Truedan: A Fresher Way to Enjoy your Milk Tea

With the average consumption to be 4-5 cups of milk tea per month, it's not surprising for new foreign and local brands to open left and right. And my weak will to go milk tea-free this 2020 was obliterated when I spotted Truedan.

Hello, Truedan. 

Truedan is no newbie in the milk tea business. With a decade of expertise, it has been popular in Taiwan for its use of fresh ingredients. It was even awarded 2-star Anti Additive by the Anti Additive Association.

Tiger Sugar's Boba Milk Ice Cream Bar is Now Available in Manila

Tiger Sugar was a big hit when it opened its first store in Bonifacio High Street back in 2018. Its hour-long lines didn't discourage locals and patiently waited just to get hold of its popular brown sugar milk drinks. And just when we thought its hype was dying down, it released something perfect to beat the Manila heat.

Hello, Tiger Sugar Boba Milk Ice Cream Bar!

Milk tea ice cream is not exactly new. We've seen several brands come up with versions of this crowd favorite flavor but not everyone was successful. 

First Sip: I'Milky

It's 2020 and I still feel that milk tea got me wrapped around its fingers, if it had any. I get so giddy to try new milk tea brands that I automatically free up tummy space even after a very heavy meal. For this week's treat, I tried I'Milky. 

Hello, I'Milky. 

I'Milky opened its first branch in Trinoma last September 2019. I was planning to try it sooner but I was rarely in Manila during the 'ber' months. It was a good thing too as the hype for this brand somehow dwindled when I visited. 

Good Good: A Healthier Way to Enjoy Your Drinks

It's a new year and a new decade but the milk tea craze is here to stay. And with several brands opening here and there, there's no way for us to escape its sweet charm! But this 2020, I plan to stick to a healthier lifestyle and diet and it was timely that I discovered Good Good. 

Hello, Good Good!

This Taiwanese brand is no stranger to milk tea fanatics as it has been around for over 6 months now. With branches in Scout Tobias, Corinthian Executive Regency Shaw, Caltex Pioneer-Shaw and Sta. Maria Bulacan, many have already tried its adorable and colorful drinks. And this brand is celebrating the year with a bang as it opens its 5th branch along the foodie haven Banawe. 

Promo Alert: Choi Garden at 50% Off

Choi Garden has this chaotic and rather stressful dining ambiance. It feels as if one gets transported to Hong Kong with its efficient yet cold (no smile) service. But its mouthwatering Roast Pork and Peking Duck are just too good to say no to. And its constant partnership with credit cards makes it a lot easier for us to say yes to dinner at Choi Garden. 

Hello again, Choi Garden. 

Choi Garden partnered with American Express (issued by BDO) this month till December 13, 2019 where cardholders can get 50% off your bill with a minimum order of PHP5,000 and maximum order of PHP10,000, Mondays to Fridays for lunch and dinner. 

First Bite: Meet Fresh

My heart always skip a beat whenever I hear the manly "tahoooooo" echo in the morning. I'd hurriedly look for small bills, get out of my PJs and run as fast as I could to the gate and eagerly wait for my favorite morning treat. But more often than not, I miss the manong magtataho or he skips our street. Thankfully, a new store opened that sells something better than taho. 

Hello, Meet Fresh!

Meet Fresh is the newest dessert shop in town and it opened its first store in Podium Mall. 

Instagram Stop: Zhongshe Flower Market, Houli, Taiwan

Taiwan is one of my favorite travel destinations. Just thinking about the night market grubs make me drool. But there's more to Taiwan than just street food, milk tea, Shifen, Yehliu, and Jiufen. Down south is Taichung which has an impressive (and not to mention massive) night market with even more pocket friendly finds. And one of the popular spots in Taichung is the Zhongshe Flower Market.

Hello, Zhongshe Flower Market. 

Thanks to Instagram geotags, I got to discover the picturesque Zhongshe Flower Market in Houli District. The diverse variety of flowers caught my interest and thought that it was worth skipping Sun Moon Lake. 

Love at First Sip: Alishan at The Alley

Milk tea has been part of Filipinos diet for a few years now and it seems to be taking a bigger chunk of the food pyramid. We even ranked as one of the top countries in terms of milk tea consumption. And it's getting harder and harder to avoid this addictive drink when you see a shop or two in almost every corner. But I might have to sign up for Milk Tea Anonymous for I found myself braving the traffic one Saturday just to get hold of Alishan at The Alley's talked about milk tea.

Hello, Alishan.

Alishan at The Alley should not be confused with The Alley which first opened in Mall of Asia. The former is managed by Dean & Deluca and has nothing to do with the milk tea shop with reindeer in its logo aside from sharing "The Alley". 

Taiwan in Manila: 50 Lan (50嵐)

Taiwan is the place to be to indulge in milk tea but Manila is becoming a close second. With more and more brands coming in, it gets a bit tough to decide on which one to grab for my daily milk tea run. Sometimes, it boils down on which one doesn't have a queue. And thankfully, one of Taiwan's top boba joints is still yet to make buzz. 

