Tag: bubble tea

10 New Bubble Tea Options In Singapore That Are Not Gong Cha Or Koi

If there’s anything that 2018 gave us, it was a slew of new bubble tea brands – not that we’re complaining.

Over the years, we’ve seen bubble tea stores come and go – from the good ol’ days of Sweet Talk to big name chains like Gong Cha, Koi and LiHo conquering the BBT game. But in recent months, many new bubble tea kiosks have been springing up, giving those long standing favourites a run for their money.

If you’re looking for to switch up your go to order, here are 10 new bubble tea brands you should totally hunt down in 2019.

1. Ten Ren Tea

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Ten Ren Tea was established in 1953 and is THE leading tea retailer in Taiwan. That’s not all, they have over 2000 outlets in Australia, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, and North America.

The 800-square feet store at ChinaTown Point offers bubble tea, traditional tea drinks, as well as tea leaves, snacks and tea ware.

Ten Ren Tea puts a spin on our traditional teas with our love for bubble, sourcing quality tea leaves from the mountains of Taiwan. A must-try here is its signature 913 King’s Oolong Tea Latte ($3.50 for medium, $4.90 for large). Another popular pick is the Taro Green Tea Latte ($4.70 for medium, $6.50 for large).

Ten Ren Tea
Address: Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Rd, #01-07, Singapore 059413
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6593 4333
Website

2. TP Tea

Bless the bubble tea gods as TP Tea is considered Singapore’s first 24hrs Taiwanese Bubble Tea shop – which means they’re open to satisfy your 3am cravings. They’re also Halal-certified which provides a peace-of-mind to Muslim customers.

The bestseller at TP Tea includes the Tie Guan Yin Tea Latte ($4.60) which uses premium tea leaves from Taiwan and Pearl Black Tea Latte with Red Bean ($5.30). The star on the menu is also the Pearl Milk Tea Soft Serve Ice Cream ($3.60) which comes topped with sweet, chewy QQ Pearls made fresh every 3 hours.

TP Tea Changi Airport
Address: Level 2 (Departure Hall) Changi Airport Terminal, 260 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819643
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily
Website

TP Tea Suntec City
Address: Suntec City, #01-312, 3 Temasek Boulevard Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, daily
Website

3. Hollin

Gone are the days of basic black pearls. Hollin, which in Hokkien means “Good to drink”, specialises in freshly made pearls.

Other than the Honey White Pearl which is a fixed flavour, you can expect daily rotating pearl flavours with the likes of Cocoa, Matcha and Coconut. So if you happen to be craving for a particular flavour, you have to head down on the day itself or you’ll end up waiting for another week for your bubble tea fix. Pearls are priced at an additional $0.70 for both Medium and Large cups.

A must-try is their signature Matcha Latte ($4.20) which has a subtle bitterness from the matcha powder. You can also get the Hollin Black Tea Latte ($3.20 medium, $4.20 large) has a strong floral flavour from the roasted tea leaves.

Hollin
Address: Blk 190 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, #01-538, Singapore 310190
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm, daily
Contact No.: 6252 2456
Website

4. HEYTEA

Touted as the OG creator of cheese teas, the highly-raved Chinese tea connoisseur finally made its way to Singapore back in November.

We recommend getting the King Fone ($5.50) which uses premium Oolong tea leaves that have been smoked to bring out the strong fragrance of the tea. The saltiness from the cheese foam gives the brew a savoury kick with every sip.

HEYTEA will be opening their second outlet at Clarke Quay and adding alcoholic bubble tea creations to the menu.

HEYTEA
Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-29, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm, daily
Website

5. Answer Tea

Have a question you don’t have an answer to? Answer Tea may be able to help you out. Simply write your questions on the cup holder and order a drink from their Macchiato Series (from $4.30) and you’ll get your answer printed on the surface of your macchiato froth with edible ink.

If you need a drink for the ‘gram, we highly recommend the Lemon Butterfly Milk Tea with Black Pearl (from $4.20) which has a gorgeous blue hue derived from butterfly pea flowers.

