Manchester's Vegan Bubble Tea Bar




The only time I've tried bubble tea was about 6 years ago in New York. I remember being excited when shortly afterwards a bubble tea cafe opened in Manchester's  Chinatown but alas the drinks were dairy based and not suitable for vegans. I thought vegan bubble tea must just be a New York thing.


With that in mind I've often walked past Bobo Tea, the bubble tea bar in Manchester's Arndale Shopping Centre without giving it a second thought. With my Mofo theme as tea though I started thinking about bubble tea and sent Bobo a tweet just on the off chance they could do a vegan option. To my delight they tweeted right back saying all their drinks could be made vegan and recommending the iced tea with jellies (coconut flesh).


The bubble teas are made up from a flavour, a creamer (ask for soy powder instead of dairy), black or green tea, ice and tapioca balls (these are the bubbles). The result is a sweet, milky tea drink that you drink through a wide straw that also sucks up the chewy tapioca balls. These are kind of tasteless but strangely addictive.


My sister and I chose almond and coconut flavour bubble teas respectively. We both found the almond a little strong and sweet tasting for our palates but loved the coconut which was more subtle, refreshing, yet really creamy tasting. I'm already looking forward to going back to try more flavours and also check out their iced tea recommendations. The prices are similar to a latte in a coffee shop and the drinks are a fun alternative.

Comments

  1. Hasta La Vegan11 September 2014 at 08:28

    Oh cool! I'm gonna head over there when I'm next in town. Jake bought some bubble tea for me to make and I don't think I did it right, it was weird. I'll have to try these so I can compare

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tea and Sympatico11 September 2014 at 12:51

      I'd love to have a go at home. I think I've seen the bubbles in Chinese supermarkets but never the wide straws that are a must.

      Delete
  2. Deerly Beloved Bakery11 September 2014 at 08:45

    Oh wow something to try when I go visit the mum in law! Are the bubbles weird in texture?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tea and Sympatico11 September 2014 at 12:50

      They're unusual - soft but chewy. I really liked them but then I don't often have texture issues with food. I can imagine they wouldn't be everybodys cup of tea so to speak!

      Delete
  3. Susan11 September 2014 at 10:00

    I love Bubble Tea. We have a chain here called Easy Way that does black, green and soy based bubble teas. However the best flavour, taro, is made on a powder that uses dairy. However there is a little restaurant here that does a vegan taro bubble milk tea and it is amazing - tastes like cookies!

    ReplyDelete
  4. All Consuming11 September 2014 at 14:34

    This sounds nuts, and so I'm keen to try it. I'll have to pop into town and give one a go. You are such a brilliant mine of information! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tea and Sympatico12 September 2014 at 10:41

      There's a new health food shop opened just near it too worth checking out just past the Works bookshop.

      Delete
  5. Caitlin Galer-Unti12 September 2014 at 08:58

    I love bubble tea although since having the best bubble tea in Taiwan (its birthplace) I can't really stand the bubble tea in the UK or US! A really nice one just opened in London though that does bubble tea with fewer artificial ingredients - they make all their tea from scratch, and they have soya milk, almond milk or coconut water available!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tea and Sympatico12 September 2014 at 10:40

      That sounds good. Although I liked the taste of these and preferred it to the one I had in New York I'd love it if it was made from fresh plant milk than powder.

      Delete
  6. Unknown7 February 2015 at 16:35

    I went there today and asked for soy and they said they didn't do it?! Anyone else had this or have I been mislead?

    ReplyDelete

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