Bubble tea is brewing a storm in a teacup in West London at the minute. Cafés where you can buy the refreshing beverage, originally from Taiwan, are popping up everywhere, so I decided to head to Chatime on Portobello Road to see what all the fuss was about.
I’ll admit I was quite apprehensive to try the drink, and additionally, I am rather particular with how I like my tea (scolding hot and the colour of a damp golden retriever) so the thought of a cold lumpy brew didn’t exactly tantalise me.
Located right in the quirky depths of Portobello Market, the décor is very minimalistic. Manager, Cheng Kai, says this is because the focus is on the freshness and quality of the tea.
I first tried one of their bestsellers, Chatime Milk Tea. It was sweet and creamy and lactose free (all of the milk teas are lactose-free) and costs £3.45 for a large or £2.95 for regular. I could distinctly taste honey and syrupy notes, even though the tea is not sweetened by any sugar.
The ‘bubble’ element of the tea comes from the tapioca beans, which Chatime prepare in-house every morning. Tapioca beans are made from a starchy root vegetable, cassava, and then cooked in brown sugar to create chewy balls.
I then sampled one of the fruit tea selection, Lychee, which Cheng recommended to have with the jellied coconut instead of the bubble beans. Crisp, revitalising and unlike anything any tea you would have tried before, the Lychee Tea with coconut is a definite favourite.
Bubble tea is very prevalent in South East Asia and has recently caught on in Australia. Cheng thinks it is a modern, trendy way for young people to enjoy tea, without it seeming boring, or in his words ‘granny-like.’ Australian’s know their drinks; we owe the emphasis on good all-press coffee in the capital to them.
Chatime have 63 outlets in Melbourne and Sydney and currently five in the UK. Each branch has a unique tea tailored to the customer demand, so I next tried signature Portobello teas; Strawberry Rooibos and Blackcurrant Yerba. Both teas have health benefits; tapping in to the fitness conscious clientele which wander the market.
Rooibos tea is known to relieve skin conditions, improve circulation and help insomnia. It was musky and flavoursome and tasted much better than you average rooibos hot tea (£3.20 small, £3.70 large.)
Blackcurrant tea is rich in minerals and vitamins, which speeds the metabolism, encouraging weight loss. So, if you are on lookout for a new fad to help you shed a few pounds in time for the winter party season, why not try it out? It certainly makes for a more interesting change from green tea (also £3.20 for small and £3.70 large.)
I left feeling refreshed and awake, but not in the wired, shaky way you feel after drinking too much coffee, and it's well worth a visit.