Answer Tea
Address: Dhoby Ghaut MRT, B2, Singapore 238826
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, daily
Contact No.: 9117 1277
Website

6. MuYoo

As if we don’t have enough options already, here’s another newcomer to the cheese tea scene: MuYoo. Launched by a Singaporean duo, the brand claims to have a healthier version of cheese tea compared to everyone else.

Its signature “Cheese Cloud,” is whipped up with a mixture of “naturally derived milk powder” from New Zealand, cheese powder from Holland, and sea salt from Bolivia. This is what makes their cheese tea different, since the other brands usually use creamer, which is full of trans fat and artificial flavouring.

You can get that “Cheese Cloud” as an add-on to standard cold-brewed teas like Roasted Oolong ($3.50-$3.90) and Lapsang Souchong ($3.90-$4.50).

MuYoo
Address: 252 North Bridge Road #B1-67 Raffles City Shopping Centre Singapore 179103 (City Hall MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm, daily
Website

MuYoo+
Address: Bedok Mall, 311 New Upper Changi Road, #01-94 (Bedok MRT)
Opening Hours: 9am – 11pm, daily

7. Tiger Sugar

Those who have had a sip of this drink have claimed that the hype is very real, dubbing it as the most popular milk tea in Taipei.

Since its opening late last year, Tiger Sugar has been getting all the hype from hard core milk tea lovers in Taipei. They got their name from the ‘tiger stripes’ it forms when the caramalised syrup mixes with the thick milk tea mixture.

Many have praised their Brown Sugar Fresh Milk for its undiluted taste, a mistake often made by most bubble tea stores who scrimp on flavour affecting the overall taste and experience of milk tea addicts.

Tiger Sugar – Capitol Singapore
Address: Capitol Singapore #B2-32, 13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178905
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, daily

Tiger Sugar – Chinatown Point
Address: 133 New Bridge Road #B1-42 Singapore 059413
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, daily

8. Bobii Frutii

Brought over from Taiwan by local actor, Nat Ho, Bobii Frutii puts a spin on bubble tea with colourful drinks and quirky drink names.

Known for its colourful pearls, Bobbii Frutii have since attracted crowds to both their outlets at Clementi Mall and Suntec City due to its distinct coloured and “Instagram-worthy” layers. Each drink is made using milk, tea, colourful pearls with no artificial flavouring, man-made essences, preservatives and creamer.

The menu features a total of 37 drinks divided into 5 categories – Tea Au Lait, Ice Blended, Matcha, Fruit Tea and Cheese Tea (exclusive to Singapore). The pearls come in 3 different flavours – Original, Butterfly Pea and Brown Sugar and are made made in Taiwan and air flown to Singapore to ensure freshness and consistency.

Get the signature Mermaid’s Tears, which a blend of Butterfly Pea extract, Mango Juice with honey, yogurt and butterfly bobii.

Bobii Frutii The Clementi Mall
Address: 3155 Commonwealth Avenue West, The Clementi Mall, #04-K4, Singapore 129588
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm daily

Bobii Frutii Suntec City
Address: 3 Temasek Blvd, #02-376, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm daily
Website

9. Bober Tea

A new contender to the ever-expanding bubble tea scene is Bober Tea. Situated right outside Bishan MRT, Bober Tea serves unique concoctions using premium ingredients. What makes them stand out amongst the other bubble tea joints is their strict philosophy of serving beverages that take on the pure authentic flavours of the ingredients used as well as their emphasis on keeping their drinks as healthy as possible.

Bober Tea seems to be very popular for their Brown Sugar Boba Milk Cap Fresh Milk, the drink that has been in trend as of late. If you’re a huge match fan, then you’ll love the Uji Matcha Latte – made using pure matcha powder and fresh milk.

Other creative blends from by Bober Tea includes the Hokkaido Milk Cap Green Tea, Matcha Strawberry Latte and Black Glutinous Rice Milk Tea.

