Cafe dessert run. Bon bon + ju pu ice cream waffle, $16.40. 😍😋👍🏼

What was on the wooden tray:

One large Belgian waffle: deep grid pattern, golden brown, slightly crispy edges
Two ice cream scoops on top:
- Bon bon (dark brown / chocolate): the chocolate-based ice cream, possibly with bon bon candy bits or chocolate truffle pieces
- Ju pu (light beige / cream): the Chinese-style peanut + black sesame flavour, possibly with a touch of caramel
Chocolate sauce drizzle across the waffle: dark stripes
Cutlery flanking the plate: fork + knife on each side
Wooden serving tray: the cafe-style natural presentation

The “Bon Bon” ice cream flavour:

Bon bon (French: bon, “good”): the chocolate candy / truffle category
Chocolate-based ice cream with added bon bon candy pieces / chocolate truffles
Often paired with: vanilla bean, hazelnut, cookies and cream
The premium chocolate option at cafes that source the candies

The “Ju Pu (Jiu Pu)” ice cream flavour:

Ju Pu (酒铺) means “wine shop” in Mandarin, but in the dessert context could refer to:
- A specific cafe’s house specialty name: the cafe’s branded ice cream flavour
- A peanut + sesame combination: traditional Chinese dessert flavours adapted to ice cream
- A reference to a specific brand or shop: that the cafe credits
Likely interpretation: a peanut + black sesame ice cream with toasted nut notes

The Chinese-Asian flavoured ice cream trend in Singapore cafes from 2018-2022:

Matcha + hojicha (Japanese roasted tea)
Black sesame + soy milk
Pandan + gula melaka (palm sugar)
Durian + jackfruit
Soya bean / tau huay
Peanut + sesame combinations
Mao Shan Wang durian + various pairings

These Asian flavours differentiate boutique cafes from chain ice cream shops:

Local nostalgia appeal: childhood-flavour ice cream
Photo-friendly contrast: against the standard vanilla / chocolate baseline
Premium pricing justified: ingredients harder to source (real matcha, real pandan)

The $16.40 price point for a 2-scoop cafe waffle:

Without Burpple deals: this is full retail mid-range pricing
With Burpple Beyond: would have been $8-$10 effective
At pure indie cafe: standard pricing for 2 scoops + waffle + presentation
At specialty dessert cafes: $18-$25 for similar
At hotel cafes: $25-$35 for similar

The cafe dessert experience economy:

Plating presentation matters as much as flavour
Wood trays + linen napkins + cutlery presentation part of the price
The atmosphere: lighting, music, seating, all contribute
The Instagram moment: cafe desserts are designed for photos first, eating second
Post-meal social wind-down: where the time investment justifies the dessert spend

The waffle as the stable platform:

Doesn’t compete with the ice cream flavours
Provides textural contrast (warm + crispy vs cold + smooth)
Soaks up melting ice cream at the contact point
The eating mechanics work: spoon scoops down through ice cream into waffle

Overall: 4.4 / 5. 😍😋👍🏼 Solid bon bon + ju pu waffle. The chocolate-Asian-fusion flavour pairing was the standout. Would re-visit for more flavour combinations.

Original IG post