What Bean Tea House Taught Me About Small Town Dreams

I never expected a cup of bubble tea would make me reconsider what the word "home" really means.

The first time I visited Bean Tea House in Titi, Jelebu, I wasn’t chasing a story. I was just looking for something cold to drink on a warm afternoon. As I was leaving the shop, I realised that I had stumbled upon something more, a subtle revolution hidden beneath pastel walls and the aroma of brown sugar pearls.

The Bean Tea House. (Source: Jia Yi’s phone)

A bubble tea shop is not the kind of business you would expect to find in Titi. What you can find in Titi is the roads lined with traditional kopitiams, sundry stores, and old houses that seem to have endured the test of time. The village has its own rhythm- serene, peaceful, and comforting in its simplicity. However, what nestled in that calm is Bean Tea House, a place that magically connects the past and present.

Bean Tea House doesn’t shout to get attention from people. Its wooden signboard and mellow lighting create a subtle charm that falls right into Titi’s landscape. What I see inside the shop is an old couple sharing a bowl of jelly grass with taro balls and pearls, students typing on laptops while families chitchatting over drinks. I won’t get to see this scenario when in the city. It feels warm, like home, not just from the drink in my hand, but from the sense of belonging in the air.

Bean Tea House’s menu. It’s written in chalk on a blackboard. Jasmine milk tea costs RM6.5. (Source: Jia Yi’s phone)

A university student studying while enjoying a bag of soya. (Source: Jia Yi’s phone)

Bean Tea House started as a food truck years ago, founded by Chong Yan Ran, 33, who believed her small town deserved some modern joys that the city had. At first, few people thought that bubble tea would be accepted in a place like Titi. But gradually and slowly, cup by cup, it won over hearts. What began as a young drink for young people, now became a part of local life for grandparents and kids, students, visitors and locals.  

Bean Tea House first started as a food truck. (Source: Bean Tea House Facebook)

As I saw a group of young people take selfies with their drinks, I pondered how something as simple as a beverage could bring vitality to a sleepy town. It wasn’t just about bubble tea anymore. It was about connection, between generations, between tradition and modernity, and between having the guts and dream to see it through.

The story behind the counter was the one that affected me most. The founder had quit her 9am to 5pm job in the city to introduce something new to Titi. She wasn’t chasing wealth or glory; she just wanted her hometown to experience something new. Indeed, the process took long days, patience, and countless recipes before the shop found its rhythm. Today, it represents not only a business but a symbol of persistence.

Chong is making chocolate bubble milk tea. (Source: Jia Yi’s phone)

As I was enjoying my classic milk tea with pearls, I couldn’t help but think about how frequently people my age, especially university students like me, believe that success only exists in cities. We thrived to seek chances in skyscrapers and coworking spaces, forgetting that innovation- the courage to start something new- can begin anywhere, even in a quiet town. I am reminded by Bean Tea House that success doesn’t always need to be loud. Sometimes, success is built in silence, right where your roots are.

Although Titi doesn't have shopping malls or bright lights, it has people who believe in growing where they’re planted. The creation of Bean Tea House has inspired more people to launch small ventures such as bakeries, café and home-based food businesses. Together, they’ve transformed the village into a small hub of creativity. It proves that changes can begin with just a cup of bubble tea, rather than in big waves.

Leaving Titi that day, I carried much more than just the happiness of my drink. I took away a quiet lesson which is that ambition doesn’t need to be showy or glamorous to make an impact. Sometimes, it’s about seeing potential where others don’t, and bringing warmth and possibility to the people around you.

Bean Tea House may just be a small shop in a small town, but its story will continue. It’s a reminder to me that even the simplest dreams, like making tea, can become a spark for transformation.