Gong Cha Markham

There’s still so much craziness about these bubble teas and similar drinks.  I stopped by Gong Cha one hot Saturday afternoon just to try them out and compare with Cha Time.  Drink offerings are very similar, with the exception of these special toppings, ie foam.  We just ordered off their ‘best sellers’ list of drinks, wintermelon milk tea with grass jelly, and the royal milk tea with grass jelly.  The royal milk tea with grass jelly was ordered full sweet, and less ice.  This one seemed to be ok.  My wintermelon milk tea with grass jelly was ordered half sweet, and less ice.  They totally got the order wrong!  How is it that my drink that is half sweet, when compared with a full sweet drink is sweeter?  Honest mistake?

I gave them the benefit of the doubt and went back for a second round a few weeks later.  I ordered the drink unsweetened with less ice.  Unsweetened to me is 0% sugar added.  The girl at the cash told me that it can’t be done unsweetened, because there is already some sugar in something.  I’m like ok, just don’t add any extra sugar.  Then she responds, ok, we’ll do it half sweet.  I got confused, isn’t 50% sweet the same as adding sugar still?  I just paid and grabbed my drink and left.  Drink is still too sweet. 

Winter melon Milk Tea & Royal Milk Tea

Gong Cha, you have failed me twice.  Will not be returning ever again.  Please train your staff to at least get their story straight with the drinks.

Gong Cha Markham

3636 Steeles Ave. E.,

Markham, ON 

L3R 1K9

Phone:  (905) 604-9323

Hours: Monday - Sunday 12:00pm - 12:00am

http://www.gong-cha.com/en/home.php

Kung Fu Tea Shop

I saw a picture on my friend's Facebook page and immediately wanted to find out where this new bubble tea shop was located.  Finally something aside from Ten Ren's, Tea Shop 168, and the new tea shop fad which I'm personally not a huge fan of, Cha Time.

I ordered a milk tea with grass jelly so I could compare with my drink with Cha Time.  I found Kung Fu Tea Shop to have a stronger milk tea taste and more grass jelly in the drink, making it a superior drink in my opinion.  Here, you also have the option of choosing the amount of sugar and ice added to the drink.  And from what I remember, the price here is slightly cheaper than Cha Time as well.

Milk Tea with Grass Jelly

Kung Fu Tea Shop
207 Dundas St. W.,
Toronto, ON
M5G 1C8

https://www.facebook.com/KungfuteashopToronto

ChaTime

So much hype!  Everyone says ChaTime is the best bubble tea in Toronto right now.  I didn’t get a chance to try it until they opened a location up in North York.  Their original location downtown was too inconvenient for me to go to.  We braved the long lineups for the North York grand opening weekend where they had the promotion of buy one get one free.  The free one was limited to roasted milk tea with grass jelly, milk tea with tapioca or mango drink.

I was able to try all three of those drinks, and I have to ask, why is there so much hype around it?  There was nothing different that made these drinks stand out from the ones that are sold in Pacific mall.

The ONLY thing that I liked about ChaTime was that you can ask for different levels of sweetness and different amounts of ice in your drink.  I just don’t get it.

Roasted Milk Tea with Grass Jelly, and Mango Drink

ChaTime North York

5494 Yonge St.,

Toronto, ON

M2N 7L3

647-748-6887

Hours:  Monday - Thursday 11:30am - 12:00am

               Friday - Sunday 11:30am - 1:00am