Hubble Bubble

The craze for bubble tea started in Taiwan about 30 years ago and has since spread around the world, reaching consumers as far away as North America. The dark tapioca pearls resting at the bottom of the cup gives the drinks their signature look—they first have to be boiled, stewed, then soaked in a sugary syrup for up to four hours before being deemed ready for consumption. The pearls can be added to any sort of drink, both hot and cold. Slurped up through big, brightly colored straws, these pearls are insanely popular and have encouraged proprietors to create their own fun and flavorful imitations, ranging from jellies to pudding mixes. Read on to find out where you can get your bubble tea (also known as bbt to the kids) fix, from traditional to creative variations.

Gong Cha
The Gong Cha franchise recently exploded onto the streets of Hong Kong, with more than 55 branches citywide. The name “gong cha” literally means “tea fit for a king,” and the franchise sure lives up to its title. It boasts an extensive range of milk teas, juices and health drinks as well as top quality tea and fruit blends. The proprietor of the Wan Chai branch on Hennessy Road, Ricky Hui, believes that Gong Cha’s bubble tea is simply the best in the city. “We import only the finest ingredients from around the world,” he says. Try their unique house blends, including the Gong Cha milk tea with oolong, green, Alishan or black tea leaves, or go for their signature Earl Grey deluxe milk tea with the famous tapioca pearls. For a healthier option, the full-flavored roasted melon tea with seaweed jelly (which are small, sweet and cloudy pearls) will leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated. This place definitely gets our vote.
Average Price: $10-$25
G/F, New Hennessy Tower, 263 Hennessy Rd., Wan Chai, 2877-6699

Easy Drink Easy Go
Easy Drink Easy Go has a fun range of specialty drinks, including the wax gourd tea, Hokkaido pudding milk tea and apple yogurt tea. The mango milk tea with coffee-infused jelly is a sensational and exciting mix, featuring a delightful combination of both sweet and bitter flavors. The black tapioca pearls are cooked to perfection (neither too hard nor too chewy) with a sweet and soft center. The chain also offers a large variety of pearls, puddings and jellies on the menu, including black tapioca pearls, caramel pudding, mango cream and fig, grass and coffee jelly. Easy Drink Easy Go is perfect for those adventurous types who are eager to try out new and exciting mixes.
Average Price: $10-$30
Shop 3, G/F, Hung Tat Building, 55 Dundas St., Mong Kok, 2380-0952

Happy Lemon
Famous for their distinctive blends and sweet pudding mixes, Happy Lemon serves delicious, fresh and creatively inspired beverages. Adorned with bright, cute and playful images, the Happy Lemon franchise has become a symbolic bubble tea house, with outlets all over the city. For a taste of one of their creative and unique mixes, try the matcha (green tea) with azuki (red bean) and pudding, passion fruit and yogurt, or lemon honey with seaweed jelly.
Average Price: $10-20
Shop 290, 2/F, Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Rd. Central, Sheung Wan,
2858-8823

Come Buy
The Come Buy brand sells a range of tasty and delightful drinks that are electronically shaken until a yummy cappuccino-like froth appears on the top. The most popular drinks on the menu are taro milk tea, yakult green tea and mango yogurt. You’re encouraged to create your own unique concoction by choosing a specific level of sweetness and by selecting additional treats, from black tapioca balls to taro and grass jelly. We recommend the matcha milk tea with peach jelly, or for vegetarians, the adventurous lemon juice with vegetarian gelatin.
Average Price: $10-$20
G/F, 94 Hip Wo St., Kwun Tong, 2389-3148

Taiwan TeaTek Tea’s
For an authentic Taiwanese experience, check out Taiwan TeaTek Tea’s [sic]. Their menu comprises an extensive range of teas that are all grown in Taiwan with little or no chemicals added. Kevin Ching, the Sheung Wan branch manager, says that their core philosophy is centered on keeping the tradition alive. “It’s important for us to provide our customers with a genuine bubble tea experience,” he says. They serve a variety of healthy options, such as the organic raspberry vinegar or the mango and kumquat yogurt fruit tea. Basil seeds—which have a range of health benefits such as relieving heartburn and aiding digestion—can also be added to the mix. For those with a sweet tooth, opt for the deliciously rich chocolate milk tea with tapioca pearls or the honey and caramel tea with cream.
Average Price: $10-$25
Shop 1, G/F, Hua Qin International Building, 340-344 Queen’s Rd. Central, Sheung Wan, 2889-2638