13 Famous Bubble Tea Brands That Have Arrived In Singapore. Which Is Your Favourite?

During the last year or so, Bubble Tea has enjoyed a new round of resurgence in Singapore.

People who grew up in the ‘era’ of Quickly, Cool Station and Milk Girl (gosh, I feel old), would find this all so, so familiar.

Except that “Bubble Tea” takes on slightly different form, with more fanciful packaging, colours, and variants from Brown Sugar Milk Tea, Fruit Teas, and Cheese Teas.

Some of the famous brands that came down include HEYTEA Singapore 喜茶, Tiger Sugar, Nayuki 奈雪の茶, The Alley 斜角巷, Xing Fu Tang 幸福堂, Milksha 迷客夏 and Chun Yang Tea 春阳茶事.

It is NOT over. From the grapevine, a fee more are heading here.

Some openings are well, more low-profile than others, ie they can be a prominent name in Taiwan and elsewhere, but quiet in Singapore (though I think their drinks are not bad). There were some Fruit Tea shops that opened with a “bang”, but are feeling the heat of the competition.

These are 13 famous bubble/cheese tea brands that have arrived to Singapore:

HEYTEA Singapore
ION Orchard Mall, 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-29, Singapore 238801 (Orchard MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm

HEYTEA 喜茶 which is China’s most popular tea brand, launched its 1st overseas shop in Singapore, right at ION Orchard basement 4. Its 2nd brand is at Clarke Quay, known for its alcoholic Bubble Tea – I am still not quite sure about that.

They are THE original creators of the iconic “cheese tea” (not anyone else), which has gained fame around the world.

You have probably seen other tea brands with similar drinking-boy logos, but THIS is the real McCoy.

As for the menu in HEYTEA, they offer a wide range of offerings catering to different palates: Cheezo Tea, Pure Tea, Berry Mango Family, and Fruity Boom.

The recommended is the King Fone Cheezo Tea ($5.50), which uses premium oolong tea leaves that have been specially harvested for HEYTEA.

As you drink the tea, you could taste that lingering oolong with some of that unique smokiness, as the tea leaves have undergone a special smoking process that brings out the fragrance. HEYTEA Singapore 喜茶 (ION Orchard)

The Alley Singapore – Jewel Changi Airport
78 Airport Boulevard Jewel Changi Airport #B2-273 Singapore 819666
Opening Hours: 7am – 12am (Mon – Thurs, Sat – Sun), 7am – 1am (Fri)
Other outlets at Orchard Cineleisure and Tampines 1

The Alley is a well-known Taiwanese beverage chain founded in Taichung, Taiwan in 2013.

After 5 years, it has rapidly expanded to over 300 outlets around the world including Japan, Korea, France, Australia, USA, and finally to Singapore.

The brand, represented by an iconic large-antlered deer, is famous for Deerioca, The Alley’s signature freshly-prepared hand-crafted tapioca pearls.

Manually measured, sifted, mixed and formed, the pearls achieve a better texture and aroma compared to its machine-produced counterparts.

Its 3 signature drinks are the Brown Sugar Deerioca Fresh Milk ($5.30), Brown Sugar Deerioca Matcha Fresh Milk ($6.30), and Brown Sugar Deerioca Cocoa Milk ($6.30). The slightly sweet boba pearls are satisfying to the bite because of its texture. I found that the texture was just right – not too hard or soft.

Opened at Jewel Changi Airport and at Orchard Cineleisure. The Alley Singapore (Jewel Changi Airport)

Milksha – Singapore
3 Temasek Boulevard #02-375/376 Suntec City Mall Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Other outlets at Funan and Paya Lebar Quarter

Taiwan’s Leading Bubble Tea Brand Opening In Singapore
Milksha 迷客夏 also known as “Milkshop”, Taiwan’s leading bubble tea that is voted No. 1 by Taiwan university students, has launched in Singapore at Suntec City and Funan.

This is also Milksha’s first outlet in Southeast Asia.

Milksha is known to use 100% natural fresh milk (no creamer) as well as other natural ingredients such as sugar from sugar cane for their products. No preservatives, chemical ingredients or artificial colourings.

Its pearls are also quite unique, featuring honey pearls freshly cooked, frozen, then air-flown to Singapore. (Effort)

In Singapore, the brand will launch four series: Fresh Milk Series, Fresh Milk Tea Latte Series, Premium Tea Series and Special Concoctions. The five signatures include Azuki Matcha Milk, Fresh Taro Milk, Valrhona 100% Cocoa Milk, Refreshing Orange Green Tea and Earl Grey Latte with Honey Pearl.

