If you ask me to pick only one place to get my herbs and tonic forever, my answer would be Chong Hoe Healthcare. My parents have been loyal patrons for years, so you could say I’m a convert. This shop hasn’t disappointed me yet!

I love that their shop has an impressive array of herbs and tonics. I’m a big fan of the herbal soup myself, especially the Nourish pack. It tastes crisp, strangely reminding me of autumn air, and it’s also, well, very nourishing. This is the product I first tried, and I swear, my fever broke right after I finished the bowl. 

Herbal soups aren’t the only things you’ll find. There are also tea blends, medicated rubs for pain relief, bird’s nest, and packets of cordyceps (good for boosting immunity and supporting reproductive health and kidney function). It can be overwhelming to browse through the shelves! 

Another thing I love about Chong Hae is that it isn’t just a shop for herbs and tonics—it’s actually a healthcare clinic offering TCM services like acupuncture and tuina massage. I recommend trying any of the services while drinking their tonics. I tried it once, and I felt like a new person afterward. 

Oh, and did you know that you can book a house call appointment from Chong Hae? This is such a convenient option that we can choose when we’re too sick to get out of the house.

My only concern about Chong Hae is that the prices tend to be on the higher end—sometimes even reaching S$1,000 (this price is reserved for the rare products). I don’t mind this at all because I think the quality makes the price worth it, but it’s definitely worth considering, especially if you’re on a budget.

Patient physicians and great variety of herbs and tonics

“Physicians are very patient and thorough in checking the condition of the patients. Also the shop sells their concoctions of flower tea bags and brews for soups.”

• Tingyen Chen, Google Review

Effective Chinese medicine

“After taking the Chinese medicine prescribed by physician WJ Ng for a couple of days, my husband’s severe bronchitis has improved a lot. He no longer has phlegm and his cough is much reduced. Thank you!”

• Yvonne Pointing, Google Review

Heng Foh Tong Medical Hall was initially founded to help poor Chinese and Malay immigrants in Singapore, and now, more than six decades later, it’s garnered a large following in the community. So, it’s not a surprise that I kept hearing about this place.

Confinement teas (teas you can drink after giving birth) are the most popular products here, but they also have other herbs, teas, and tonics for beauty, remedy, and vitality. 

They also have HFTeas, which are refreshing and perfect for people on a diet because it has low-to-zero sugar added. The variety isn’t as great as the other shops I’ve visited, but it’s satisfactory. 

What I like most about this shop is that your order is made specifically for you. They will ask you what exactly you’re looking for in a tonic (e.g., are you feeling a specific kind of pain, or do you just want something for your general well-being?), and then they’ll come up with the herbs and tonics you need. This level of personalization is top-notch; I feel like they really do care about me.

Another thing that I appreciate about this shop is that they offer bundles of their products that can last you for several weeks. I recommend these bundles, especially for new mothers, because they have everything you need—confinement soups, teas, and even clearly written instructions (if you’re worried about messing things up). 

These bundles may seem expensive at first, but when you consider the prices of each product, you’ll discover that you’re actually saving money in the end. 

This shop is super convenient as well. If you can’t make it to the physical location, you can just contact them online (via WhatsApp is your best bet), and they’ll have your order shipped to you! 

That said, it’s still much better to stop by the physical location. The experience of smelling the herbs and talking to the staff face-to-face is just unparalleled. 

With online buying, you don’t exactly know what you’re getting—or if you’ll like it—until the order gets to you. Online buying also limits the possibilities of your personalized tonics.

Seamless purchasing process

“They have great soup package[s] for confinement. Whole process of ordering to delivery to after sales service is superb. Even when I had some queries some time into my confinement and WhatsApp them, they are quick to respond. Highly recommend to purchase from them!”

• Charmaine Choo, Google Review

Amazing experience, even from abroad

“Good experience ordering for postpartum confinement package with HFT. I was ordering from abroad and all communications were seamless, efficient and quick via Whatsapp. They also answered all my questions and offered customization option for tonics. Recommend dealing with them for postpartum herbal packages. Happy with their service.”

• Szamantha Lim, Google Review

Among my friends who are into organic supplements, Herbal Pharm is the recurring recommendation. Curious, I decided to check it out, and immediately, I learned why it’s so popular: this shop quite literally has every organic product you can think of. 

I’m not just talking about herbs, tonics, natural teas, and the like. I mean, they also have skin care, hair care, and even eye care. They also have sustainable items like bamboo straws. Herbal Pharm truly feels like a one-stop shop for all things organic! 

But we’re here for the herbs and tonics, so let’s focus on that. Most of the tonics here come in powder form, so you can mix them with your drink—and apparently, even your food (I personally have never tried this, but my friends have, and they vouch for it). 