Bober Tea
Address: 200 Bishan Road, #01-01, Singapore 579827
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm daily
Website

10. R&B Tea

R&B Tea provides the perfect blend for those with a sweet tooth.

The Brown Sugar Boba Milk is a must try for everyone as the pearls are soaked in brown sugar and slow cooked for a full 3 hours. And if that isn’t enough sugar for you, get the Brown Sugar Boba Milk With Cheese Brulee which is only available at their Marina Bay Sands outlet.

R&B Tea
Address: Find your nearest outlet here
Website

Also Read  Save More, Huat More – 10 Wholesale Stores In S’pore To Stock Up On CNY Goodies And Groceries

Taiwan’s Famous ‘Tiger Sugar’ Bubble Tea Is Coming To The Lion City This November

As though we don’t already have enough bubble tea stores in Singapore, Taiwan’s famous bubble tea brand, Tiger Sugar, is coming to Singapore this November.

Those who have had a sip of this drink have claimed that the hype is very real, dubbing it as the most popular milk tea in Taipei.

Bubble Tea Craze

Taiwan is known to be a milk-tea crazed nation with stalls and shops lining the streets with some of their brands crossing over to our shores.

Since its opening late last year, Tiger Sugar has been getting all the hype from hard core milk tea lovers in Taipei. They got their name from the ‘tiger stripes’ it forms when the caramalised syrup mixes with the thick milk tea mixture.

Tiger Sugar will be opening their first flagship store in Singapore this November at City Hall. The exact date and location has not been revealed.

If you’re wondering whether you should hop on the bubble tea craze train, we can vouch for Tiger Sugar as people are willing to queue for up to an hour for the Tiger Sugar Boba Fresh Milk (NTD50/S$2.20~) in Taipei. The queues are always snaking long despite the abundance of bubble tea shops nearby.

Many have praised their Brown Sugar Fresh Milk for its undiluted taste, a mistake often made by most bubble tea stores who scrimp on flavour affecting the overall taste and experience of milk tea addicts.

Skip the flight to Taiwan because you can finally get Tiger Sugar’s famous Brown Sugar Fresh Milk right here in Singapore!

Also Read [REVIEW] We Spent $5.90 On LiHo’s New Salted Egg Bubble Tea So You Don’t Have To

(Header Image Source: @tracykyl)

[REVIEW] We Spent $5.90 On LiHo’s New Salted Egg Bubble Tea So You Don’t Have To

Will the salted egg yolk trend ever die out?

The short answer is: No, it won’t.

Just when we thought we’ve had enough of the Salted Egg trend, LiHo decided to surprise us with their latest creation during the CMYK Flea Market.

Introducing their latest bubble tea – Salted Egg Lava Brown Sugar Pearl Fresh Milk ($4.90/$5.90)

https://www.facebook.com/lihosg/photos/a.141429665902858/1913082468737560/?type=3&theater

We have salted egg crab, salted egg potato chips and heck even salted egg lava cake. Do we REALLY need salted egg in our bubble tea as well?

So the team headed out on this fine sunny afternoon to see if this drink was worth a try.

Let It Flow, Let It Flow

If you were there at the CMYK Flea Market over the past weekend, you might’ve seen long snaking queues in front of LiHo for their latest Salted Egg Bubble Tea.

It was initially advertised as a one-time thing at the CMYK Flea Market. However, we’re guessing the response on the day changed their mind as the drink is now available in three of their outlets: Bugis+, Vivo City and Suntec City.

First Thoughts

Upon reaching their outlet at Bugis+, I noticed that there was a queue forming at LiHo at 3pm on a Thursday.

As I watched them prepare my drink, I was impressed by the generous amount of salted egg that they poured into the drink. And in that moment, I knew this drink was going to be a complete sugar overload.

When the lady behind the counter handed over my drink, I couldn’t help but notice the slight judgement in her face as though she was secretly telling me, “You’re going to regret this.”

Of course, she smiled at me wearily and told me to “Enjoy!” – whatever that means.

First Sip

Now I was expecting a velvety, smooth drink but I was wrong.