For something special, get the Black Sesame Milk ($4.80), best for those who love goma. Milksha 迷客夏

Tiger Sugar Singapore – Orchard Paragon
Paragon Shopping Centre #B1-39/40, 290 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238859
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Last order 9.50pm)

Tiger Sugar Singapore – Capitol Singapore
Capitol Singapore #B2-32, 13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178905
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Tiger Sugar Singapore – Chinatown Point
133 New Bridge Road #B1-42 Singapore 059413
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Tiger Sugar 老虎堂 has quite a successful opening (s) in Singapore, at the basement of Capitol Singapore and Chinatown Point basement, and Orchard Paragon.

The “Tiger Sugar” name came about from the ‘tiger stripes’ formed when the dark brown sugar syrup interacts with the thick milk in the cup.

However, you cannot customise the sugar level, amount of ice or toppings, compared to all the other bubble tea brands.

The main best sellers are the Brown Sugar Boba Milk with Cream Mousse ($5.30), Brown Sugar Boba with Pearls with Cream Mousse ($5.30) and Brown Sugar Pearl Milk with Cream Mousse ($5.30).

Still going on quite strong. Tiger Sugar Singapore (Capitol Piazza)

Nayuki – Vivocity
Vivocity, #01-207 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585 (Harbourfront MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

With over 180 stores across China and well-loved by celebrities, this flagship at Vivocity is Nayuki’s 1st overseas outlet.

The key feature of Nayuki is that it pairs premium fresh-fruit teas and soft euro bread. The brand is considered the pioneer of this concept, inspiring a wave of tea bakeries across Asia.

Originating from Shenzhen, the brand is considered “hapz” in China with photos of several of the products going viral on various social media channels such as Weibo.

This is also not just a takeaway kiosk, but a café with stylish and comfortable sit-down area, where you can slowly sip tea and have bread.

Other than the specialty “Supreme Cheese Fruit Tea”, other offerings you can expect include “Supreme Fresh Fruit Tea”, “Cheese Famous Tea”, Pearl Fresh Milk Series, and Cold Brew Tea.

The recommended drink is the Supreme Cheese Strawberry ($8.30) which you can pair with bread. These strawberry products became so popular that the brand invested in a strawberry field to ensure premium strawberries of consistent quality are available all year round in China.

One of the few bubble tea (or should I say Cheese Tea) shops with a bakery in-house. Nayuki 奈雪の茶 (Vivocity)

The Whale Tea – Lot One
Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, 21 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4, #B1-25 Singapore 689812
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

The Whale Tea – City Square Mall
City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, #B2-K7, Singapore 208539

Famous Bubble Tea Chain With Sapphire Blue Drinks & Soufflé In Singapore
The Whale Tea 琉璃鯨, one of the largest beverages and dessert stores in China, has arrived in Singapore and promises make a difference with its innovative signature drinks, soft serve with freshly-made cones, and fluffy soufflé desserts.

Taste-wise, you’ll find an array of unique, healthy ingredients such as peach gum, spirulina, and Wuliangye, a Chinese baijiu made with a variety of grains.

They are known for The Volcanic Collagen Series includes cups of Volcanic Sapphire Whale, Milk Tea Lava, Passion Fruit Lava and Grapefruit Lava, all featuring peach gum as key ingredient.

Peach gum? This is your alternative to the typical boba pearls. They are softer to the bite, somewhat like smaller pieces of jelly. The Whale Tea (Lot One)

Jenjudan Singapore 珍煮丹
1 CityLink Mall #B1-13 Singapore 039393
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand Jenjudan 珍煮丹 has opened its first outlet in Singapore. The location is at CityLink Mall, #B1-13.

Jenjudan was born in the world-renowned Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 in Taipei during 2010.

The menu’s signature is the Brown Sugar Boba Milk ($5.20, $6.50), which features warm, soft brown sugar, and boba served with chilled fresh milk.

It was fun watching how a big scoop of the pearls were scooped up right before your eyes, stick and gooey and placed into the cup.

Compared to some other prominent brands I tried in Taipei, the “brown-sugarness” was considered more mellow, not as strong and full-flavoured. The boba though, had an agreeable, chewy bite.

Considering its fame in other cities, its momentum is considered slow in Singapore, probably due to its location and lack of marketing. Jenjudan Singapore 珍煮丹 (CityLink Mall)

TaiGai
NEX Serangoon, #B2-34, Singapore 556083 (Opposite BreadTalk)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Established in Shenzhen, TaiGai is a popular tea specialty brand in China with over 60 stores across the country, and is especially appealing to the youths. This is despite a competitive landscape where many international beverage chains are also aiming for a piece of the pie.

