Milk Tea Craze: I'm hooked

Milk tea, or any other specialty drinks these days are more than just your regular beverage. Pinoys have grown to love and take note, spend a lot of money on these drinks for the past 6-12 months. I tell you, those long lines mean a lot! Reminds me of pearl shakes back then. Zagu went head to head with Orbitz back in the day. Only this time, we're talking about Tea and many more concoctions that are claimed to be "healthy".

As the title says it, I'm hooked. I know that it's not really as healthy as it's sold to be but hey, they taste really good. And have I spent hundreds - if not thousands already - on these drinks for the past month alone. It has even come to a point that I need one every now and then.

Just to cap this entry off, let me introduce my top 5 milk tea/specialty drink brands!

5) Serenitea

I've tried this only once and I really liked the Hokkaido Milk Tea. My first among all the milk teas actually - because I saw it right across our suking car wash during one hot summer day. One thing though is that it's quite pricey.

4) Gong Cha

I've heard about this from a friend and we had some delivered to the office. Tasted really good. In terms of taste, it ranks up there, even if I've only had it once. Should Gong Cha eventually open in Banawe, I'm seeing this one go up my preferred list.

3) MoonLeaf

There's been a lot of buzz about this drink - especially with the younger crowd. It's no secret that they're targeting the college kids. I dropped by the Maginhawa branch other week and the tea shop was just the perfect hub for this target market. Wifi. Tables. Lots of them. Wintermelon milk tea is a must try.

2) Zen Tea

You'd probably be surprised about this ranking but I learned to love milk tea because of Zen Tea. Very accessible. There's one right across our building. They have a branch right beside La Salle. They even have one right beside our suking car wash (with free wifi)! Throw in the extra sweet drinks (I recommend ChocTea) and the cheap price tags, then you've got yourself zen-ed! 

1) Happy Lemon

I've heard of this Happy Lemon way to often for the past year and I'm thankful that my friends treated me for my first try. I always hesitated to try because of the long lines specifically in their flagship branch in greenhills. But hey, once I tasted the Cocoa + Rocksalt & Cheese, BAM! No other drink has topped this one to date. I've been to all three branches and I order the same drink always. Hands down Number 1.

How about you guys? What's your favorite milk tea place?