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The milk-tea craze may be less prominent now, but that has not stopped dessert shops from coming up with new, themed creations to keep the trend alive. We set out on a hunt across Hong Kong for all variations of milk tea-flavoured desserts and came up with this list. Now ask yourself: Can you really be a true fan of milk tea without having tried these treats before?
Flying in all the way from Bangkok, you know you can expect excellent milk tea-flavoured desserts from ChaTraMue. ChaTraMue not only whips up a mean traditional Thai iced tea, but it also offers a Thai tea bingsu dessert with adjustable amounts of ice and sweetness, a pretty rare option when it comes to shaved ice desserts. Known in Thailand as namkhaeng sai, this mountain of airy shaved ice comes with a thick cream topping that gently rolls down. Isn’t that just one of the most appetising things you can think of on a hot summer’s day?
Have you ever heard of avalanche cakes? Miss Marble in Tsim Sha Tsui is known for her trendy and Instagrammable creations, with bubble milk tea avalanche cake established as a long-time crowd-favourite. There are two layers to the cake: chiffon at the bottom that is topped with a tall layer of cream and a plastic cover that holds everything together. The chiffon cake is made with Japanese flour for a light and fluffy effect, and Twinings Earl Grey tea is used for the cream layer. Once you’ve snapped photos, untie the ribbon that holds the plastic cover in place and the cream layer will come cascading down around the cake, just like an avalanche!
Miss Marble, Shop A1, G/F, Block A, Carnival Mansion, 15B Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 5577 5038
Milk tea-flavoured macarons are a thing, bless the dessert gods! One of the most well-known pastry shops in Hong Kong, Paul Lafayet specialises in various forms of fine French treats. While its representative product is undoubtedly the crème brûlée, its macarons are also a popular choice. Milk tea is a regularly available flavour, which you can purchase in any form or quantity you desire, with gift boxes that range from six to 25 pieces, where you can choose your own flavours. If you want something that looks more visually impressive, you can purchase macaron towers that vary from 29 to 109 pieces. All of the macarons are made with almond flour, so even those who are on a gluten-free diet can indulge in this delicacy!
Made fresh right here in Hong Kong on a daily basis, XTC Gelato has been scooping up incredible gelato since 2001. Boasting high-quality ingredients and seasonal offerings, XTC sources ideas from all around the world for its gelato flavours. As one of the homegrown OGs in Hong Kong’s F&B industry, XTC is more than qualified in taking traditional local flavours and turning them into refreshing gelato and sorbetto. We think its most impressive gelato is the Hong Kong milk tea ($35), with flavour so intense that a single lick of the ice cream cone is already like drinking a cup of rich milk tea. The gelato is so smooth that, before you know it, you’ve already finished the whole thing!
We’re sure that most people have had a taste of milk tea alongside their popcorn, but what about milk tea-flavoured popcorn? Taiwanese brand PaPo Grandpa launched the bubble milk-tea popcorn, made through heat and pressure, which means it has a significantly lower calorie count than its oil-popped counterparts. One reason to like it—aside from the flavour—is that the popcorn is nearly filled to the top of the container, a rare sight for manufactured snacks. You can choose from two types of popcorn inside: tapioca pearl-flavoured and milk tea-flavoured, which combine into bubble milk tea! With just the right amount of sweetness and crunchiness, it will be hard to stop after the first bite. You can find this special treat both online and in selected stores of HKTV Mall around Hong Kong.
Craving the taste of bubble milk tea, but don’t have the appetite for an entire cup of sugary goodness? Bubble milk-tea mochi might just be the answer to your problems. Japanese brand Royal Family has created the Taiwan bubble milk tea mochi, which ensures an authentic milk-tea taste as the snack is made in Taiwan, the birthplace of bubble milk tea itself.
With each mochi, you essentially get a bite-sized, non-liquid version of boba, as each mochi contains a single large boba pearl, surrounded by milk-tea-flavoured mochi filling. The best part? The sweetness level of the mochi are not as sweet as the typical full-sugar milk tea, so you won’t feel overwhelmed by a sugar rush even if you happen to binge a bit too much. This delicious snack can be found both online and offline in certain HKTV Malls across Hong Kong.
You’ve heard of croissants and waffles, but what about croffles? If you haven’t guessed already, croffles are the newest invention by the dessert pioneers over in South Korea, which combine the buttery layers of croissants with the crispiness of waffles. Popular dessert shop AM.PM has capitalised on this by offering croffles alongside its bestselling soufflés. One of its iconic flavours is the black sugar pearls croffle, served to you with a thick layer of milk tea sauce and milk tea pearls to top it off. If you’re looking for a quick sweet treat to bite on while you wander the streets of Yau Ma Tei, this crunchy milk-tea delicacy is perfect.
AM.PM, Shop B, G/F, Grand Place, 560 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei | (+852) 2725 4318
With bubble milk tea becoming increasingly global, it’s no wonder the drink has been incorporated into many different countries’ cuisine. Boholic takes this cultural dessert crossover even further with its Thai bubble milk tea soufflé pancake, which simultaneously contains elements of Taiwanese boba, Thai tea, and French soufflé. Presented to customers as a tantalising stack of soufflés slathered in a thick milk tea sauce, the dessert comes with a mini cup of milk tea pearls for you to pour onto the gooey confection, making it perfect for an aesthetic Instagram story as you decorate the treat. Although new to the menu, this indulgent treat is already becoming a must-try to those who visit the café.
Boholic, G & 1/F, Sea Panorama Court, 561 Fuk Wa Street, Cheung Sha Wan
First published on 17 October 2019. Written by Ching Yuen. Last updated by Punita Chan.
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