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If you’ve never tried bubble tea before, boy, are you missing out!
The Taiwanese tea-based drink comes in a wide variety of flavours, combining milk tea or fruit tea with tasty miniature tapioca balls.
Fortunately, Victoria is home to many authentic and delicious bubble tea spots, perfect for first timers and experienced tea lovers alike. Here are five of our favourites that can be found right in the downtown core.
Chimoto
This cozy hole-in-the wall is home to some of the most authentic bubble tea and Japanese desserts to be found in Victoria.
Enjoy a custom tea that allows you to choose the type of base, milk, temperature, the amount of sugar added, and more. Also, for those who need to catch up on legendary animation, they run Studio Ghibli movies all day!
Where: 1108 Blanshard Street
Partea
This bubble tea shop sources local ingredients to make their fresh bubble tea and fruit juices. At Partea, you’ll find unique teas that often feature mounds of fruit for those who like to snack while they sip.
Plus, there’s chalk to let you doodle or write on the walls!
Where: 1026 Blanshard Street
Chatime
This global bubble tea brand has exploded with popularity, and it’s not hard to see why.
Located right in the heart of downtown, Chatime offers their signature bubble teas, smoothies, and specialty teas that are brewed-for-order for when you need something sweet and fresh.
Where: 1306 Douglas Street
La Tea Ah!
This authentic tea house touts delicious bubble tea as well hearty Taiwanese food.
While the tapioca pearls here are known for being soft and fresh, this tea house also has a wide variety of flavoured ‘jellies’ that can be added to your drink, including coconut, coffee, mango, aloe vera, and sweet red bean.
Where: 774 Fort Street
The Bubble Tea Place
Downtown Victoria’s bubble tea list would be incomplete without Chinatown’s The Bubble Tea Place.
While this popular spot may not be considered the most “authentic” in town, it scores more than enough points for its novelty and tastiness! With mango milk tea being a genre favourite, this tea shop recommends their Mango Tango, a fun twist on the traditional flavour.
Where: 532 Fisgard Street
Check out the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) Facebook page and website for more information on local businesses and events in downtown Victoria.
