5 Stars because: It's managed to refresh the bubble tea experience by adding in creative twists and ingredients while elevating the taste we all know and love. Very clean, modern and orderly, this is an instance where being a chain is a plus and not a drawback.
For a couple of years during college I worked as a "Bobarista" at I's Cafe, a well known bubble tea shop among the Rutgers community. I made every Bubble tea imaginable, had the recipes/method down pat and experimented on my own drinks too. So when it comes to bubble tea it's hard to peek my curiosity and get my attention.
As time went on bubble tea chains started to introduce sugar and ice customizations. I thought that was really nice and a VERY needed change of pace in the bubble tea world. And while I appreciated this change, it wasn't a wow factor.
But dang, enter Gong Cha and I'm back in love and a fan of Bubble tea again. The flavors are on point and they make the bubble teas right. Solid yet also innovative.
The taste of their brewed tea is good and you can tell they must use quality tea leaves. It really comes out in the drink and is tasty.
They also offer the sugar and ice customizations as well as having more than your typical variety of topping options. I found I liked their white pearls. It's texture is chewy like regular tapioca but almost has a "crunchiness" to it that's really enjoyable. I like that getting your drink "panda" style means you get both the white and black pearls. The combination of their textures is actually nice and wasn't overkill.
The creative flair that comes with some of Gong Cha's unique recipes is what I really applaud. Some of their flavors and combinations I haven't seen elsewhere before. Also that milk foam thing they got going on is good and I really appreciate the addition of them into the bubble teas. But most of all I LOVE that my bubble tea tastes delicious even though I get the lowest sugar level (30%) possible! I can't wait to try all the flavors here.
Gong cha, my new go to for bubble tea. Thanks for coming into my life. May you reign for a long, long time!
*Update* I've been getting questions so I wanted to add some tips. When you have a choice of so many elements of a drink, in this case bubble tea, you can easily go wrong if you choose the wrong combination. Below are some rules of thumb to help navigate your journey!
1. Adding a topping will add sweetness to your drink. This is because they each sit in their own juices or syrup. Ask to taste a topping if you don't know their profile so you get a better idea.
2. If you get 0% sugar, please add a topping that has a sweet profile.
3. In that same regard, don't get 0% sugar and no topping. Some of the straight up teas you may be okay like green tea and such if you like your teas that way. But watch out because...
4. The milk foam has a salty/cream profile!
5. So don't get the milk foam variety with 0% sugar. You are basically ordering your drink salty and it won't be enjoyable.
6. Especially in layered types (milk foam) completely mix your drink all the way through with the toppings. It will make a difference in taste and result in a sweeter and more harmonious drink. When I get Oreo Panda it tastes remarkably different when mixed vs. not mixed.
7. If you get a lot of toppings it will add that much more sweetness to your drink so it will be better to order lower sugar levels. If you get alot of toppings then I recommend 30%. Depending on your preference you may be able to do 0% as well.
8. In that same regard, if you get a lot of toppings don't order a high sugar level. It will result in your drink being too sweet for you! So don't do 100 or 70. I would do 30 but you may be able to get away with 50 esp if it's the milk foam variety.
9. Artificial flavored bubble tea like taro, cookies and cream, and mango ect will be sweeter just on its own than a plain tea drink like black tea or earl grey tea. The flavoring elements involved have an innate sweetness in them. Keep this in mind when ordering sugar levels. You will want to keep it on the lower end.
10. In that same regard on the flip side, your plain teas (Black tea, Earl Grey tea) won't be sweeter in favor. So add in a topping or raise the sugar level or your drink will be too tart/sour.
If you keep these in mind, you should be able to avoid getting a bad mix. I know everyone has different preferences so I tried to give the rules a range to encompass a wide spectrum. I hope these guidelines help everyone make a bubble tea they absolutely love at Gong Cha! If you still need help feel free to reach out! I'll SYOY y'all! Cheers!!! read more