Taiwan is the motherland of bubble tea which is no known secret by now. Bubble Tea to Taiwan is as iconic as Singapore Sling to Singapore. Okay, the equivalent. Not that I would drink Singapore Sling everyday!Yet with brand names like Koi and Artease flooding the shores the second time round with taiwanese support being spinoffs from brands like 50 Lan, I was still apprehensive of our local drinks not matching up in standard.
As fate would have it, a daily bubble tea was required to keep the doctor away and of course, with those weighing scales stashed beyond sight. The good news is, you can choose the level of sweetness and amount of ice to go with the drink which does help you manage the sugar intake quite a bit. Tempering with the sugar levels also do mean one thing - if it does not taste as good, it's your fault!
OTea
http://www.otea.com.tw/
OTea outlets are not as common as 50 Lan or Ding Tea, in fact, I only spotted one in Jin Shan District throughout the trip.
Milk Tea with bubbles, the only way to gauge its authenticity. I adore how their milk tea leaves a fragrant and milky trace. QQ pearls were chewy. I did not feel the urge for a second cup after this though!
Specialised Tea Club
Located in Shih Lin night market, Specialized Tea Club's existence was also quite niche.
Has to be the best of the lot - from the chewy pearls to milk tea, just the right balance of tea and milk. Most of the milk teas consumed had alot more milk taste than tea.
50 Lan
50 Lan, found after the week in Taipei whizzed past. Truly, it's when you stop hunting it down that they start appearing every where. As ubiquitous as Koi.
Grape Yakult with Boba
Unlike the other bubble tea shops, 50 Lan gives you the option of toppings: Boba (Huge pearls), normal sized pearls or coconut jelly. Grape Yakult with less ice was not quite the best option for a sweltering day that averaged at 31 degrees (in winter no less!). The boba was honestly, not much bigger than the usual pearls. Disappointment!
Chocolate Milk Tea with Boba
Thin milk tea with boba, I say stick with their traditional milk teas. Odd that when flavours are added in, taste changes quite a bit though the milky finish is still evident.
好口杯
A popular choice in Ximending with most customers carrying at least a cup from this particular stall.
Honeydew Milk Tea
The second time our point was proven - stick with the traditional milk tea though the colours make it look better.
橘子工坊
The only shop that specialises more in fruit based drinks than milk tea. Healthier presumably.
Lemon Juice with Aiyu Jelly
I opted for 30% sugar and less ice - hence a really sour juice but particularly loved the aiyu jelly! Slurpworthy and mildly sweet. Tasted like sea coconut jelly with a lot more wobble.
As fate would have it, a daily bubble tea was required to keep the doctor away and of course, with those weighing scales stashed beyond sight. The good news is, you can choose the level of sweetness and amount of ice to go with the drink which does help you manage the sugar intake quite a bit. Tempering with the sugar levels also do mean one thing - if it does not taste as good, it's your fault!
OTea
http://www.otea.com.tw/
OTea outlets are not as common as 50 Lan or Ding Tea, in fact, I only spotted one in Jin Shan District throughout the trip.
Milk Tea with bubbles, the only way to gauge its authenticity. I adore how their milk tea leaves a fragrant and milky trace. QQ pearls were chewy. I did not feel the urge for a second cup after this though!
Specialised Tea Club
Located in Shih Lin night market, Specialized Tea Club's existence was also quite niche.
Has to be the best of the lot - from the chewy pearls to milk tea, just the right balance of tea and milk. Most of the milk teas consumed had alot more milk taste than tea.
50 Lan
50 Lan, found after the week in Taipei whizzed past. Truly, it's when you stop hunting it down that they start appearing every where. As ubiquitous as Koi.
Grape Yakult with Boba
Unlike the other bubble tea shops, 50 Lan gives you the option of toppings: Boba (Huge pearls), normal sized pearls or coconut jelly. Grape Yakult with less ice was not quite the best option for a sweltering day that averaged at 31 degrees (in winter no less!). The boba was honestly, not much bigger than the usual pearls. Disappointment!
Chocolate Milk Tea with Boba
Thin milk tea with boba, I say stick with their traditional milk teas. Odd that when flavours are added in, taste changes quite a bit though the milky finish is still evident.
好口杯
A popular choice in Ximending with most customers carrying at least a cup from this particular stall.
Honeydew Milk Tea
The second time our point was proven - stick with the traditional milk tea though the colours make it look better.
橘子工坊
The only shop that specialises more in fruit based drinks than milk tea. Healthier presumably.
Lemon Juice with Aiyu Jelly
I opted for 30% sugar and less ice - hence a really sour juice but particularly loved the aiyu jelly! Slurpworthy and mildly sweet. Tasted like sea coconut jelly with a lot more wobble.
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