Montréal's best bubble tea

Laure Juilliard

Laure is a writer, community manager and the founder of the blog Une Parisienne à Montréal. She’s also an epicurean globetrotter who’s always on the hunt for innovative concepts and must-try restaurants. In 2016, she co-founded Slow Journeys, a webzine that focuses on ecotourism and design.

Bubble tea traces its delicious roots back to Taiwan, where it’s known as zenzoo (pearl milk tea) and boba (slang for a boxom lady). It’s made by blending cold or hot tea with flavoured milk and black tapioca “pearls.” An extra-wide straw is used to suck up the sweet, tender pearls. This drink is very popular in Taiwan and has gained a strong following here in Québec, with specialty shops popping up in Chinatown and along Sainte-Catherine Street. Here’s a quick tour of the top 5 places for exotic bubble tea in Montréal.

Chinatown tea time

Step into a whole new world! L2 Desserts Lounge is a youthful, student-style establishment where you can enjoy bubble tea while checking out the jukebox or playing video games, cards or foosball.

Rainbow bubbles

The LGBTQ+ Village is adorned with strings of pink decorative balls—and it’s also home to a terrific bubble tea shop. Nos Thés offers a mouth-watering selection of beverages and exotic teas. Select your favourite milk blend (cow, soy or almond) and pearl type (tapioca or litchi, mango or rainbow jelly). The rainbow references are in good taste!

Quench your thirst at the Eaton Centre

Take a break while window shopping downtown. Bubble Tease serves up a selection of teas and herbal infusions imported from Asia, as well as a wide variety of fresh fruit for creating your own signature beverage. It’s the perfect pick-me-up!

Take me to Taiwan

In the heart of the city’s new Chinatown (just steps from Concordia University), you’ll find Chatime, one of Taiwan’s leading bubble tea franchises, which are now found worldwide. A few other branches have also popped up around Montréal. Stop here for authentic, made-to-order bubble tea!

Student-priced delights

Magic Idea has an endless menu that includes gems like jasmine, mango, lavender and honey teas. We love the generous portions and the quality of their pearls, which come in tapioca, lychee jelly or coffee jelly.

We’re thirsty for your input. What’s your favourite summer drink?

Laure Juilliard

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