This NEX outlet in Singapore is its first overseas store.

TaiGai is the original creator behind the “Fruity Milky Kiss” – fruit-blended milk cheese crowns.

Essentially, they are drinks topped with milk cheese foam that has been blended with fruits, which add that natural sweetness as you take sips especially from the top layer. TaiGai 台盖 (NEX)

TP-Tea 茶湯會 Singapore – Changi Airport
Changi Airport, Terminal 2, Departure Hall #026-015-01, Singapore 819643
Opening Hours: 24 hours Daily

Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 is the parent company to the brand TP-Tea 茶湯會 which started in 2005, and TP Tea currently has over 300 outlets across the world.

Its first outlet in Singapore opened at Changi Airport Terminal 2 Departure Hall, right next to Krispy Kreme and Llao Llao, and has become Singapore’s FIRST 24 hours Taiwanese Bubble Tea Shop.

The bestseller and my personal favourite is the Tie Guan Yin Tea Latte ($4.60), which is a premium grade of Oolong Tea.

Crushed ice is used in all their drinks, and the good news is that we get to choose the level of sweetness and the amount of ice for each cup. TP-Tea 茶湯會 (Changi Airport)

TenRen Tea Singapore
Chinatown Point #01-07, 133 New Bridge Road Singapore 059413 (opposite McDonalds)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

This is one of Taiwan’s leading tea chain TenRen’s Tea 天仁茗茶 , with its first Singapore retail outlet at Chinatown Point.

The 800-square feet store at Chinatown Point offers bubble tea, traditional tea drinks, as well as tea leaves, snacks and teaware.

In Singapore, TenRen’s menu features a range of ready-made drinks, including its signature 913 King’s Oolong Tea Latte ($3.50 for medium, $4.90 for large), Orange Green Tea ($4.00 for medium, $5.60 for large) and Taro Green Tea Latte ($4.70 for medium, $6.50 for large).

I find that their bubble tea has a particular tea fragrance that is very appealing, though they may not have as many exciting variants as compared to the ‘younger’ brands.

Their drinks also taste the ‘healthiest’ and are not too sweet. TenRen Tea 天仁茗茶 (Chinatown Point)

CHICHA San Chen 吃茶三千
313 Orchard Road, #03-41 313@Somerset, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Originating from Taichung, Taiwan, CHICHA San Chen 吃茶三千 was founded in 1998 with a mission to make quality freshly brewed teas accessible to discerning tea drinkers.

What is interesting is that they use a Teapresso machine that allows more than 1,000 custom settings and three-stage temperature control brewing technique to bring out the tea’s best flavour and natural scent. So do prepared to wait a little while for your drinks.

The signature drinks here include Cassia Black Tea, High Mountain Pouchong Tea, Osmanthus Oolong Tea, Dong Ding Oolong Tea (My personal favourite is the Dong Ding Oolong Milk).

Price starts from $3.50 per cup.

Once customers have selected their tea base, they can layer the tea with a tropical note (passionfruit, mango, lemon juice), honey, or a creamy kick (cream, mousse, fresh milk); followed by a choice of topping (bubble, konjac).

Yifang Fruit Tea
Orchard Gateway #B1-01, 277 Orchard Road Singapore 238858
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Yifang serves up more than Fruit Tea here, also offering Tea Latte, Flavoured Tea and the trending Brown Sugar Pearl Latte.

There are two types of Brown Sugar drinks – Brown Sugar Pearl Latte ($5.30, $6.30), and Brown Sugar Pearl Black Tea Latte ($5.30, $6.30). Note that the sweetness and ice levels are fixed.

For the cup, you can experience ’gao gao’ (rich) brown sugar that doesn’t overkill on the sweetness level.

The way to take the perfect Instagram shot, is also to invert the drink over, and for the brown sugar to form patterns as it ‘waterfalls’ down.

Xing Fu Tang Singapore
Century Square #01-22, 2 Tampines Central 5, Singapore 529509
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Xing Fu Tang’s first Singapore outlet is located at Tampines Century Square.

What is special is that the boba pearls are steeped in brown sugar, “stir-fried” in front of you, and scooped quickly into the cup.

Xing Fu Tang’s Brown Sugar Boba Milk tasted creamier and richer than usual, even though it uses the same brand of milk as many other bubble tea shops in Singapore.

I reckon it is due to the proportion of whipped cream.

However, I could imagine some people finding this too heavy, ‘jelak’ and milky, especially if you finish a cup of your own after lunch. Xing Fu Tang Singapore 幸福堂 (Century Square)

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