When Bubble Tea was introduced to us back in the 1990s, it caught almost everyone’s attention and everyone became so addicted to it. Bubble teas are not just a phase or a trend, it is still one of the most popular drinks to exist and people are still lining up to get their daily dose.
However, bubble teas have come a long way and it has transformed a lot ever since. There are so many renditions and types of bubble teas nowadays- from tons of flavors to even adding cheese to them. The latest new trend or recipe for making bubble teas is using brown sugar.
So what exactly is a brown sugar bubble tea? It simply is boba pearls cooked on low heat in brown sugar. This technique is used so that the boba could absorb the flavor from the brown sugar.
This trend has been very popular in Taiwan and now it is making its “stardom” in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are seen willing to line up for hours just to get their brown sugar bubble tea.
JenJuDan 珍煮丹
15 Lee Garden Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
What started as a humble shop in Taiwan’s famous Shihlin Night Market, JenJuDan has now expanded to a few countries in Southeast Asia! Famous for their Thai Milk Tea with boba pearls and Matcha Milk Tea, they are also not lacking the brown sugar bubble tea trend.
The line to order your bubble tea takes about 20-30 minutes but mainly because of the lack of workers and it takes a while for them to prepare one drink. Hence, the line is always building up.
JenJuDan’s brown sugar bubble tea does not have the significant brown stripes flowing down its tea. The color of the brown sugar is not as dark as expected. Level of sweetness can be adjusted according to preference.
Tiger Sugar 老虎堂
36 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay Hong Kong
Maintaining as one of the most popular bubble tea stores to exist by far, Tiger Sugar is consistently packed at any hour of the day. You could line up to at least an hour just to place your order at the cashier.
The name Tiger is inspired by the stripes created by the brown sugar effect on its cup. The stripes on the cup are really prominent and darker compared to the rest, however, sweetness level cannot be tweaked so it’s more suited for sugar lovers.
The wait is definitely worth it because we kid you not, the brown sugar bubble tea is to die for. It’s so smooth and milky, yet it does not overpower the taste of the brown sugar. Brown sugar game is strong int Tiger Sugar but the combination goes so perfectly well.
Xing Fu Tang 幸福堂
36 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay Hong Kong
Although being right next to Tiger Sugar, Xing Fu Tang is also a popular bubble tea store that serves brown sugar milk tea as well. Xing Fu Tang has a slightly bigger store with a more elaborated signage.
You can also watch the staff preparing brown sugar boba at the front of the shop. It is fascinating to watch especially when you need to wait for your bubble tea to be prepared.
Although being next to the famous Tiger Sugar has its disadvantages, the line for Xing Fu Tang is still a long one, just not as long as Tiger Sugar. The pearls for their bubble tea is a little salty, not quite sure if that’s what their recipe is supposed to be.
Milksha 迷客夏
G/F, 17 Lee Garden Road, Causeway Bay
Located right next to JenJuDan, Milksha offers more than just brown sugar bubble tea. They are specialized in using fresh milk all the way from Taiwan. Also, they have Cheese Milk Tea and Fresh Milk Tea.
For those who do not have sweet tooth but also like a taste of brown sugar bubble tea, Milksha is the one as their brown sugar is way less sweet than the rest.
Milksha does not show off the “stripes” from the brown sugar as their bubble teas are served in a non-transparent cup. Although Milksha has a more adorable signage compare to JenJuDan- its green grassy signage with a cute cow lit up, its line is not as long as JenJuDan.
However, despite having less crowd, Milksha has been around for a while compared to JenJuDan.
There are a ton more of bubble tea stores around Hong Kong for us to explore. The brown sugar specialty is slowly caught on and more bubble tea stores are adapting this recipe. Would you wait for over an hour for bubble tea? How willing and patient are you to wait for a cup of bubble tea?