Oh boy, I was so wrong.

Firstly, it was completely tough to drink it because the salted egg was thick, the pearls were clumped together and I could barely taste the milk. Instead of it all mixing together nicely, I was tasting three different elements instead.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t terrible. The taste of the salted egg was great – reminds me of a freshly steamed liu sha bao. However the texture of the drink threw me off.

After getting the entire office to try this drink, no one liked it.

In fact, everyone was completely confused by the taste and texture. Some preferred if the drink was thicker and creamier whereas some just felt that Salted Egg and Bubble Tea should never be combined.

The drink was pretty jelak for us after 3 sips because it was just too sweet for our liking.

Honestly, if this drink came in a dessert form, we would’ve been all for it. Pour the salted egg sauce all over a pudding and we’ll gladly eat it.

If you were to ask us if we’d ever buy it again, sadly, it’s a no from us.

We love you salted egg, but perhaps you should just stay out of our bubble teas from now onwards.

If you do love salted egg, try it out and let us know what you think!

LiHo Bugis+
Address: 201 Victoria St, #03-29/30 Singapore 188067
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm daily

LiHo Suntec City
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #03-379 Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm daily

LiHo Vivo City
Address: #01-111, Vivo City, 1 Harbourfront Walk, 098585
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 10.30pm daily

Also Read From Korean Sandwiches To Steaks, Here Are 10 New Eateries In Century Square Worth Checking Out

(Header Image Source: LiHo Singapore Facebook, Discover SG)

Bubble Tea Buns Are A Thing Now – BreadTalk Launches Earl Grey Buns And Swiss Rolls With Pearls

Looks like bubble tea craze isn’t dying any time in Singapore.

BreadTalk just stepped up their game with their latest bubble tea buns and toasts which starts from $1.90.

Taking Bubble Tea To New Heights

If your go to order at your favourite bubble tea shop is Earl Grey Milk Tea, then you’ll love their new buns.

Celebrated in an unexpected form, the Earl Grey Bubble Tea Bun ($1.90) features an Earl Grey tea infused dough filled with Earl Grey tea infused cream and paired with pearls, making each bite an aromatic and chewy treat.

We were pleasantly surprised by how soft the pearls were as compared to the chewy texture we’re all used to.

If that isn’t good enough for you, they also come in toast ($2.90) and roll ($8.50) forms!

The Early Grey Bubble Tea Roll ($8.50) features an airy, light and fluffy Swiss roll wrapped around an Earl Grey Tea infused cream filling with chewy pearls. This roll makes for the perfect afternoon snack or post dinner treat.

However, bubble tea-based food aren’t the only Taiwanese items that BreadTalk’s introducing.

Inspired by the delicious mash-up of street snacks and familiar local delicacies, BreadTalk has also created a range of baked treats that will take you on a journey through Taiwan food markets.

Relive the nights of walking through Raohe Night Market with their range of Taiwanese street food buns. The Pepper Bun ($1.90) is filled spiced minced pork and flavourful spring onion, seasoned with a good dose of white pepper and topped with white sesame.

Just like the ones they make in Taiwan, the buns are crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside.

For those craving a sweet treat, the Sweet Potato Red Bean ($2.00) is a delightful bun filled with red beans from Wandan in Taiwan, known for its rich flavours, sweet potato, boluo crumble and sprinkled with Matcha Powder.

You can find these items at all BreadTalk outlets, except for:

Earl Grey Bubble Tea Toast and Chocolate Malt Bubble Tea Toast: only available at the IHQ, Chinatown Point, CityLink Mall, ION Orchard, Novena Square and Toa Payoh HDB Hub outlets.

Earl Grey Bubble Tea Roll: available at all outlets except Singapore Cruise Centre and United Square.

Also Read This Thai Bakery Is Baking Up A Storm Of Fluffy Loaves – And You Knead To Try It

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

Popular China Tea Brand TaiGai Opens First Overseas Outlet At NEX – Prices Start From $3.30

While food trends come and go, Fruit Teas look like they’re here to stay for a while.

