While we’re still on a wild and wacky milk tea fix, let’s expand the topic a little but talking about some local cafes and restos that also offer Japanese milk tea on the menu. Kids, grab your wallets and car keys, and we’re off!

Tokyo Cafe

Tokyo Cafe has about four stores around Manila, serving Japanese-style bistro food and coffee. One of the nicest items on the menu however is their Royal Milk Tea, which tastes delicious hot or cold. The tea is rich and robust, and the milk adds a mellow and luxurious finish to what would otherwise be a simple cup of tea.

While I know that tea is more flavorful when drunk hot, I prefer mine iced and with plenty of sugar syrup. Yes — I have very pedestrian tastes, but when taken this way the tea becomes an energizing refreshment and not just a relaxing beverage. It also pairs well with bistro food like a tomato cream spaghetti or a crab salad sandwich. Nom nom nom nom.

Serenitea

A recent discovery is Serenitea, a small family of tea cafes situated mainly in Quezon City and San Juan, although they also recently opened a store in Alabang. They serve a bewildering variety of teas as well as tea infusions (“teas” not actually made from tea — like apple, berry, or rice tea), and they let you customize your drink all the way down to the amount of sugar you want mixed in.

My favorite is the Hokkaido Milk Tea with pearls and 75% sugar (although sometimes I go all-out and get the full sugar version). It is less sweet than your usual milk tea, which lets you appreciate the fine full flavor of the tea without drowning it in sweetness. The pearls are firm and have an al dente bite to it, but be careful when sucking them up a straw as I got a stray one to the back of my throat and ended up in a coughing fit ^^;;

Bubble Tea: The Tokyo Milk Tea Place

A fairly recent foray to Morato (to look for a bar — don’t ask) led us to stumble upon a small, unassuming tea shop called Bubble Tea. Located on the second floor of a low-lying building, Bubble Tea serves teas, shakes, and smoothies, as well as Japanese fusion entrees and snacks.

We haven’t tried any of the food, but if the tea is a good example of their dishes than you will not be disappointed. Bubble Tea’s bubble tea (lol) is nice and smooth, with a rich milky aftertaste that kids will love. Alas, adults who crave a strong tea flavor might be disappointed, but that’s not to say that their tea is bad — just different. Their green tea lattes though are wonderful, but that’s another story altogether.

Zentea

A relative upstart compared to the other stores in this list, Zentea is best described as a less chichi version of the more upscale Serenitea. These kiosks feature a similar albeit smaller selection of teas on offer at Serenitea, but what it lacks in style it more than makes up for in speed and convenience. Their kiosks can be found in many local malls and food courts, and their highly energetic baristas are always on the move, shaking up tea lattes and other treats for the line of loyal customers snaking out the front.

Their Naicha Pearl Milk Tea is their best seller at PhP 50 for the XL glass. The tea may be a shade too sweet for some people, but for Pinoys who love the sweet stuff this is just right. The pearls are rich and gummy, and have been stewed in a sweet syrup for extra flavor. If I’m in the mood for tea but my wallet isn’t, Zentea never fails to bring a smile to my face.

Quickly

Cheap and cheerful — that’s Quickly. With kiosks stationed in malls, street corners, and food courts, Quickly is always ready to serve you a nice chocolate-laced milk tea with chocolate pudding whenever the mood strikes you. I like this stuff so much I often find myself passing up a trip to Starbucks and heading for Quickly instead.

The milk tea itself is very mild — hence the need for a shot of chocolate to enhance the tea flavor, and the pudding is sweet and smooth. At PhP 55 per large glass its price can’t be beat, but unfortunately not all stores carry milk tea so you’ll have to ask the guys behind the counter if they have it, before you join the usually humongous line out front to make your order.