Just Touris-tea Things- Trying HK’s Bubble Tea

By Roshni Idnani

At some point in my life, I felt that milk tea was an absurd drink; edible balls within a drink that tasted like tea but wasn’t quite the same as the chai(Indian tea) I grew up drinking. But, here I am now, absolutely obsessed with milk tea and very willing to try it from any shop with a long queue- usually an indication that the milk tea is good.

In our first few days in Hong Kong, I’d whip out my phone and use Google Maps to locate the nearest bubble tea shop. However, I soon realised that wasn’t required of me because they’re everywhere!

Here are some of the milk teas I tried:

Ten Ren’s Tea

Known as a famous bubble tea chain from Taiwan, where it was invented, I spotted many branches; there are over 50 all across the island! I visited a branch in the bustling district called Tsim Sha Tsui. Amidst the sea of stalls and shops, sits Ten Ren’s Tea which is fairly easy to spot with its green signage.

I opted for the Green Milk Tea with pearls, 21 HKD. It came up to about $3.60 in Singapore dollars. I’d say it’s quite affordably priced, but I was recommended the fresh milk version by the cashier, which was an additional 3 HKD. She successfully convinced me to go for it!

What I really enjoyed about the drink was the strong flavour of the green tea, as sometimes the taste of the milk overpowers the essence of the tea. Not to forget, it was the right amount of sweetness, and the pearls were the perfectly soft and chewy, just how I liked them.

Since I thoroughly enjoyed it, I had to get it again- this time from a branch in Mong Kok, an area commonly known for shopping. I didn’t select the fresh milk version so I expected it to be slightly different, but to my surprise, it tasted exactly the same!

Milksha

credits: ipick.com

I vividly remember there was a fairly long queue outside the Tsim Sha Tsui branch of Milksha, another popular Taiwanese bubble tea chain. The Singaporean in me decided to join it because we simply love queuing, don’t we?

I’d typically get a regular milk tea from bubble tea shops, but I felt like trying something new. I asked the person taking my order for the best-selling milk tea and she mentioned the Earl Grey one. I’m definitely not the biggest fan of Earl Grey tea but since it was the most liked beverage, I closed one eye.

Priced at 26 HKD, and an additional 4 HKD for white pearls, the Earl Grey flavour was relatively strong but it was a lot milkier than Ten Ren’s tea. I suppose as the name suggests, Milksha, their milk teas ought to have a stronger ‘milk’ flavour. Similar to Ten Ren’s tea, the pearls were soft but marginally chewier.

Kingyo

Yet another Taiwanese bubble tea chain, I was captivated by Kingyo’s lower prices. Although there wasn’t a queue at all, I was curious to know whether a cheaper milk tea could contend against the others I had tried.

I bought the regular milk tea, 19 HKD, and topped up 2 HKD for pearls. I noticed was that the pearls were somewhat too big for the straw; when I took my first few sips, it was almost as though I had ordered a milk tea without pearls…

Their pearls were huge- definitely one of the biggest pearls I’ve had in milk tea! I didn’t quite like how mild the flavour of the tea was, but I have to mention that it was a sizeable cup. Hence, for the price, I’d say it’s worth trying Kingyo but if you prefer a stronger tea flavour, I’d recommend Ten Ren’s tea, as I could taste the high quality of the tea leaves.

I have to say that I considerably got a thrill out of trying different milk teas in Hong Kong because back in Singapore it was all about grabbing a go-to drink from a milk tea chain I was loyal to!