Milk Tea-rific #3: Chatime

Hello bloggers! Sorry for being lazy posting again. Been busy doing some stuffs and fixing things. But I already have a list of things to post for me to share it to you. But for the mean time let me just share to you my milk tea review no.3.

MILK TEA!! One of my favorite drinks nowadays! I always crave for one. 

My official introduction to the world of--hold on, I mean the wonderful world of milk tea was from Chatime. Tea and milk are two things poles apart in taste. But, when blended together, tastes amazing! It's just so damn good. I tried so many milk tea store out there but Chatime is really one of the best!

Good Tea, Good Time!

Chatime is founded in Taiwan on 2003 and as of March 2012 it has over 500 outlets in 15 countries and counting. Chatime (again, I need to be wittier! Haha!), the largest international milk tea brand would open its doors in Manila! True enough, with over 12 stores in the top malls all over the country, Chatime's pretty much gathered a loyal following in the milk-tea-loving crowd, ME INCLUDED!! :) I suddenly got giddy and a lot more fun than the images of relaxation and tea pots that we're used to. I'm just happy its family is expanding and more people are gaining awareness about its great flavors. Fine! it was a bit of an exaggeration but it definitely made me smile from one ear to the other. I must have had dozens of cups of Chatime milk tea already before I was finally able to write an entry about it.

Recently, in the Philippines there is a lot of milk tea outlets established wherever you go and a lot of people began to be curious about the taste then became crazy about the said beverage. Milk teas had been quite a fad food wise, sprouting like mushrooms all over the metro taking over the Starbucks culture and Chatime is one of the many milk tea company responsible for it. They have the variety of flavors that you can enjoy from plain milk tea to a flavored tea. Not only milk tea but they also offer fruit juices. It's your choice! Chatime uses freshly brewed tea infused with different natural flavors to make the best bubble tea drink in town! Here is a small peek of their menu:

Menu  from their Facebook page

Their menu is written in both English and Chinese. Their prices are almost the same of the other tea house. However, their prices are not inclusive of toppings. An additional topping costs PHP15-PHP25.

A usual that I get is the Chocolate Mousse with 100% sugar and normal ice (PHP85-Medium, PHP95-Large), Taro Pudding Milk Tea with the same specifics. I always add topping of pearls whenever I ordered a drink. It taste good and addicting; now I know why it's one of their best selling flavor. Also, Matcha Tea Latte is a green tea with latte underneath it. The taste is less sweet which I do prefer compared to Starbucks' green tea frappe. I think even without the latte the green tea would taste a bit bitter which for some people will pass the said drink. 

Taro Pudding Milk Tea

Global branches

Chocolate Mousse

RECOMMENDED!! I think Chatime offers one of the better tasting milk teas in town. They have a wide selection of drinks and you have the option to choose the amount of sugar and ice you want. 

They also had this electronic round mini frisbee-like disc (I don't know what it is called exactly) given to you while waiting for your drinks. It lights up and buzzes once your drinks are ready for pick-up at the counter. So no need to loiter around the counter. 

But what I loved about this store is their new IPAD menu! It shows all their drinks with fun facts about each drink. You can also see which add-ons are best for the drink. Just touch it and you'll see all the refreshing teas Chatime has to offer.

Once you get there, it is very relaxing despite the number of people going in and out of the store. Comfy and chic, it is fun and relaxed at the same time. Enjoy the bright purple and pink accents against the bright white interiors. Which almost girls like!! :) Sink into the lean back soft seats with your milk tea in hand. Definitely a cool place to hangout with your friends up until the weeee hours. I thinks it's also a good place to do a lot of planning and thinking here. And like what I always look for from all the other milk tea I've tried, and like what I've stated from my previous milk teas entry, I want the tea flavor intact! And here, you still get that yummy yummy tea taste!!

They're also selling cakes, breads, mini hamburgers and other staples such as the curry dog, french fries, and pepper salt chicken pops! You won't miss it for sure!

Pastries and Desserts

While I've compelled to keep trying the different milk teas out there, it doesn't hurt to have a favorite. I'll always be loyal to Chatime. 

Have you gone for your own Chatime yet?? I think this will be a place for me to hang out and enjoy the drinks from time to time...For those milk tea lover if you want to try this, check out their Website, like their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter. 

Milk Tea-rific #2: Gong Cha

Hello guys! I'm back from deep slumber! And I'm back with my milk tea review no. 2! 

Honestly, I'm a milk tea fanatic. I can finish one order of any milk tea. I know. I know. I've been to Gong Cha far too many times already but I'm blogging about it just now. Hehe! :P Let me tell you a slight backgrounder about the craze on Gong Cha milk tea. 