When it comes to tonic types, there’s a good variety. The most common type is the adaptogen, which is the tonic for increasing the body’s resistance to stress, but there are also nutritives (tonics that are rich in nutrients), bitters (perfect for supporting digestive processes), and alternatives (perfect for combating specific illnesses). 

The prices are fairly reasonable here, but if you want to save even more money, you can take advantage of their promotions, which happen pretty regularly, especially when there’s a holiday. These promos are usually bundles of their products—convenient, and they save money! How can I say no? 

One thing I have noticed, though, is that their inventory can get super confusing, both on their website and in their physical store. The categorization seems vague, and I have to check several links or go through several aisles just to find what I’m looking for. 

I also don’t like that they don’t really mention how certain tonics need to be consumed. Sometimes, I assume something is a drink based on the packaging and the lack of instructions. But when I open the can, it’s actually a powder. This can be frustrating. 

Great service and fast delivery

“I shop regularly at Herbal Pharm and love all their products. Service is great and delivery fast. Latest addition of tellicherry black peppercorns made me very happy since it’s not easy to find it in Singapore.”

• Milena Bijak, Google Review

Wide range of supplements at affordable prices

“My experience has always been good with this company. A wide range of supplements for good prices. Delivery has always been spot on for me. Not only am I happy with the delivery speed, but their prices are very competitive. For example, I can buy Aleppo Soap – 3 for $45. The prices for the same goods at Lazada and other stores are more expensive!”

• Ritesh Das, Google Review

Located in Hong Lim Complex, San Teck Soon Medical Hall is pretty underrated. I hadn’t heard about it before a friend mentioned it to me, and when I tried it out on a whim, I was blown away by the quality of the products and the friendly staff.

I love how the products on the shelves are neatly arranged. I know exactly where to go to get what I want, or if I get confused, I can simply ask an employee, and they’ll lead me in the right direction in no time. The shopping experience is pretty seamless.

If you can’t find the time to come to the shop yourself, don’t worry because you can order online instead via the website. You can even enjoy free shipping if your orders exceed S$50, and the delivery is pretty fast.

The selection has impressed me as well. I usually come for the flower and herbal tea, but recently, I’ve been eyeing the herbal soups, Chinese herbs, and fungi and mushrooms. Confinement packages for mothers are available, too.

Aside from the neat arrangement, fast delivery, and impressive selection, the shop is also willing to customize products for you. Send them a prescription or a detailed explanation of what you want and need via email ([email protected]) or fax it to their number, and indicate how many packages you’ll need. 

From my experience, getting custom orders takes a bit of time, but it’s not really a dealbreaker for me. The way I see it, these people are being careful in making the packages, and waiting is worth it in the end. 

The best part about this shop, though, is the pricing. I find the prices here to be some of the most affordable ones out of all the shops I’ve visited. If I want to stock up on my herbal teas, I know exactly where to go! 

Well-stocked, clear instructions on the packaging

“Great place to get Chinese herbs for soup! Well stocked. Clear instructions on packaging too for those who are not familiar with how to cook.”

• Karyn Ong, Google Review

Huge selection, offering delivery services

“They offered delivery services during the circuit breaker period (and now as well), which is a huge saver as I tried to minimize going outdoors. Ordering and delivery process were also easy and smooth. I whatsapp my order, confirm the price and delivery will usually arrive in the next 2 days. Their selection is quite huge, so far I have no problems in getting what I need.”

• Dawn Goh, Google Review

A family-operated business, Lao Ban Niang has impressed me with their range of products. They have the typical organic foodstuffs like nuts and seeds, but the herbal and flower teas and other tonics are plentiful as well. I actually get so overwhelmed seeing all the bird’s nests, ginseng, cordyceps, and so many more options here! 

The overwhelmed feeling gets even worse when I’m inside the physical store. It’s not too big, and it’s always busy with people, so I get overstimulated and lose track of what I’m looking for. 

It doesn’t help that sometimes, the staff can be a hit or miss; some will be nice and helpful, while others are off-putting. Many of the shop’s customers have expressed the same complaint, so keep that in mind if you ever plan on shopping here.

Fortunately, I don’t really have to go to the physical store because I can purchase their products online. They even have a storefront on Shopee and Lazada, making it even more convenient to get their products! 

Good packaging and friendly staff

“EDD is tomorrow so quickly drop by to buy confinement soup package. Packaging looks very good. Shop uncle very nice, insisted to carry for me down to the car although I rejected him twice.”

• Drusilla Choo, Google Review

Fantastic service and knowledgeable staff

“Fantastic service and knowledgeable boss who helped me with my confinement herbs. Thanks!”

• Annie C, Google Review