CoCo: Fresh Tea & Juice

459 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10017
http://www.coco-tea.com/eng/index.php

A chain from Taiwan near Grand Central Station

I ordered: Two Ladies - milk tea w/ pudding and coffee jelly

• Taste: authentic milk tea taste
• Jellys: both the pudding and coffee jelly were the perfect consistency. They complimented the milk tea perfectly.
• Price: $3.50 for regular 16oz. size

I have one thing to say about my two ladies drink. Simply Delicious! At first, I was a little wary of a bubble tea place in midtown east. I couldn't imagine why CoCo would be located in this neighborhood (they should be located right next to my apartment). This is definitely the best bubble tea place in NYC outside of Chinatown. CoCo is also pretty cheap. Bubble tea for less than $4 is virtually unheard outside of Chinatown.


I usually always get boba, but with something as tantalizing as the two ladies, I was easily swayed. I can't wait to go back to CoCo and try more. They have several drink options including all types of fruit juice, tea, and coffee. There are also many things you can put into your drink including: boba, pudding, coffee jelly, herbal jelly, red bean, coconut jelly, and fresh fruit. I suggest browsing their online menu to see everything that they offer. Their logo is also super cute.

The only negative I can think of is that CoCo is located in an area that I rarely ever go to. Why, Boba gods Why?!!

Tip: Cash Only

5 out of 5 Bubbles

Coffee or Tea?

McCully Shopping Center
1960 Kapiolani Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96826

http://www.mccullysc.com/page14.aspx

Great place for traditional milk tea.

I ordered: Jasmine green milk tea

• Taste: really great, can taste the jasmine goodness
• Bubbles: most recently they were a bit hard in the center, but usually just fine
• Price: ~$4.00, a bit pricey

I have been coming to Coffee or Tea? for several years. I have found that their milk teas are consistently good, but they are a bit pricey for just milk tea. However, it can be difficult to find good jasmine green milk tea. So whenever I am craving it, this is where I head.

They have lots of tables and chairs for sitting and relaxing. There are also many other options besides bubble tea. As the name suggests, they serve coffee in addition to tea, shave ice, and several other types of desserts. 

The last time I went there the tapioca balls were a bit hard in the middle, but usually they are perfect. I am going to attribute this to the fact that I was there right before they closed. I would also like to address several negative reviews of this place on yelp (which gives it 3.5 out of 5 stars). Most negative reviews are about customer service. As I said before, I have been coming here for years and I have never once had an issue. I have been to Coffee or Tea? several times with a particularly loud friend and we were never once bothered by staff. Also reviews saying the staff are only nice to FOBs is completely false. I always come with other locals and we are never treated poorly. So personally I found these negative reviews inconsistent with my years of coming to Coffee or Tea? I can only say that people who send out negative vibes will receive them in return. 

All in all, Coffee or Tea? is a great place to come after dinner and chat with friends. 

Tip: cash only

4 out of 5 bubbles

Pearl Delights

Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange
In the food court on the 2nd floor
4725 Bouganville Dr.
Pearl City, HI 96818
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pearl-delights-pearl-city-2

Bubble tea for imagination and creativity

I ordered: taro coconut bubble tea

• Taste: the best taro coconut smoothie I have ever had
• Bubbles: always superb and so many great flavors
• Price: $5.00 for a smoothie, + 0.30 per pearl/crystal

Pros:
Everything comes in one size, a massive 24 oz.
Pearl Delights specializes in a wide variety of smoothies and bubbles teas. From blue Hawaii to avocado coconut, you can get pretty much anything. Most drinks are ice blended and made with real fruit. They actually use real taro pieces in their taro coconut smoothie. This is why they have the best one I've ever had. They also have the largest variety of bubbles and crystals that you can add to your drink. There are the standard tapioca balls, but also multi-flavored bursting boba. This variety is chewy on the outside with flavored juice on the inside, so cool (Flavors: strawberry, yogurt, li hing mui, etc.). I have never seen this at any other bubble tea store. They also have a wide selection of fiber crystals which are softy jelly-like things, very delicious (Flavors: almond, coconut, kiwi, Kona coffee, etc.).
So you can make pretty much any combination you want. Everything is always delicious.

Cons:
The location is kinda strange. It is in the food court of the naval exchange. You don't need a military ID to eat at the food court but you do need one to go shopping. So you wouldn't be there unless you were in the military, were related to or knew someone in the military. You would have to either live in the area or be a die-hard bubble tea fan to go there just to get bubble tea. It is also kinda expensive. The standard smoothie will run $5.00, but if you want to add bubbles or crystals, which you will, it is an extra 0.30 for each type. Their prices used to be more affordable with the smoothie and 3 bubble/crystal choices at $5. However, I find that one drink is a meal for me and that its quality is worth the price. Getting bubble tea every once in a while from here is worth the splurge.

I recommend:
 If you have never tried taro coconut with real taro, you must try it from Pearl Delights. It is simply the best. I get it almost every time I go. Their matcha green tea is also really good. So is their mango and papaya varieties.

4 out of 5 Bubbles