Gong Cha is a Southeast Asia milk tea brand. It was first launched in Taiwan, and now boasts more than a hundred outlets worldwide. Before it even hit the Philippines, Gong Cha has been up and about in SE asian countries such as Malaysia, Hongkong and Singapore. Gong Cha which means tea that is served to the Emperor or Royal Court. 

The only Gong Cha outlets I know here in the Philippines are the ones in MOA, Glorietta and the other one in SM Megamall which I frequent went to when I'm craving for a milk tea fix. Their branch in SM Megamall is enough for a tea place. Situated in 2F Mega Atrium, its interior exudes a simple yet cozy vibe with maroon walls interrupted by smoky swirls of white. Marble top tables and black hard plastic chairs were spaced comfortably and lights dimmed accordingly.

Tea.Coffee.Juice

It is similar to Happy Lemon's concept of cheese and rock salt. Gong Cha milk was slightly salty and sweet at the same time. It was also creamy. If you are the type of person who likes everything a little salty and who would not mind tasting it from a cup, then go for this mil tea place Gong Cha milk variety which comes in an assortment of tea combinations such as green, black, alisan or earl grey. 

My all-time favorite which I usually order is the Gong Cha Winter Melon tea and Milk Tea with Pearl Jelly. A rush of smooth, creamy, and foamy milk cream greeted my mouth and what transpired within the next few seconds was a heaven for my mouth with a cream yet a clean texture. I love the way the foam tastes and when it mixes with the tea. Kabooom!!! A match made in heaven. I could see a sprinkle of a green matcha powder on top. As I dug my straw deeper, my mouth was awash with honeyed overlapping tastes of young winter melon and sugar. The tea flavor is very apparent and that's one of the things I really look for. And for me, what might be an optional ingredient for others can actually be a deal-breaker for me: the pearls. :) The Gong Cha pearls were nice, soft and chewy and therefore merit the my praise as a milk tea fanatic. If you're a newbie in the milk tea craze, go for their sweetened milk teas like the wintermelon and chocolate. 

Sprinkled with green matcha powder

They said there are three ways to enjoy Gong Cha House special. First, is to sip the special cream on top! Itried it and it was heaven! It's so yummy that you would want to order another serving of the cream. Haha! I wonder how they do it. It's creamy and a little bit salty. It's like cheese and milk in one. Super delicious!! :)) Doing the second step to enjoy the cup: Tasting the tea! I took a sip and says: this is really authentic winter melon! It doesn't taste like other milk tea establishments winter melon tea. Last step: Mix the cream and tea! Baboom! It looks like milk tea! But it doesn't taste like milk tea while getting the satisfaction of drinking the tea passing through a thick foamy layer. 

Overall, I was satisfied with my Gong Cha experience and will definitely go back to try out their other specialty drinks. I think the price is reasonable considering that I really enjoyed my drink. Like I mentioned on my past review, other milk tea places were missing something, sometimes it would be the "umay" factor and for the most of the time, the consistency of the pearl. With Gong Cha, the taste of their drink really stands out. Go and try and you might fall in love with it, who knows?? Very distinct and definitely a must-try!! :)) 

Gong Cha Philippines currently has 5 branches all over the metro:

*SM Mall of Asia - G/F Entertainment Complex

*SM North Edsa - 2/F Sky Garden

*Glorietta 4 - 3/F Food Choices

*SM Megamall - 2/F Mega Atrium

*Robinsons Place - 3/F Midtown Level

Check out their milk tea specialty from Gong Cha website and whats new they have to offer on their Facebook page. 

Milk Tea-rific #1: Happy Lemon

My sister just gave me a good news!! At long last, HAPPY LEMON is at Megamall. No need for me to go to Eastwood or Greenhills just to satisfied my milk tea craving! Yeyyyy! I was a bit shocked with excitement the moment I saw it. 

I think I have become a Happy Lemon addict. I have been recommending it to a lot of people Because it's really good. I just cannot get enough of it. And yes, I can already say two thumbs up for their milk tea. 

I really, really enjoyed Happy Lemon! I ordered Milk Tea with OREO cookies and cream with pearls for Php100.00 which is one of my personal favorites! :D 

It has a mantra of "HAPPY EVERYDAY!" I think this is a tag line for their product telling the customers to buy 'Happy Lemon everyday!' :)))

For those people who are just near Megamall, try this one out it is really good and affordable price. Their pric range from 75 to 100+Php. But if you really wanna try this one out. You can go to any Happy Lemon store near your place.I think they also have branches in Eastwood, Greenhills, Powerplant mall and Trinoma. 

I finished everything with a big Happy Lemon smile on my face. I would definitely come back here and try their Lemon series. 

For more info: Happy Lemon branches

*4th Level, Eastwood mall

*2nd Level, Greenhills Promenade

*4th Level, Trinoma mall

*2nd Level, Powerplant mall

*3rd Level, Megamall Bldg. A