Tou Lan Tea Strawberry Latte with Boba: I had some bad experiences with several bubble tea shops when I first came to Japan (ones I didn't bother to review), but there was a highly rated spot not too far from the university that I decided to check out. They feature a handful of classic herbal teas along with a wider menu of fruit teas, smoothies, as well as a whole section of banana lattes (I'm not sure why!). The strawberry latte was excellent, like a milder and less sweet version of strawberry ice cream (I had it at their "les... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks tokyo toulantea strawberry latte boba 4.0
Tower Ginger Beer: Soda with poorly designed packaging tends to be very authentic - they're created by small distributors who don't have a marketing/branding team. Tower, a Boston-based soda company that's apparently been around since 1914, falls into this category. Upon further research, I found that Tower was actually founded in Somerville. The ginger beer soda is very strong, with a sharp spicy flavor, but the aftertaste was a bit strange and musty. Somehow, though, this adds to its authenticity. Purch... (read more) 3.0/5.0
soda drinks broadwaymarketplace boston somerville tower ginger beer 3.0
TP Tea Mulberry slush: TP Tea is a tea shop chain from Taiwan. I’ve previously had it in Cupertino and in Tokyo, and now I can visit the small shop in the International District in Seattle. The mulberry tea is a unique fruit tea offering, with macerated berries that lend a jammy texture to the iced drink. It reminds me of the great fruit teas I used to be able to get at Asha Tea in the Bay Area. Definitely recommend getting this if you’re in the mood for something other than milk tea! The quality of the boba was a... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks seattle tptea mulberry slush 4.0
Trader Joe's ginger beer: Last year, I attempted to purchase this drink only to find that the seasonal product was sold out. Seeing it on the shelves this time around, I was especially excited to try it. I'm picky about my ginger beers, and this one is good. Surprisingly robust, spicy ginger flavor for a mass market audience. Good amount of carbonation and citrus. Worth checking out. 4.0/5.0
drinks gingerbeer recommended traderjoes ginger soda beer 4.0
Trader Joe's Triple Ginger Brew: I was super excited to finally get a chance to try this seasonal item, which our cashier informed us was an item people protest about once it leaves the shelves. It comes in a really handy and reusable glass soda bottle and is well sized for a small gathering. Wanting to impress my Taiwanese family, who knows a thing or two about ginger, I brought this out during a dinner and poured everyone a cup. My aunt said it tasted like Spirte with a tiny bit of ginger aftertaste, but I disagree – o... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional drinks gingerbeer traderjoes triple ginger brew 4.5
Trader Joe's Coconut Water: Single-serving container of coconut water. Hydrating. At some point, coconut waters all begin to taste the same. This one is a bit better than average. 3.5/5.0
coconutwater drinks traderjoes coconut water 3.5