Introducing to you the frenzy bubble tea craze in the tiny island of Singapore. In the recent years and especially the past year, bubble teas have become the most popular drink of all time, following the opening, sprucing and growth of many bubble tea chain outlets including the popular Koi Cafe, Gongcha, Each A Cup and many many more. Now, the old chains like Sweettalk are rivaled and tumbling.
I, particularly, am not an exception. I was skeptical about them before but after getting to try them a little lightbulb in me went ‘ping’. My initial love for ice blended drinks are slowly being overcome and washed out by milk teas. No one can resist it. Generations are drinking it.
Let me just say this straight that my favorite bubble tea store in Singapore is definitely Koi Cafe. The long queues at the outlets are strong signs of their popularity. The prices of their teas and coffees may edge over other bubble tea stores but their taste would win over. They’re also the starting factor of this craze.
Usually, I go for the Pearl Milk Tea because the original proves the best. The reason why I love Koi is largely due to their lovely, silky pearls which are always soft enough for my liking. The ones from other stores are not as chewable. However, I still yearn for the return of larger pearls that were used some time ago.
I like their Hazelnut Milk Tea as well for a mild rendition of the hazelnut flavor. Once, being an avid chocolate fanatic, I opted for Chocolate Milk Tea (medium $2.90 large $4.30) but I find that the chocolate is overpowering the milk tea. In the end, I only tasted a chocolate drink but not the milk tea. Still, I find the pearl milk tea the best and hence the most well-received.
With more and more outlets opening, it’s business is definitely expanding. The new outlet at Compass Point has made it very much more convenient for people like me in the north-east to get my bubble tea fix!
A note to self to limit my bubble tea intake: A regular cup of milk tea with pearls can contain at least 350 calories. Yet this is not stopping some teenagers from having them as regular as thrice a week.
Outlets include:
Blk 83 Marine Parade Central
Compass Point
Blk 704 Ang Mo Kio Central
513 Bishan Street 13
Iluma @ Bugis
People’s Park Complex
190A Toa Payoh Central
Blk 442 Clementi Avenue 3
Blk 510 Tampines Central 1
Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog 