From Local Delicacy To International Fame
Ōtautahi Christchurch’s Top 5 Bubble Tea Fixes
The rise of bubble tea, or boba, in its smooth and silky glory is undeniable. The Taiwanese drink and dessert hybrid has taken the world by storm since the 1980s, proving there’s more to the classic milky tea combo than meets the eye with the addition of chewy tapioca pearls.
The refreshing drink has taken on many shapes and forms as more tea houses popped up around the globe. Toppings like coconut jelly and creamy puddings became the norm, while some didn’t contain any tea at all!
No matter how you like it, your next bobalicious fix is right here in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
J-bings
J-bings may be popular for their savoury Chinese pancakes with delicious fillings, but once you try their bubble tea, you’ll soon know them for a different reason. The Asian-fusion restaurant in the CBD boasts a large menu to choose from, including the classic milk tea series, and even options with cream cheese! Their unique bubble tea hotpot is perfect for sharing, where you get to mix the ingredients yourself in one big pot.
Gong cha
From a humble tea house in Taiwan to hundreds of stores worldwide, Gong cha’s success comes down to their premium tea blends and house-made tapioca pearls. Each cup is brewed with precision - their recipes were perfected following more than 23,000 attempts, after all. Rock up to their Riccarton Road store for a refreshing pick-me-up.
Gelato & Tea
Riverside Market’s Gelato & Tea is more than just its name. It's an experimental ice cream and gelato parlour where you can build your very own DIY bubble tea! Pick your favourite flavour, and the G&T team will use it as a base for your drink. Add Panna Cotta or caramel pudding to top it all off!
Teasme
Teasme lets you watch the magic unfold, ensuring you know exactly what goes into your liquid cup of joy! Nestled in Church Corner Mall, their menu is rooted in tradition, maintaining Taiwanese methods and tastes for authenticity you can’t get anywhere else. Give the popular iced mango green tea with pearls a go, or their honey oolong tea with hand-squeezed lemon to boost the immune system.
BobaLab
No week is ever the same at BobaLab in the CBD. While their milky, fruity tea range remains constant, along with their signature hand-crafted boba and coconut jelly, a unique boba flavour is introduced each week to keep you on your toes! They’ve tried matcha, milo, mango and watermelon – who knows what’s next!