Hello, 50 Lan (50嵐).

I was craving for milk tea while waiting for the screening of Avengers: Endgame and spotted 50 Lan (50嵐) at Rustan's Marketplace. I decided to go for its bestseller Boba Jasmine Milk Tea (PHP80, regular | PHP110 large). Note that the price for large is not published in the menu board so I'm not certain if this is its actual price or I got ripped off. It's still pretty affordable though. 

First Sip: Tiger Sugar

Tiger Sugar definitely tested how we Filipinos love milk tea. With hundreds braving the unforgiving Manila heat for hours just to get hold of this popular drink, Tiger Sugar became trending and talked about for months! I also tried to line up one time but gave up after 2 minutes when I overheard someone say "Hmm, okay lang. Not worth it." while holding a cup of Tiger Sugar. I told myself that I'll just try it when the craze for it die down. Months passed and the hype for it is still alive! I guess waiting for 30 minutes won't be that bad so I finally gave in. 

Hello, Tiger Sugar.

Tiger Sugar quickly expanded to four branches in under 6 months and I'm so glad that the locations it chose are all near the places I frequent. 

Cruising Around: Star Cruises Superstar Virgo

To travel around the world is every wanderlust's dream. It is always fun to see new places and experience different cultures. But one thing I absolutely hate when traveling is going through airport security. It's a pain to queue and to keep having your bag screened for security, especially when you have a laptop in your luggage. Thankfully, Star Cruises occasionally dock in Manila which gives us an opportunity to travel to different parts of Asia without having to deal with airport mayhem. And the best part... no luggage weight restrictions!

Hello, Star Cruises Superstar Virgo!

Star Cruises Superstar Virgo was back in Manila last March and with Taiwan and Japan as its destinations, R and I figured that we give this cruise another try. We boarded this cruise ship back in 2015 where its port was in Hong Kong with Sanya, China and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam as its destinations. Though our experience then was mediocre to terrible, we gave it another shot after hearing that some of R's relatives booked as well. 

When in Taiwan: Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle

This year has been packed with local and international travels. I've seen so many places and indulged in a lot of great dishes which made me gain extra pounds. I'm not complaining though as I loved every moment (and bite of it)! And one of my favorite finds this year is this famous Taiwanese dish you can find in one of the many streets of Ximending.

Hello, Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle!

When in Taiwan: How to Get to the City from Taoyuan Airport without Breaking the Budget

I love to explore different places as much as eating. And last January, I had a grand time in Taiwan, stuffing myself with delectable yummy finds and being immersed in its interesting history and culture. I always smile whenever I tell my friends the things I've done and places I've visited while I was there. But one of the common concerns I hear whenever we talk about Taiwan is airport transportation. True, there's the subway to bring us to places but it's a totally different story when your flight arrives past 12 midnight. Several blogs and forums say that it leaves you no choice but to hail a cab to bring you to wherever you have to go to. But that's not right. There's a cheaper way to get to your destination. 

Hello, Taoyuan International Airport.

It is not unusual to see rent-a-car placards and cab drivers near the airport's exit points whenever a flock of tourists arrive. I even heard a fellow Filipino who now works in Taiwan as a cab driver tell tourists to either get a cab or wait till the subway opens. I would have ended up paying a lot more just to get to Ximending if R and I didn't explore the airport to look for a convenience store. 

New Restaurant Alert: TenRen's Tea

New restaurants, cafés or whathaveyou attract me like fly to light. I just have to go nearer… and nearer… and… *bite/slurp* Well, okay, I have to order first and pay before I devour whatever I chose. Anyway, the point is, I simply could not resist new places especially if these places offer food or drinks. I am actually practicing intense self control not to go to S Maison to try the new restaurants there as I wanted to go with the awesome looloo group. So to distract myself, I headed to Greenhills and went to the new tea shop TenRen’s Tea. 

Hello, TenRen’s Tea!

I got lost finding this place. I saw the wrong and incomplete addresses in my food apps so it took me a while to get here. (By the way, it is on the second floor of the Promenade Mall, quite near Gourdo’s and on top of Starbucks.) 

The shop was empty at 3:30 p.m. and the server near the door gave me a free sample of their bestseller 913 King’s Oolong Milk Tea (PHP100). I liked it so I went with that one but with 50% sugar level and with pearls (additional PHP10) as I wanted to chew on something. 

The wait wasn’t that long as I was the only customer then. It took them 2 minutes to prepare my drink and it was ample time for me to take a few snapshots of the place for “documentation.” While waiting, I noticed that they did not design the place for people to linger around. There are only two tall tables and 3-4 stools each. There are no power outlets or washroom inside the shop as well. Oh, and it was hot inside! 

I guess, it really is just designed for take out and the store is to showcase its various teas.