8 Bubble Tea Stores to Try in Toronto
Bubble tea is a drink that needs no introduction, and Toronto has no shortage of stores selling the popular drink. Whether you’re absolutely obsessed or you’ve never had a taste in your life, here are eight bubble tea stores to check out in Toronto (I promise they’re well worth the walk!):
The Alley
Walk from Elm Avenue: 22 minutes
5 St Joseph St, Toronto, ON M4Y 0B6
The Alley is known for the impeccable quality of their pearls, prepared in-house and from scratch. Their most popular drinks are the Deerioca Fever and the Crunchy Tiramisu Milk Tea, which tastes like a dessert in a drink. If you’re looking to change things up, try the Deerioca Ube Taro, featuring mashed taro (a root vegetable with a sweet, nutty flavour typically added to Asian desserts) and fresh milk. With comfortable seating and a cozy ambiance, The Alley is a great spot to enjoy a cup with friends.
Tiger Sugar
Walk from Elm Avenue: 28 minutes
439 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 1T3
Tiger Sugar offers tapioca in two different sizes. Their signature drink, the Black Sugar Boba & Pearl with Cream Mousse includes a combination of both types of tapioca paired with fresh milk, brown sugar syrup and a lightly salted creamy treat. Chocolate lovers will find themselves delighted by the Dark Chocolate Oreo Boba Milk.
Machi Machi
Walk from Elm Avenue: 21 minutes
575 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z2
In addition to being the closest bubble tea store to Elm Avenue on this list, Machi Machi serves layered drinks served in cute bottles, topping their tea with frothy and thick cheese foam. Try the Fresh Strawberry Latte with Panna Cotta for a bottled drink or the Black Milk Tea with Crème Brûlée if you want a taste of their renowned cheese foam.
TP Tea
Walk from Elm Avenue: 22 minutes
10 Wellesley St E Unit 105B, Toronto, ON M4Y 3B2
Here’s where we dive into some history. TP (Taiwan Professional) Tea is owned by Chun Shui Tang in Taichung, one of the teahouses where bubble tea originated. In 1988, Lin Hsiu Hui poured tapioca balls into her tea and it soared to the top, becoming the franchise’s best-selling product. TP tea offers a traditional taste with their Taiwan Classic Milk Tea and 3Q Milk Tea which contains coffee jelly, QQ noodles and pearls. Highly recommended is their Mango Pomelo Sago with Tea Jelly to those looking for a fruity twist!
Möge Tee
Walk from Elm Avenue: 41 minutes
193 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1P9
Möge Tee has fewer locations compared to the rest on this list, but they have no shortage of unique drink options. Their menu features Fresh Grape Tea, Yogurt Peach Tea and Oreo Matcha Tea best paired with their chewy golden tapioca balls.
Kung Fu Tea
Walk from Elm Avenue: 23 minutes
584 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z3
Kung Fu Tea has countless options for toppings to explore, including ice cream and fruit-flavoured popping boba, allowing for a variety of drink combinations. In-store, they sell bubble egg waffles, which are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of boba. From the Oreo Black Warrior to the Cheese Milk Foam Jin Xuan Oolong Tea, there’s something for everyone at Kung Fu Tea. Not to mention, their drinks are sweetened with honey, giving the flavour a unique kick.
Ten Ren’s Tea
Walk from Elm Avenue: 51 minutes
454 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G9
Ten Ren’s has been around for over 70 years as a professional tea retailer and opened the world’s first tea museum in 2006. Their most popular drink, the Hokkaido Milk Tea, is infused with an incredibly rich and high-quality flavour from its black tea base. A highlight of their menu is the Horoscope Series, made up of twelve drinks inspired by the different zodiac signs.
Its Tea
Walk from Elm Avenue: 52 minutes
635 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S 2M9
Last, but certainly not lacking in cup design is Its Tea. Although this one is a little far by foot, its menu features a popular set of homemade fresh taro drinks, including the creamy Fresh Taro Storm. Other popular items include the refreshing Watermelon Tea Slush with Ice Cream and Pearl Milk Tea with Cake Mousse, finished with the softest of squishy tapioca balls and fluffy foam.
Have any of these places piqued your appetite? An assortment of diverse, unique bubble tea stores are just a walk away from Elm Avenue, waiting for you to try them!