone is very healthy, we all worked out together,” shares the bubbly entrepreneur.
That fitness-focused lifestyle led Megan to meal prepping. “I wanted a healthy sweet snack, so that’s when I started experimenting with chia pudding flavours. I incorporated fruit blends and other ingredients, and that’s how I came up with the [Chia Puddies] selection,” she says.
At Chia Puddies, Megan prepares the pudding personally, while a staff member helps with prep work like slicing fruit, and assembly of the bowls. “I’m very particular about it, no one touches the pudding [except me],” she declares. The cafe uses black chia seed, and Megan doesn’t specify a particular country of origin when sourcing from their suppliers.
Hopes to recreate acai bowl trend
“Our goal is to mimic the acai craze, but in our own way,” says Ash. “Most acai joints overseas sell chia pudding as well. Usually, they go hand in hand. I’m fairly confident that it’ll catch on.”
While Megan is the creative force behind Chia Puddies, her brawny beau handles “everything else” – especially logistics and operations. Thankfully, Ash is no stranger to entrepreneurship. He’s the co-founder of Culture SG, an events company specialising in themed parties (which was how the couple met – Megan attended one of his events). Though he’s taken a step back to focus on Chia Puddies, Ash’s experience has come in handy as the couple has recently initiated some collaborations with nearby gyms and yoga studios – where most of their customers come from.
“We get a lot of gym-goers and the yoga crowd,” says Ash. “They’re all going crazy about how macro (rich in macronutrients) chia puddings are. A lot of them are giving up acai because they’re starting to realise it’s too sweet, there’s too much sugar.”
Ash, who’s a former physical trainer, points out that their chia puddings “only use raw honey and most of our bowls average around 500 calories with 17g of protein”.
The two-month-old shop sells an average of 60 to 70 bowls daily, and Ash says business has been picking up month by month. However, they have no plans to expand soon. “We’re going to take it easy and pace it out,” he says.
Glory Bowl, from $10.50 (8 DAYS Pick!)
This non-dairy option uses coconut milk, which adds subtle richness to the pudding. We like how it’s nicely gelled and smooth – no slimy texture here. Toppings are fresh and well-chosen: juicy, ripe mango adds natural sweetness, sliced strawberries bring a slight tartness, while supplier-sourced granola and coconut shavings provide a lovely crunch and nutty aroma. The smallest sized bowl was surprisingly filling for one person. A refreshing, texturally balanced treat.
Triple B Bowl, from $10.50 (8 DAYS Pick!)
A perfect balance between tart and creamy – the chia pudding, flavoured with strawberries, blueberries and banana, delivers a refreshing tang, complemented by luscious almond butter. Each spoonful is layered with textures – plump berries for a burst of freshness, crunchy granola for contrast, and Greek yogurt for a smooth finish. This is a vibrant, satisfying bowl that feels indulgent yet wholesome.
Choco Chia Bowl, from $10.50
For chocolate lovers looking for a healthier dessert fix. Featuring a blend of milk and cocoa powder, the pudding delivers a satisfying chocolate flavour that’s not too sweet. There’s a creamy tang from the Greek yogurt, while the combination of banana and house-made almond butter makes this option heartier than the lighter and fruitier Glory Bowl. The almond butter, in particular, tastes fresh, smooth and nutty, without any unpleasant aftertaste. A crumbly mix of granola and cacao nibs rounds out the bowl.
Mango Banana, $9.80 (8 DAYS Pick!)
Chia Puddies ensures their smoothies are silky-smooth by fully blending soaked chia seeds into the milk-based mix, eliminating any unwanted grittiness. This tropical flavour shines with natural sweetness from the fragrant mango and a mellow creaminess from the banana. Perfect for a midday pick-me-up or post-workout refuel.
Matcha Chia, $9.80 (8 DAYS Pick!)
A sophisticated smoothie with an earthy depth from matcha, and a rich sweetness from the banana to round out the pleasant bitterness. Think of it as a protein-packed, smoothie spin on a matcha latte – but more substantial and just as delicious.
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