I’ve been brainstorming all day for ideas on what to blog about as my first official post here. At the end of the day it all boils down to one particular subject which is food. I love love love food. It’s probably the second largest bulk on my monthly expenses. While clothes and shopping are my first love and the number one consumer of my salary, I just can’t stop thinking about food and all the great places and yummy food I’ve been to and tried. 

So here goes…I dedicate my first “lifestyle” post to MILK TEA! *CLAP CLAP* 

If you know me personally, you may very well know by now that I love milk tea. I could drink it everyday! It’s probably the primary culprit for my continuous weight-gain, but still, I can’t stop having my daily dose of NaiCha. 

Here are my top 5 milk tea picks and where I get them:

5. NaiCha/Taro Milk Tea from Zen Tea

If you’re like me who needs her daily dose of milk tea on a smaller budget, then this is your best bet. They have a variety of affordable milk tea, fruit teas, and other flavored tea drinks. 

Never fails to satisfy give me a quick fix for my milk tea cravings. I have to warn you though that if you get this daily for like 2-3 weeks, it will get old. So better mixed it up every once in a while with other brands or atleast other flavors.

Price range: P50 to P80

Topping options: Pearl (only topping available in all branches), Coco Jelly, Pudding, Coffee Jelly

Zen Tea Branches: N. Roxas St., Banawe, Q.C. / Blessings & Prosperity Canteen Ayala Ave., Makati City / RCBC, Ayala Ave., Makati City

4. Hawaiian Milk Tea from Serenitea

Serenitea is on of those fancier tea places that offer a variety of drinks from basic hot teas, fruit flavored teas, and milk teas. They also give you options on sugar level, ice level, and toppings. 

What I like most about Serenitea is their variety of snacks that go really well with my milk tea. What you must try: Peppered Chicken, Peppered Corn, Peppered Potato Rounds. 

They also offer free Wi-fi so it’s the perfect hangout place during weekends.

Price range: P85 - P110

Toppings: Pearl, Coco Jelly, Coffee Jelly, Pudding, Wheat Grass Jelly

Branches: N. Roxas, Banawe, Q.C. / Alabang Town Center / Wilson, Greenhills 

3. Brown Rice Green Milk Tea from ChaTime

Now this one has a more authentic taste and feel. ChaTime is actually an international franchise originating from Taiwan. So you can expect that there’s a variety of drinks ranging from hot to cold, teas to smoothies. They also offer different sugar, ice, and topping options. 

Price Range: P75 to P110

Toppings: Pearl, Coco Jelly, Pudding, Grass Jelly, Rainbow Jelly, Red Bean, Aloe Vera

Branches: N. Roxas, Banawe, Q.C. / Landmark Department Store, Makati / Robinson’s Pioneer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

2. Roasted Rice Milk Tea from Kozui

Kozui is a place better known for their teas. They offer a variety of Japanese tea drinks and snacks. I would definitely go here for my Genmaicha, Takoyaki, Karaage, and Mochi Truffles which are to die for! Now they’ve just given me another reason to keep coming back, and that’s their new selection of milk teas. They only have 3 different tea flavors for their milk tea which are Genmaicha, Roasted Rice, and Ceylon Tea. I was only able to try the Roasted Rice which I would typically order from Japanese restaurants. It was good, not too creamy, not too watery. It was just right. Despite the very limited options for toppings (pearl, and nothing else) I still enjoyed my drink. 

Price Range: P95 to P110

Branch: T. Morato, Q.C.

1. Taro Milk Tea from Bubble Tea

The last but definitely not the least, my favorite, Taro Milk Tea from Bubble Tea. This place, by far, has the richest, frothiest, creamiest milk tea I have ever tried. I don’t know if it’s because of those machine shaker things that they use, but they definitely serve the yummiest, and not to mention, the priciest milk tea drinks. They also serve an array of Japanese fusion meals. I can say that for the several times I’ve gone to this place, I’ve never been disappointed, except for one time when I ordered Takoyaki that wasn’t that freshly cooked. If you love Japanese food and snacks, you definitely have to check this place out.

Price range: P120 to P150

Topping options: Big Pearl, Small Pearl

Branch: T. Morato, Q.C.

(Sorry for the not-so-good photo)