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<\/p>\nWhen it comes to bubble tea (or BBT), everyone has their favourite brands and their favourite flavours. There are so many options in SG alone \u2013 new brands, seasonal specials, limited-time collaborative concoctions \u2013 that even diehard BBT lovers might have trouble (digestive, too) gulping down a different one every day of the week, for a year (or longer), just to try them all.<\/p>\n
For the BBT newbies and the jaded, since we\u2019re still fresh into 2022, it might do you good to keep your must-tries to a simple few, just as a start. Spark the joy of finding a favourite with these 5 on this list, each a perennial delight in their own right.<\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s an OG. Gong cha\u2019s been in Singapore since 2009 and remains a top BBT go-to among the locals. The numbers prove it: 30-plus outlets, offering over 40 different combinations.<\/p>\n
Which means whatever drink is bound to have its lovers and haters. So here\u2019s one of its self-proclaimed best-sellers that\u2019s an OG concoction for an OG brand: the Earl Grey Milk Tea with 3J.<\/p>\n
For less than a fiver, you will get an indulgent dessert drink. How it qualifies: A cup of fragrant Earl Grey milk tea, topped with mounds of pudding jelly, chunks of grass jelly and classic black tapioca pearls (these three ingredients are what the \u201c3J\u201d refers to). So many different layers of mouthfeels (creamy, chewy, jiggly, slurpy), packed into one delicious serving.<\/p>\n
Multiple locations, <\/em>www.gong-cha-sg.com<\/em><\/a>; <\/em>www.facebook.com\/gongchasg<\/em><\/a>; www.instagram.com\/gongchasgofficial<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Bonus: SAFRA members get 10% off total bill at Gong cha outlets<\/u><\/a> (not valid at selected outlets).<\/strong><\/p>\n This is an interesting one from an enterprising BBT biz.<\/p>\n Try any of Forbidden Tea’s classic milk ones like, well, the Classic Milk Tea ($3.40 and up). But, why stick to the \u201csame-o, safe-o\u201d ones that you can find elsewhere when you can opt for its special signature blend: the Rice Oolong Latte (from $4.90)?<\/p>\n Slightly tannic, thanks to the earthy marriage of oolong tea leaves and rice grains, its light bitterness is softened by creamy, vanilla-ish milk. Add some sizeable, freshly-made chewy Golden Pearls (or other more interesting toppings such as Orh Nee Pearls or Honey Jasmine Jelly, all for an extra dollar or less) and you\u2019ve got your refreshing homemade BBT brew of the day.<\/p>\n Various locations including Marymount Community Club, www.facebook.com\/forbiddentea<\/a>; www.instagram.com\/forbiddentea_sg<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n This cult favourite BBT brand has gone big-time; the Taiwanese biz opened up a Playground by PlayMade cafe at AMK Hub late last year in addition to its drinks-only outposts.<\/p>\n It more than passes the vibe check with the youngsters \u2013 for its ultra novel collaborations (such as the recent Jia Jia Liang Teh and a new Geneco one), innovative-flavoured handmade pearls (it built its success on them) and, of course, a splashy choice of cloying creations. But, look past the hype, and you will find that some of the simpler ones are also its tastiest ones.<\/p>\n Such as the Chrysanthemum Milk Tea (from $3.80) for example. Don\u2019t mistake its humble looks and name, and old-school flavour for a beige-tasting \u201cblah-bble\u201d tea drink; it\u2019s one of the brand\u2019s top sellers. Pick your preferred pearls to add to this sweet-enough-on-its-own drink \u2013 you can double up on the floral notes with Chrysanthemum-flavoured ones.<\/p>\n Multiple locations, <\/em>www.playmade.com.sg<\/em><\/a>; <\/em>www.facebook.com\/playmadeonezo<\/em><\/a>; www.instagram.com\/playmade.onezo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n This one might have flown under your radar because a) pandemic so you might missed reading about it and b) it only opened in Tanjong Pagar late last year and has only one outlet right now.<\/p>\n So, to help you make up for lost time, here\u2019s some info about this new-ish player. Hailing from Feng Chia (or Fengjia) Night Market (supposedly the largest night market in Taiwan), Cing Tea is also known as a \u201cLight Oolong Tea Shop\u201d.<\/p>\n Since that is the case, all the oolong ones here deserve a try. But, if you want to live a little and let your taste buds tingle, look up the \u201cRaymon\u2019s No. 1\u201d and \u201cRaymon\u2019s Specials\u201d. Our top pick within this range of outliers: Winter Melon Tea Lemonade ($3.80).<\/p>\n It\u2019s one of the cheapest (hence, value for money), and a traditional Eastern health bev (winter melon tea) refreshed with the extra vitamin C zip of lemonade. Throw in its \u201cBubble\u201d (pearls), Tea Jelly, Nata Jelly or Aloe Vera toppings (from $0.60 and up; price dependent on flavour and drink size) to turn this into a tastier, true-blue BBT wonder.<\/p>\n And, just who exactly is Raymon? It\u2019s the brand\u2019s bespectacled mascot who wears what seems like a slice of citrus fruit on top of his noggin. Simply adorkable.<\/p>\n 12 Gopeng Street, #01-89\/90, Icon Village, 078877, <\/em>www.cingteasg.com<\/em><\/a>; <\/em>www.facebook.com\/cingteasg<\/em><\/a>; www.instagram.com\/cingteasg<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Brown sugar and boba pearl milk drinks were fire a few years; now, they\u2019ve become a popular mainstay amongst BBT lovers here.<\/p>\n The matter-of-factly-named Taiwan Milk Tea + Brown Sugar Boba (from $4.90) from Xing Fu Tang may not be the brand\u2019s top-star, the Brown Sugar Boba Fresh Milk (it\u2019s not a milk tea, btw), nor the sweetest or creamiest out there on the market, but this brand-recommended combination makes for a worthy must-try.<\/p>\n The black tea\u2019s made from high-quality leaves plucked from Taiwan\u2019s mountains; the brown sugar pearls are house-made from 100% natural brown sugar and stir-fried in a wok to give them that special soft and caramelised chewiness; and the non-diary creamer adds extra creaminess to balance out all of that sugariness. It\u2019s the perfectly balanced milk tea for those who are lactose intolerant.<\/p>\n Multiple locations, https:\/\/xingfutangsg.com<\/a>; <\/em>www.facebook.com\/XingfutangSG<\/em><\/a>; www.instagram.com\/xinfutangsg<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Featuring the most popular, best-selling and interesting drinks from 5 BBT specialists.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15723,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3,6],"tags":[2978,2184,2333,2979],"yoast_head":"\n
\n2. Rice Oolong Latte, Forbidden Tea<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/3-1.jpg\")
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\n3. Chrysanthemum Milk Tea, PlayMade by \u4e38\u4f5c<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6.jpg\")
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\n4. Winter Melon Tea Lemonade, Cing Tea<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/8.jpg\")
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\n5. Taiwan Milk Tea + Brown Sugar Boba, Xing Fu Tang<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/9.jpg\")
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