Tea Etc. is a tiny boba shop tucked away on Queen St. If you walked past it and didn't have an…read moreaffinity for pearl milk tea, you probably wouldn't notice it was even there. However, on a hot, sunny and unusually humid day, Tea Etc came to the rescue. I got my standard passionfruit green tea with lychee or coconut jelly. It turned out exactly how I like it: not too sweet but fruity enough to mask the green tea flavor. They don't put too much ice, so you're not paying for empty room in your cup. Out of all the boba shops I tried in Australia, Tea Etc stands at the top of my list. Keep on living the boba life, friends: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zccNQPH7Xe0

Tea Etc is the perfect way to end a hot summer's day Christmas shopping at the Myer Centre. Tucked…read moreinto a tiny booth beneath a bridal store, and wedged between Michael Hill Jewellers and Culture Kings, this little bubble tea shop is easy to miss but shouldn't be overlooked! Bubble teas are gaining popularity as a refreshing alternative to coffee or juice as a pick me up, and Tea Etc have got their recipes down pat. Their drinks aren't as sickly sweet as many of the large bubble tea chains, and the service is very personalised. The staff are incredibly fast, friendly (on some occasions they've even taken my straw wrapper and binned it for me behind the counter), and bilingual, which is one of the secrets to their success. Tea Etc's flagship store is in Sunnybank, aka The Real Chinatown, and since opening in the city it's become an instant success among international students and locals alike. Tea Etc offer a reward card for frequent sippers, and it won't be long until you're racking up the stamps and inching one step closer to your free tea. My picks from the extensive menu include: Jasmine Green Milk Tea, Plum Tea (NB: these aren't fresh, sweet plums but the preserved and salty kind), and the Red Bean frappe icy. But keep drinking into winter too! If you're not a fan of iced beverages, keep an eye out for their heated specials: hot ginger tea with honey infusions. Mmmm. Drinks range from $3 - $4 a pop.

This isn't just another bubble tea shop, it's not even another ChaTime... It's much better!…read more They serve the same drinks they have over at their Sunnybank location and just as good. They also give you the same stickers for frequent customers (Buy 10 get 1 free), just ask for it. The only frustrating part with Sakuraya is the size of the cup. It just doesn't fit in the car cup holder. So either finish it before leaving or drink it when you reach your final destination otherwise you may have to deal with picking up boba from your car floor.

Don't confuse this shop with the Sakuraya at Sunnybank Market Square which serves both food and…read moredessert drinks. The Eight Mile Plain Sakuraya is exclusively a dessert/ drinks bar and a popular one at that. Even though it only opened last year, this shop has a faithful following lounging around in the indoor/ outdoor dining area, sipping drinks, munching on those glutinous Japanese rice balls and just people watching in general. They do the usual assortment of pearl milk teas and fruity green/black teas. When I went last weekend, I wanted to try something a little different so the waitress recommended a Winter Melon Yoghurt drink. This was perfect for the hot weather but I would only recommend it if you enjoy drinks with a distinct sour sweetness such as Yakult. They also stock a range of gelati that I've never heard of called Norgen Vaaz though I'm willing to give it a go if it is as tasty as their drinks range.

My first ever milk tea was from this place. Whenever we were at Sunnybank Plaza, my mum would…read morealways come here to get milk tea. I use to love sharing it with her. It's cool to see that this place is still in business after so many years! :) I forgot how good the drinks are here! The drinks are pretty cheap too! It's about $3-4. This place is the cheapest of all of the milk tea places in Sunnybank Plaza. I've gotten the strawberry milk tea and the honeydew milk tea. Both were so flavourful! They weren't too sweet as well. Whenever I want milk tea and don't feel like spending $5-6 on a drink, I know I can count on this place on serving me some good milk tea for a good price!

For the past 4 yrs I've been a regular customer. Love the lychee green tea and wintermelon tea…read more They also sell smoothies and juices. As a bonus, drink prices are very reasonable. The owner is friendly and I sometimes have a lovely chat with her if business is a bit quiet. One of the staff members could try smiling once in a while. It gets very busy on weekends as can be expected so considerable patience is necessary.

