Gong Cha (Auckland CBD, New Zealand)
Bubble Tea had taken the world by storm in the 1990s and it continues its legacy until now. I remember this was extremely popular in Manila during those times and people rave about it. Many years later it started to go out of Asia and into the other parts of the world like New Zealand where it just start to become popular in the last couple of years.
Many Asian restaurants serve this as their drink option during its early stages here in New Zealand until specialty restaurants started to appear. Now there many tea houses that came out and what we had already tried were Momotea, Meet Fresh, Chatime, Hulu Cat, Yu Tea and now Gong Cha.
Gong Cha perhaps is the one that sells the best bubble tea among them all, tastiest perhaps, they are also good value, not just cheaper than most the amount of extras the add like the coconut jelly, pearl, etc are plenty. We had tried several flavours already but the top ten sellers did not let us down, in fact our first time here we used that as a guide.
Gong Cha also differs from others where you have the option to adjust the sweetness of your bubble tea from zero to full sugar, you can also choose the ice level, a next level customization that sets it apart from others. It does not end there as they have environmentally friendly options as well where you can bring your own cup and save the planet one small step at a time.
What we had tried so far are their Earl Grey Milk Tea with 3Js, a cold Earl Grey milk tea served with three types of jelly. Their QQ Passion Fruit Green Tea, which indeed is fruity tangy sweet served with multiple extras of pearl, Boba and jelly. Pearl Milk Tea is the most basic ones you can get a simple milk tea with Boba pearls.
For hot drinks, Taro Milk Drink is essential, taro flavoured milk tea is best enjoyed warm. And of course, the Matcha Milk Drink, a Japanese green tea served the milk tea way.
Prices range from NZ$4.50 to NZ$7.50, where most of what they sell are in the $6.00 range which is cheap if compared to other bubble tea places in Auckland. There are several branches already here in Auckland and the ones we tried are the one in Lorne Street which is quite nice, elevated, high ceiling, very bright with full height windows, it feels like you are housed on posh premises.
So, would I recommend it? Well definitely YES, all of what you can ask for it there, the selection of flavours, customizability, affordable and delicious, what more can you ask for.
Gong Cha
Address: 7/38 Lorne St, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
Phone: +649 303 4634
Website: https://gongcha.co.nz/
