Love bubble tea? The possibility of this iconic Taiwanese drink is still growing! In America, bubble teas take on new lives with twists of cocktail and worldwide tea influences.
Traditional bubble tea menus are long, full of drinks easily made with flavored syrups lining up behind the counter like those for Italian sodas. However, just as craft cocktails made with fresh ingredients have become the norm in San Francisco Bay Area, new generation bubble tea places are also coming up with shorter, curated menus made with fresh juice, organic cream and natural infusions.
A shop called “Teaspoon” limits their milk tea menu to classic house milk tea and creamy jasmine, but adds Thai iced tea—a local staple, though not a bubble tea tradition—to the menu.
They also expand the usually overlooked fruity tea options with tipplish names. Grasshopper is now lychee iced green tea topped with fresh cucumber juice, and Virgin Mojito is fresh mint leaves and key lime in jasmine green tea. There’s even Pina Colada—snow ice topped with pineapple chunks, coconut jelly, and condensed milk!
Designers often remind us to bring new perspectives to existing traditions. As huge bubble tea (a three-decade tradition) fans, we’re always thirsty for new tastes!
Source: Teaspoon