Battle of The

Brown Sugar Bobas

Jumping on the brown sugar bandwagon — so many shops to choose from, but which one will emerge the best?

By Cassandra Chew Yan Ling

Bubble tea may not be a new thing in Singapore but how it's trending right now might say otherwise. With every brand coming out with their own version of the Brown Sugar Boba Milk, I set out to find the best one in town.

“I’m used to it. I have to drink it every day,” said Khoo Yu Xhuang Avis, 20, when asked if she could ever give up drinking bubble tea.

As the demand for bubble tea grows, so does the industry. According to the Allied Market Research, the global bubble tea market was valued at US$1.96 billion in 2016. By 2023, it is projected to reach US$3.21 billion.

Photo credits: Cassandra Chew Yan Ling

1/2

TAIMEI

I LOVE

With their pretty pink walls and neon lights at their storefront, I Love Taimei’s pretty hard to miss, despite being at the basement of Hillion Mall. Apart from just selling bubble tea, they offer a variety of Taiwanese street food.

“They have very aesthetically pleasing drinks, which is important to my girlfriend because she really likes taking pictures of the food and drinks and then posting it on her social media,” says Joel Young Jun Jie, 22, who frequents the shop.

From colourful ombré drinks to the most unique concoctions, I was tempted to try them all.

Their Brown Sugar Milk comes in 2 sizes — medium at $3.90, and large at $4.90. I liked how their pearls were chewy and probably the softest ones I’ve ever had. I definitely recommend it to those who prefer the taste of milk to be lighter on their palate but still want that slight hint of brown sugar.

THE ALLEY

LUXE

After all the buzz over this Taiwanese bubble tea chain, The Alley is not an unfamiliar name to us, bubble tea connoisseurs. The Alley Luxe, however, is the brand’s very first premium lifestyle concept café. Verin See, 26, appreciates the “comfortable atmosphere” there. Located on the third level of Cineleisure Orchard, the café is extremely aesthetically pleasing with its modern yet rustic vibe. The tall window panels also let in natural sunlight so you can take the perfect Instagram shot with your drink.

Their signature Brown Sugar Deerioca Fresh Milk only comes in one default size at $5.30.

Their pearls were on the slightly harder side. However, I really appreciated that their drink had a strong caramelised brown sugar taste.

They even have an open baking area where you can see the staff at work: making the prettiest pastries.

T

i

G

E

R

1/2

s

u

g

a

r

First opened in Taichung, Tiger Sugar finally made its way to Singapore in November 2018. I’m sure we remember the snake-like queues that formed when it first arrived. Looking at their drinks menu, you may be surprised by the simplicity and lack of variety. However, this is because the brand values simplicity and quality during the process of making each drink, to bring out the taste of each ingredient.

Therefore, the sugar level, the amount of ice and even toppings are not customisable, unlike all the other bubble tea brands.

Their Brown Sugar Boba Milk also comes in a default size at $5.30, just like the one from The Alley.

Although the three drinks were similar in name, they were drastically different in their own way. However, my winner would have to be Tiger Sugar because of how the brown sugar pearls complemented the fresh milk, without overpowering the drink. Tiger Sugar’s meticulous process of making their Brown Sugar Boba Milk definitely earned them their stripes.

However, our health could be on the line because of this unhealthy obsession.

According to an article by Mount Alvernia Hospital, Brown Sugar Milk Tea is the unhealthiest bubble tea, containing 18.5 teaspoons of sugar.

Drinking it often

says Dr Chui Chow Yin, General Practitioner at Sunnyvale Clinic and Surgery.

However, if you still have undying boba cravings, you don’t have to stop drinking it altogether. To make the bubble tea experience healthier, you can request to “add in less pearls”. Still, she advises people “not to drink such teas so often”.

can predispose people to blood sugar problems and the tea itself can cause a lot of gastritis pain

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CASSANDRA CHEW YAN LING

If you’re unsure of who Cassandra is, look around for the one that is busy perfecting her Instagram stories instead of eating the food right in front of her.