I was in a hurry to get my massage and saw Chatime for the first time in Toowong Village. With the…read moreattractive bright pink neon sign and the cool digital display screens that I thought were posters on the sides of their cubicle... I thought, now here's a trendy little bubble tea place... and I love me some bubble tea. I usually get my lychee green tea with pearls but I thought I would try the Macha Latte... a mixture of green tea and milk latte somehow the milk and the green tea part look separate in the cup so you end up walking around with a super cool looking drink. They even ask you the amount of sugar you want in your drink and you can get creme brulee in your drink as well instead of pearls... or both if you're feeling adventurous. I know I know... it sounds weird, but trust me when I say... it is quite the taste sensation that works really well! You'll pay the standard $4-$5 for your drink including jelly or pearls or nothing and the sizes are pretty good too. They even ask you if you want ice in your bubble tea. Very friendly staff mixed with interesting looking combinations for your tea drinking delight... this is an international Taiwanese chain starting out in Australia. I think it's got a fair bit of competition but I also think it may do pretty damn well.

Anyone who loves bubble tea will be well aware of the Easyways and other chain stores around. While…read moreI do love an Easyway, Chai Time in Toowong Shopping Village has its own unique range of teas that are absolutely to die for. The first time I tried their Pink Grapefruit Green tea I was in love. It was the perfect blend of sweetness with a flavour that makes my mouth water even as I talk of it now. The staff are always friendly and the service is quick. I must admit that I have craved their tea to the point that I have made special trips to Toowong just for a cup of it. I highly recommend you try some. In fact, I think I might go and get some right now...

Starbucks. Quite a reputation from the states. I expected something more, something a little bit…read morespecial. I only go here when nothing else is open and I'm craving a caffeine hit. It's OK tasting. Kinda of like just having a No-Doze with some hot milk. Hardly any chairs and tables, always taken up by other people. There are tables outside but I don't like the outdoors. Usually a long queue. The staff are OK. The different Starbucks sizes are confusing, whose idea was that? I don't know and I hope I never meet them. Expensive. I don't really care for their brown napkins, but if they are environmentally friendly then fine. The condiment section is usually messy. All that aside, if they were the only problems with Starbucks I'd rate 3 stars, not just 2. Good location, broad menu, cute yet overpriced Starbucks souvenirs. But no, something is wrong with this place, something sinister. I have to ask, what is the go with the spoons? Firstly, they don't put spoons near the condiment section, how curious. Just these paddle pop sticks. Who has paddle pop sticks with their coffee? Am I a child? Can a child afford to pay $5 for small coffee? I don't like the taste of wet wood in my mouth, so you usually have to lean over the counter where the spoons are hidden or if they've run out ask for them. Also who chose these spoons? Who was it? I demand to know! Their face should be put up on the wall for everyone to shake their head at in disappointment. I usually get a cappuccino. You know what a cappuccino is right? I do, most people who have been to a coffee shop or had a coffee know what a cappuccino is. It isn't a rare coffee that requires special tools or instruments to enjoy. It is one of the most standard and popular drinks that even appear on a goddamn 7-eleven coffee machine. For the uninitiated, a cappuccino has a lot of froth. This is one of the best parts of the cappuccino. The foam is what makes it a motherf**king cappuccino! Listen to me Starbucks. You require a spoon not a piece of crappy wood to scoop this foam. So it would seem reasonable to a reasonable person that the spoons should be located with the condiments in the rare instance that someone wanted to have a CAPPUCCINO! But I digress. I see now they have to keep the spoons behind the counter as they are sharp and dangerous. Sort of like how prescription medicines are kept behind a counter at a pharmacy. Now lets discuss the spoon itself. The spoon. The spoon is, well, a fail. A big f**king fail. I find the spoon comparable to licking a blunt knife. You see the sides of the spoon are sharp and unpleasant. So then I have to walk around like an idiot to scab a normal spoon from a different place to enjoy my coffee or put up with it and hope I don't cut my lips on the evil piece of plastic. Or even worse is to miss out on scooping the delicious frothiness that is frothed milk. Which by the way is not a Starbucks invention! The spoon is also too small and too shallow. Dear Starbucks, I hate you. Go away. F**k you, Starbucks. Though the soy milk is free so that's nice. 2 stars.

