If you’ve ever sipped a sweet cup of iced tea and thought to yourself, “Gee, if only there were some sort of strange gummy candies in here,” rest assured that you’re not the first. In fact, the tea shops of Taiwan beat you to it by nearly 30 years, when someone decided that the only thing better than tea was tea with chewy balls in it.
Bubble tea has been popular in southeastern Asia for a few decades now, and its popularity seems to be spreading to every metaphorical corner of the globe. In our corner is Ann Arbor’s Bubble Island, located in the downtown area at 1220 S. University Ave.
The first thing you notice upon entering the quaint little cafe is its chill, laid-back atmosphere, complete with a couple of invitingly comfy couches. Cute drawings are scattered around the front counter. The menu hangs on the wall to the right of the waiting line, listing some of the more popular options.
The thing is, though, you don’t have to stick to the list of standard drinks. Above the counter hangs a complete listing of teas, flavors and add-ons to create your own dream drink. Milk tea is the standard base for your bubble tea, consisting of (what else?) black tea and evaporated milk. Green tea is another option, and you can also have blended slushie-type drinks, coffee or what is known as “tiki tea,” milk tea blended with coffee. Whether you’re in the mood for hot or cold thirst-quenchers, you have plenty of options.
You also have a number of flavors to choose from. There are fruity flavors such as strawberry and mango, along with more adventurous flavors like taro, which is an edible tuber (like a potato), and red bean, made from mashed and sweetened azuki beans. If you’re feeling especially creative, try mixing two different flavors.
Of course, bubble tea isn’t bubble tea unless you toss in some bubbles. The bubbles feel akin to the gummy candies you ate as a kid. You have the option to add the bubbles or to go bubble-free, but you’re at Bubble Island, so you really might as well go for the bubbles, at least for your first trip. Believe it or not, they do add a little excitement to your drink, even if they’re not especially flavorful, and they make good projectiles.
If you don’t feel like picking and choosing from all of those options, there are always the aforementioned menu items. One of them is the Mooberry, a creamy and candy-sweet strawberry drink. Another standout is the seasonal Gingerbread milk tea, a spicy but smooth combination perfect for the unavoidable chilly days ahead.
Bubble Island isn’t strictly tea, though; the business offers a number of strong menu items. The perfectly crispy cheesesticks are a personal favorite of mine, particularly when dipped in marinara. The popcorn chicken is also a popular choice, as is mocha ice cream—ice cream tucked inside a layer of powdered “sticky rice.”
You can choose from a variety of Asian sweets at the front counter as well, including boxes of pocky, a Japanese treat consisting of a crunchy thin biscuit stick coated in chocolate, strawberry or other flavorings.
Bubble Island does have some downsides, though. While you can entertain yourself with a number of provided board games, don’t expect to be able to browse the Web, as there is no Wi-Fi. Also, the bubbles are not universally loved. Some people don’t like the idea of having to chew their drink, and others simply don’t find the taste of the tea enjoyable or find it too sweet for their liking.
The idea is to come open-minded, Bubble Island’s take on tea is certainly divisive, but it’s worth experiencing at least once.
Jess’s pick: Tiki tea with Oreo and almond flavor
