Yi Cha Bubble Tea — Restaurant in London

We were visiting the area and searched up bubbletea, Yi Cha has the best scored ratings so we checked it out. From the outside it didn't look as fancy as other bubbletea places in Central, but my Pearl Milk Tea (warm) 70% sugar was one of the BEST bubbleteas I've ever had. And I've been to A LOT of bubbletea joints, this place didnt disappoint. The tea tastes like tea!! Nothing flowery or weird. And the pearls had the right amount of chewy-ness to it. It was like holding a hot cup of tea in this cold weather, it was perfect and hit the right spot. Service was great too. We will definitely be coming back (I should have picked up that loyalty card).

Update** So a year later, we visit again and maybe it was an off day. But the tapioca pearls were old. Usually I don't like ordering bubbleteas just before closing time, as it'll be the last pot of tapioca and chances are it won't be fresh. But it was a Saturday mid afternoon? And the taste of the tea definitely didn't taste like it did the first time I had it. Maybe a change in recipe. If we're ever around the area, we might try again, I'm not giving up on it yet.. although watch...

I am fully invested for Yi Cha to succeed as they are right beside my house! Great way to get a bubble tea fix. So I'll write a review in hopes that the owners will find it useful amidst their soft opening.

Staff is great and my Brown Sugar milk tea is creamy - just how I like it. But why only 3 stars?

My order: Brown Sugar milk tea + Less Ice + 20% sugar I got the drink quite warm/hot. I was a bit surprised about this as most tea shops would have it cold even with "no ice" option. Drink is not sweet, a bit watery to be honest. It might be my fault for ordering 20% sugar, maybe if they add in a 50% sugar option that would be better. The bubbles are massive and soft - great! However, they are bland and a bit undercooked for my taste.

I won't cross them off the list yet! I'll definitely...

Was super excited to try a new bubble tea place so close to home! Staff was helpful and pointed out that half of the menu was unavailable as they were still setting up which is understandable.

Update: 25/04/23

This has been a hit and miss bubble tea option for me. And when it hits, it's mid. Sometimes I've had it where the bubbles have been really overcooked (turns into a paste in your mouth) or very tasteless, or the tea flavour is very faint. Unfortunately it also takes quite a while to get your order even when it's empty.

Overall it's nothing worth shouting about and I walk the 5-10 minutes to T4 down the road which is a much better and...