The bubble tea craze is back! If you have been overwhelmed by the crazy variety of the milky drink on offer these days, read on as we taste-test the chilled milk teas we’ve grown to love again.
Happy Lemon Bubble Tea @ ION Orchard B4-35
SO WHAT: The franchise offers a good variety of funky teas: Lemon Series, Tea Latte, Mousse Spin, Fresh Tea, Cocoa & Coffee and most interestingly: Rock Salt Cheese ($2.30-$5.50). Add on their quirky selections of ‘sweets’ to make your drink a full fledged dessert (Pearl Sago, Pudding, Brown Sugar Jelly andNata De Coco) (Prices range from $0.50 – $1.00 for add-ons)
WE TRIED: Tea Latte with Pearl Sago and Puff Cream ($2.80 for a Regular) is an exquisite blend of rich and dense puff cream with tea that glides down your throat in a cool froth. Also included are copious amounts of super ‘QQ’ mini pearls that are extremely springy.
ALSO TRY: Cocoa with Pudding ($4 for a Regular) and Mango & Orange Yoghurt ($4.5 for a Regular)
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Icetalk Express @ Far East Plaza #04-99B
SO WHAT: A competent alternative to generic bubble teas offered by your mom and pop bubble tea franchises.
WE TRIED: Milk Tea with Chocolate Pudding and Pearls ($2.10). The rich chunk of chocolate pudding gives generic milk tea a richer twist. We also like its generous serving of chewy pearls. Unfortunately, we think there should be more milk in tea. The aroma from tea is overwhelmingly strong.
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Koi Bubble Tea @ Blk 190A Toa Payoh Central #01-562 – 6 other branches islandwide
SO WHAT: We get to choose the sugar levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 70% and 100%), so there’s a level of sweetness that is just right for everybody. 70% has around the same sweetness as regular bubble teas.
WE TRIED: Koi Café‘s Milk Tea ($2.90) and the Chocolate Milk Tea ($2.90). The milk teas here are smooth and silky. We think it is important that the milk in the tea does not overpower the tea in the milk. The Chocolate Milk tea is rich with a generous dose of chocolate milk. We like the almost perfect blend of chocolate milk and tea, a balance of creaminess and bitterness between.
Koi milk teas are indeed superior to the watered down variants out there but look out for the long queues (though we think the queues have become shorter as the craze wears on).
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Each-A-Cup@ Wilkie Edge – 8 Wilkie Road #01-06 Wilkie Edge – 34 other branches islandwide
SO WHAT: Best value for money (Quality+Average Price + short queue-Compared to KOI).
WE TRIED: Chocolate SnowShake ($1.90). The rich chocolate ice blend mixed with oats, with a generous serving of chewy pearls. Simply awesome for chocolate lovers.
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Sky Bubble Tea @ Bishan North Shopping Mall #01-149
SO WHAT: Neighbourhood bubble tea branches are a dime a dozen but some of them, such as Sky Bubble Tea, offer surprisingly decent brews at unbeatable prices. Usually ensconced in heartland areas (but don’t look down on them!), these stores are starting to give big Bubble Tea chains a run for their money with localized drinks at heartland prices.
WE TRIED: Chocolate Milk Tea ($1) and Mango Yoghurt Ice Blended ($1).
Kudos to the rich and smooth Chocolate Milk Tea that presents a pleasant surprise after too many diluted chocolate teas all over the island.
Don’t expect all-natural flavours at $1 a cup but the Yoghurt series is surprisingly tart with mango essence, a great way to beat the typical afternoon heat with it’s icy goodness. Pearls are delightfully springy and chewy.