By: Eileen de Vries
Illustration by: Paavas Bansal
Forget Pret, Blank Street, and Cafe Nero. Bubble tea, with its sweet flavours and chewy tapioca pearls, has become a global phenomenon, especially among LSE students. When exams roll around, bubble tea becomes my loyal study companion.
Being half Taiwanese, it’s safe to say bubble tea is in my DNA. Each year I eagerly await my family’s annual Christmas trip to Taiwan, where I can get a huge cup for just 35NT (less than £1). When bubble tea first arrived in my hometown, Amsterdam, in 2019, my friends and I would travel across the city during our lunch break to get our fix or have it delivered to school. Fast forward to now, bubble tea has taken over Europe, with 250 stores in London alone.
By now I’m sure you’re wondering… what’s the BEST bubble tea spot in London? Lucky for you, here is a ranked list of my top three.
3. T4
To start us off is T4, the always reliable UK-wide chain. They serve a variety of drinks to satisfy every craving, ranging from milk teas to milkshakes, with creative toppings such as pudding and coffee jelly. The tea here is pre-brewed, which means their tea is not as fresh. This gives it a distinctly more artificial taste, but T4 does guarantee quick service and you’ll be sipping your tea in no time.
Eileen’s recommendation: Peach double green with tapioca pearls
2. Truedan
Coming in second place is Truedan, which is only ranked second because it’s a bit further from campus. However it’s perfect for a sweet treat if you’re studying at Senate House! Established in Taipei, they’re famous for their brown sugar bubble tea that features tapioca pearls bathed in hand-cooked brown sugar.
Eileen’s recommendation: Brown sugar milk tea with tapioca pearls
1. Pur Cha
And finally…My number one bubble tea shop in London is Pur Cha! I once even wrote them a highly enthusiastic Google review in hopes of getting a free drink. Located just a dangerously short walk from campus, you’ll find the shop cosily sat at the top of Kingsway. Serving ten kinds of tea, brewed fresh for every cup, their drinks offer endless combinations – you’ll be spoiled for choice! For the indecisive, you can never go wrong with their carefully curated “top picks”, which offer classic flavours such as matcha, or sweet potato if you’re feeling adventurous. Though the prices may be steep, you can get the app to collect stamps towards a free drink!
Eileen’s recommendation: Roasted oolong milk tea with tapioca pearls or fresh jasmine tea with passionfruit and tapioca pearls
And to those who think “I don’t like bubble tea” – you probably haven’t perfected your order yet! Each order is customisable to your liking, with personalised levels of sweetness, ice, size, flavours, and more. If you ever need some expert advice on crafting your order, come find me in Pur Cha!
