Bubble Tea at Gong Cha

Bubble tea on a hot day. #yegfood #eatalberta150

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jul 2, 2017 at 5:54pm PDT

I love bubble tea - I got hooked on it from hanging out in Chinatown. So, when a bubble tea place opened up on my favourite block on Whyte Avenue, I was very happy. Gong Cha features a variety of bubble teas, coffees, and other drinks in Taiwanese style. Most of the drinks are tea or coffee-based - there isn't the fresh fruit variety found at other places - with a few seasonal or very regional ingredients (red beans, grass jelly, winter melon). The focus here is on the toppings, from the traditional sago balls to pudding to milk foam. You pick your flavour and topping(s), as well as how much ice and sugar you want. Most drinks come in two sizes, and range $5-$6. The drinks are made to order, cold, and refreshing. Hot drinks are also available. I like basic coffee and tea milk, and love that you can choose black tea or Earl Grey. I have a feeling I will work my way through the menu over the summer.

Coffee Break: Chai Latte at Credo

Chai latte comfort #yeg

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 13, 2016 at 2:00pm PDT

When I visit Credo Coffee, I usually order a coffee or latte. However, when my stomach is not cooperating, tea is a better option. Last week, I had a chai latte at Credo for the first time. It was very smooth, creamy, and warm - very comforting. The spicy tea flavour was not terribly strong - it read more like black tea with a but of an extra bite - but it was still a very pleasant drink.

Coffee Break - Chocolate Chai

Chocolate chai #yegcoffee, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

When I want a hot drink and don't want coffee, I usually go for chai. On my last visit to Wild Earth Bakery I decided to try the chocolate chai - it had the warmth and spice of chai with an overtone of chocolate that did not dominate. A really great winter drink.

Coffee Break: Chai at Cafe Mosaics

Chai at Cafe Mosaics #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

The chai at Cafe Mosaics is only available seasonally during the fall and winter. Which means you still have a couple of months to get down there to enjoy a steaming, spicy cup of what is one of the best chais I have ever had.

It was so hot, I finished my meal and the drink was still steaming. It was so spicy, I could hear my taste buds singing. It kept me warm on a cold day. Delicious.

Iced Bevvies at Viphalay

Iced coffee and tea at Viphalay's original location on 95 street! #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I discovered this week that the original location of Viphalay on 107 Avenue and 95 Street is open after a long hiatus. This location is mere block away from my downtown office, so I had supper there with a co-worker on Wednesday.

For drinks, she had the iced coffee and I had the iced tea, Thai style. The coffee was like Vietnamese coffee, but already stirred into the condensed milk. My tea was rich and creamy, but still full of tea flavour. It's a red tea that is used (it gets orange from the cream). So tasty and delicious even on a cold winter's evening.

Iced Grapefruit Mate Tea

Iced Grapefruit Mate Tea, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I wandered away from the Fringe grounds for a bit during my shift to get one of Cha Island's large iced teas. The mate tea had grapefruit puree. I love mate (a drink popular in Argentina) so I went for it. The grapfruit really did not add much, only a bitterness. The smokiness of the mate cut through that fortunately.

Coffee Break: Green Cap Milk Tea

Green Cap Milk Tea, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I have been loving bubble tea for years now, so when I learned there was a Taiwanese version of the drink, and only one place in Edmonton that sells it, I knew a trip to the Gama Store was in order (10418 82 Avenue).

Basically, the Green Cap Milk Tea is bubble tea - without the bubbles. There is a topping of liquid cheese foam, with green tea powder on top. The milk tea is smooth and creamy, and the cheese adds another level of refreshment.

The store's owner told me that Gama gets is tea directly from Taiwan and it is considered to be a healthier drink than bubble tea (with its tapioca balls). As well, I got a lesson in how to drink it properly - the cheese and powder is supposed to be mixed in with the tea itself. Personally, I enjoyed moving my straw around and sipping a bit from the top and bottom exclusively before giving in and mixing it together.

I can definitely see myself drinking more of these when the weather gets hotter.

Coffee Break: Red Tea Latte at Cafe Tiramisu

Red Tea Latte, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Some of the most interesting coffee breaks I have, is when I don't even end up ordering coffee! Such was my choice this afternoon at Cafe Tiramisu. Cafe Tiramisu is a "lifestyle" cafe that incorporates wellness programming such as yoga into the establishment. As well, there is a playroom allowing parents with young children to enjoy socializing.

I had a red tea latte. I have had other kinds of tea lattes before, but never this. Red tea has a lot of antioxidants in it, but I chose it because I wanted to try something new. The latte was rich and creamy, and tasted like a hot version of the Thai iced tea I enjoy at Viphalay. I drank it quickly and would definitely order a large next time.