From Partea to Teafolia, fruit tea fans can look forward to the opening of TaiGai at NEX Serangoon!

Established in Shenzhen, China, TaiGai is a popular tea brand in China with over 60 stores across the country. They’re also known for their signature offerings and healthier tea options using mainly fresh fruits and premium quality teas in their concoctions.

TaiGai’s NEX outlet is their first venture out of China.

Love At First Sip

If you’re wondering, “What’s the difference between TaiGai and other fruit tea brands?”

TaiGai is the pioneer behind “Fruity Milky Kiss” – fruit-blended milk cheese crowns. The drinks are topped with a milk cheese foam that has been blended with fruits, which gives you that natural sweetness and pulpy bits as you sip on your fruity tea.

With fresh fruits used predominantly in the teas, TaiGai is careful to retain its natural fragrance and sweetness to complement the taste and aroma of these crafted teas.

Another highlight of their drinks would be their “Beary Cute Series” that comes with an adorable bear-ear lid.

If you’re wondering what drink you should get from TaiGai, here’s what we highly recommend:

Pulpy Strawberry Kiss ($6.80)

The most popular “Fruity Milky Kiss” drink would be the Pulpy Strawberry Kiss, which is perfect if you want something refreshing and sweet. About half a cup of strawberries are used for just one drink!

This drink is exceptionally popular as it has the perfect balance of fresh sweetness and a hint of sourness from the strawberries, along with the fragrance of the tea.

When you take the first sip from the opening, you can first taste the blended crown which has well-balanced milk-cheese to fruit ratio followed by the fruit-blended tea.

The milk cheese crown has a perfect velvety finishing when sipped together with the fruit blended tea. The generous pulp from the blended strawberries adds dimension to the entire experience.

Pulpy Pineapple Kiss ($6.20)

Also a part of the “Fruity Milky Kiss” series, the Pulpy Pineapple Kiss is one of TaiGai’s signature drinks.

If you’re looking for something to quench your thirst, this drink is a juicy tropical blend that is both refreshing and zesty – reminiscent of sunny days lying on the beach in Thailand.

Milky Kiss Baby Cicada Oolong ($4.90)

For the tea lovers, you can choose from the “Pure Tea” or the “Pure Tea Milky Kiss” series that are topped with the milk cheese crowns.

The Milky Kiss Baby Cicada Oolong is one of the signature drinks on the menu. Similar to the civet cat coffee, when a cicada bites the baby tea leaves, it changes the chemistry resulting in an authentic taste profile of this oolong tea.

This golden-coloured tea is paired nicely with the milk cheese crown as it was smooth and has a slight hint of bitterness from the tea itself.

Perhaps it’s time to swap out your everyday tea for the Milky Kiss Baby Cicada Oolong.

Fresh Premium Orange Burst ($5.90)

Fruit Teas, also known as infusions, are gaining popularity because they come across as healthier versions as compared to their counterparts of Bubble Tea.

In their “Fresh Fruit Tea” series, you can choose from Fresh Golden Kumquat Burst ($4), Fresh Green Lemon Burst Green Tea ($4.50), Fresh Yellow Lemon Burst Black Tea ($4.50) and Fresh Premium Orange Burst ($5.90).

The recommended drink is the Fresh Premium Orange Burst. The drink consists of freshly sliced oranges and a slice of lime.

This calming and refreshing drink makes for the perfect afternoon thirst quencher.

Beary Creative Milk Tea ($4.50)

This is probably a favourite for most as the drinks comes with an adorable bear-shaped lid.

You can choose from the Beary Co Co which is a very chocolatey drink or the Beary Creative Milk Tea which is a milk tea drink with choice of pearls, nata de coco, or red bean.

The Beary Creative Milk Tea comes with one topping of your choice and an additional 80cents for extra topping.

Pro-tip: Shine a light from the top of the cup and see the magic happen!