The cafe was very nice and friendly the staff was helpful and I have no fault at this place and…read morelocation near MacDonald and open 7 days and I be back and u can use your app earn free coffees

Staff are attentive and service is fast. Fantastic quality coffee. Clear focus on high quality…read moreingredients with a great range of dietary requirements catered for. Good range of seating options and large number of tables for a city Cafe.

So i am out to lunch with my two favorite girls trying to find somewhere healthy to eat to go along…read morewith the new year health resolution, when we stumble across this lovely little hole in the wall cafe. The place looks clean and has friendly staff, on a hot brisbane day the air conditioned climate is inviting. We grab a seat and peruse the organic menu which looks yummy. The specials are so special they are pretty much sold out, lucky i had my eye on the lamb anyways. Had to try the bullet coffee with butter from a grass fed beast - creamy and delicious... My teenage daughter grabbed the burger and my wife had the zucchinni pesto pasta with chicken. Has only been open for two months and already this cute little cafe is blitzing it with its delightfully healthy and organic menu - usually gluten free, sugar free equals taste free, however, pando cafe will have you re-thinking this association in no time...

Good smooth hot coffee. Quick service, they obviously have…read moreregulars the girl behind me just handed over her money and was gone in a flash. Love that you can text your order in!

First impressions. The girl behind the counter doesn't seem…read morepleased to see me. Would a smile hurt? Place is empty at 3pm except for one table. They don't stock cream or stevia. So I ordered a short black. It's bitter & not in a good way. Slight aftertaste of battery acid.

A T2 store is a T2 store is a T2 store, but a T2 store is also full of delicious teas and super…read morehelpful and friendly staff. The most recently opened Brisbane store in the shiny new extension at Westfield Carindale is no exception. Even at the busiest I've seen this store (just before Mothers Day - not surprised) I was still asked if I needed any assistance, and I have to commend T2's recruitment team because the T2 staff at Carindale and every other store encounter I can recall have always seemed really genuine. I don't feel stupid asking any sort of question, I love that I am not made to feel like I'm putting anybody out if I ask for something on a high-up shelf or for a sample of a tea flavour, I love the free gift-wrapping service ("Is this a gift?" "Yes, (for me)..."), I love T2. This is such ridiculous gushing. I'm not sorry. Today I asked a question in-store about a blend I'd bought online - not only did she answer my question expertly, but she brewed up a sample of the tea for me, to prove her answer. I would be more surprised but I've come to expect that level of customer service in T2 stores in general. The only gripe I have with T2 is the price tag. I don't mind it for the tea, but the newer range of treats they've been bringing out definitely have a luxury price tag on them. $18 for a small box of chocolates? $14 for biscuits? $12 for jam? I'm a sucker for their tea-infused products but I just can't justify it! (I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to try them all! AGH.)

Visiting a T2 store isn't just about buying tea, it's an experience. This store is no exception…read more With free samples out for customers to enjoy you can sample some different teas while picking up your regular favourite. I also frequently drop by this store for a free sample rather then grabbing a drink elsewhere. The staff at T2 Carindale are lovely and helpful. They know their products and whether you are a avid tea drinker looking for something new or are a new tea drinker looking for somewhere to start they will be able to set you in the right direction. My personal favourite tea is Gorgeous Geisha - green tea with strawberries and cream. It is absolutely amazing and I drink it daily. If you are starting out on green tea I would strongly recommend it as it is creamy and lacks the sort of "tanginess" of regular green tea.