Queens is nicknamed as “The World’s Borough” as it takes the crown for being the most diverse borough in the world and with diverse people, comes lots of culturally diverse food. One cuisine that has gained attraction in our beloved borough is the Taiwanese beverage, bubble tea. With all the different tea houses to buy from, it may be difficult to decipher which one is worth your buck, so I’ve helped narrow down by ranking the best classic bubble milk tea near Francis Lewis high school.
Kung Fu Tea was the first stop and did not disappoint. Their classic milk tea is the perfect cure for a sweet tooth. The drink had a slight saltiness which created a harmony of flavors and was a simple touch to the drink but really pulled everything together. Their classic milk tea had notes of caramel, butter and cream. But although it was deliciously addicting, the tea flavor was lacking. Due to the insufficient amount of black tea, I would not personally consider this classic bubble tea, classic. It may be categorized into more of a sweet vanilla milk tea than a classic milk tea. Therefore, out of all the wonderful stores I’ve tried, this one was good, but not the best.
Coco’s Fresh Tea and Juice deserved 3rd place as their classic tea had upped the notch of intensity. Each ingredient was difficult to ignore. Their tea was sweeter, more creamy, and more intense but in this case more does not always equate better. Although it was high quality, the black tea flavor may have overpowered the sweet milk that makes bubble tea such a delicious drink. Despite that, they were generous with the tapioca pearls, so if you want all the bubbles you could get, Cocos is the place to go. Overall, a good classic milk tea but the bitter flavor of black tea may be off-putting to people who want something more sweet.
Moge Tea is just a few steps away from Cocos. It’s a popular store with a cozy atmosphere. The store is well lit with an abundance of seating, a perfect spot to relax and chat with friends over a cup of tapioca-decorated tea. First impression, their classic milk tea is rich in flavor. Despite being 100% sugar, the sweetness is a perfect amount, not being too sweet nor two bland. The bubbles are chewy and taste fresh but are a little bit too stiff, giving the drink a little bit of an unpleasant aged vibe. Despite that, the tea has a slight nutty flavor which makes it stand out from the rest of the stores I’ve visited. It’s close by, affordable and certainly a classic tea. Not too much of anything, providing a just right-ness to their drink.
Bing Ling Tea was my final stop and as they say, save the best for last. The small, quaint store has a comforting, homey atmosphere and so did its drink. The tapioca pearls were the star of the show, which seemed fresh and homemade. Their tapioca pearls tasted the best and also had the best texture. They were the chewiest and perfectly sweet. The drink itself had a perfect balance of tea and milk. Overall, it deserved a top place because this tea truly seemed authentic. Classic bubble tea at its finest.