Overall Store Atmosphere

The service at TaiGai is fast and simple. All you have to do is key in your orders on the iPad available at the counter and wait for your number to appear on the screen!

There are seats available in the store as well for you to take IG-worthy pictures of your drinks. Do be prepared for the long queues!

If you’re looking to try out a new fruit tea place, then you might just like TaiGai’s fruity tea creations!

TaiGai
Address: NEX Serangoon, #B2-34, Singapore 556083
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 10am – 10pm
Facebook | Instagram

Also Read This 7-Eleven At Boat Quay Doubles Up As A Bar – Serves Beer On Tap For $4.70

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

If You Love Muah Chee, You’ll Love This New Bubble Tea By Playmade

If you’re not familiar with Playmade by 丸作, they previously caused a stir in the local bubble tea community with their interesting pearl flavours.

From Burnt Caramel to Pink Cactus and Black Sesame, Playmade has certainly carved a niche in the existing bubble tea market.

Nutty Sensation

Playmade has come up with a brand new drink for those of you who love your traditional desserts.

That’s right, from now till 21 March 2018, the Peanut Milk Tea With Muah Chee Pearls ($1.90) will be available at both Playmade outlets.

No prizes for guessing what local dessert inspired this particular milk tea flavour. While the Muah Chee pearls have been around since January as a limited time pearl flavour, the accompanying Peanut Milk Tea is new.

The Peanut Milk Tea with Muah Chee Pearls will only be around for another 2 weeks, so head down to any Playmade outlet and get yours today!

Playmade
Address: 108 Depot Road #01-03, Singapore, 100108
Opening Hours: Daily: 11am – 8pm
Contact no.: 9067 7297
Website

Address: 10 Tampines Central 1, #01-59, Singapore, 529536
Opening Hours: Daily: 10.30am – 10pm
Contact no.: 9067 7297

Also read Ditch The Macs Queue For Chocolate Pie And Go For Legit Ones At Windowsill Pies

The Flagship Gong Cha Outlet Has Been Spotted And We’re Choking On Our LiHo Pearls

Oh. My. God. Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

There has been a Gong Cha outlet sighting in Singapore!

Located at Singpost Centre at Paya Lebar, the flagship outlet is still undergoing renovations in preparation for a December 2017 opening.

Since announcing their eventual return to the Singapore market back in June, Gong Cha has been quietly planning their much-anticipated comeback.

On 26 September, Gong Cha began its recruitment via a Facebook post and that was the last we heard from them.

And today, we have this! A physical Gong Cha outlet!

Gong Cha may not have a specific date of return yet, but they sure know how to keep us in anticipation.

Do stay tuned for more details in the near future!

Also read 5 Taiwanese Bubble Tea Shops To Satisfy Your BBT Cravings Before Gong Cha Makes Its Return

(Header Image Source: Gong Cha Facebook)

Wipe Away Your Tears Because Gong Cha Will Be Back In Singapore “Pretty Soon”

If you’ve been grieving the loss of Gong Cha, and traveled all the way down to its last branch in Marina Bay Sands last weekend for your final cup of Gong Cha, that may all have been for nought. Singapore’s favourite bubble tea brand will be coming back!

Wait, WHAT?!

There is no information yet on an actual opening date or time frame, but the exact words of Mr Kim Soomin, a partner at Unison Capital–the firm that co-owns the Gong Cha brand with Royal Tea Taiwan–were “we plan to come back pretty soon”.

The reason? Gong Cha Singapore outlets were among the top three contributors to Gong Cha’s overall turnover, raking in about S$30 million in annual revenue. Basically, that means all that Gong Cha we’ve been drinking has paid off!

The chain is slated to return in a couple of months in a “bigger, better, upgraded format”. There is also no word yet on how many outlets will be opened but according to Mr Kim, “as many as we can”.

Expect everything you love about Gong Cha and more, because Gong Cha also has plans to bring new colour to the Singapore market, such as by giving its Singapore stores a more modern look, and a brand new menu that’s tailor-made for its Singapore customers!

Who else is excited, because we know we are!

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