“Where are the tea leaves?” I ask, as I am served a cold beverage at the newly opened Cha Republic. It is easy to confuse this joint for a smoothie shop or a milkshake counter! The tiramisu milk tea called Tiramisu Snow Cap with a layer of cheese drizzled on top — that I have just been served — hardly looks like a cup of chai! But, the surprise does not stop there. I also spot black bubbles at the bottom of the drink. I am told that these soft chewy balls — known as bobas — are tapioca pearls that give the drink its name. “Taiwanese tea does not necessarily come with tea leaves. Every drink here, with or without tea leaves, is called bubble tea,” says Naresh, the managing director of the Coimbatore branch.
And so, I learn my first lesson on traditional Malaysian tea-drinking culture at the Cha Republic and proceed to taste more varieties. Next comes the Pearl Milk tea, which is the authentic and basic one, says Naresh. “It is a mixture of hot Taiwanese black tea, small tapioca pearls, condensed milk and honey. These drinks are served cold rather than hot. And you can play with them by adding other flavours.”
Pearl Milk tea, commonly called Bubble Tea or Boba Nai Cha, is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in tea shops in Taichung, Taiwan during the 1980s. All the drinks come with bobas — in a variety of flavours ranging from coffee to fruit — at the bottom of the drink. The pearl tea is Malaysia’s answer to big coffee chains like Starbucks, says Naresh. “You cannot imagine how popular it is there. It’s just like Starbucks. Every petrol bunk has a pearl tea machine. It’s that huge. At least, thousand cups are sold in the outlets everyday.”
The Malaysia-based brand, which started two months ago in Coimbatore, is redefining the tea-drinking experience. The options are endless. There are two distinct type of tea: fruit-flavoured and milk teas. The fruit-flavoured teas come as smoothies and shakes. In the milk series, you get to indulge in milk tea shakes, which use crème along with other flavours such as tiramisu, oreo cookies and chocolate.
“You can customise your topping according to the flavour of your drink. For instance, if it is a chocolate-based drink, the coffee jelly chunks make a great topping.”
There are also teas made of fruit purees. Naresh and his team offer me a chilled orange drink, made of passion fruit and jasmine green tea leaves. The tangy taste of the fruit puree blends with the herbal flavour of the tea. Topped with soft aloe vera chunks, this is just what you need after a hot day.
The Snow cap series is another attraction. These drinks come with a milk base and are served with the topping of Snow cap, a kind of cheese flavoured mousse cap.
The cheese flavour gives the drink a slightly salty taste, which balances out the creamy flavour. The Snow cap series is quite a hit in Chennai, where they have five outlets, says Naresh.
They chose Coimbatore after two months of research. “And, there was no other space more ideal than the mall to start our first outlet. Even during the weekdays, this place is packed. And, we are getting a good response. People here are open to experimenting new tastes.”
Naresh says they will be soon opening more branches in the city and also plan to introduce hot beverages in October.
Quick facts
These are teas made of tapioca pearls, imported from Taiwan
Customise your favourite tea by adding toppings of grape, mango, elaichi, passion fruit, strawberry, coconut and colour jellies.
Price ranges from Rs. 59 to Rs. 189. It is open at Food Court, Brookefields Mall
