Bubble tea is more than a drink; it’s an entire ecosystem of flavours. And, just like in the beverage industry as a whole, those flavours morph and adapt over time – reflecting the evolving tastes of a passionate consumer base, and the innovative efforts of forward-thinking brands.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in Chatime Canada’s bubble tea menu. The brand has an earned reputation for creativity, continuing to push the boundaries in its approach to flavour development. And, while Chatime certainly has its finger on the pulse of what consumers want, it doesn’t just capitalize on trends – it makes them.
In this article, let’s peek behind the counter of Canada’s favourite bubble tea chain to see what’s trending in 2024. Here are a few flavours that are helping shape the boba conversation!
Roasted Milk Tea
Ever since Chatime rolled out its line of roasted milk tea bases years ago, it’s been a massive hit with fans. The combo is irresistible: nutty and smooth Japanese roasted tea, sweetened to perfection. Walk anywhere near the Chatime Vancouver location at UBC, and you’re bound to find several students (and faculty!) walking around with a tall cup of it.
Chatime could have rested on its laurels there, but it continues to innovate. Now, find trendy twists on the mainstay item like Brown Sugar Pearl Crema Roasted Milk Tea, and Matcha Roasted Milk Tea.
Matcha Red Bean Smoothie
Matcha continues to have its moment on the beverage scene. Its earthy, punchy appeal makes the ideal base for desserts, mochi, lattes, and – of course – various bubble tea beverages.
Chatime boasts several creative uses for matcha. Their classic matcha latte and its sibling, the Strawberry Matcha Latte, remain incredibly popular with bubble tea fans. But the real trend in 2024 is Chatime’s Matcha Red Bean Smoothie: premium matcha powder blended into a refreshing smoothie and topped with sweet, creamy adzuki beans. It’s a symphony of flavours and textural interplays contained inside a cup.
Brown Sugar Pearl Boba
Take one look at Chatime’s Brown Sugar Pearl drinks, and you’ll understand why they’re trending. The dark caramelized brown sugar syrup swirls with the rich dairy to create a galactic look, while an airy crema rests on top.
These are immensely satisfying takes on bubble tea. Try the milk tea version, the (aforementioned) roasted milk tea version, or forgo the tea entirely for a straight-across Brown Sugar Pearl with fresh milk and crema.
QQ Juices
Fruit tea and fruit juice boba are trendy right now. They’re zippy, refreshing alternatives to more decadent bubble teas, perfect for hot days, post-workouts or evening pick-me-ups.
While Chatime offers several fruit tea and juice options, consider the trendy line of QQ juices (QQ is Taiwanese slang for “chewy”!). Chatime’s QQ jelly is a mix of two of their fanbase’s most loved toppings: coconut jelly and tapioca pearls. Together, they top the brand’s lineup of ultra-popular QQ juices, including QQ Mango, QQ Lychee and QQ Passion Fruit.
Honestly, if this article had more room, we could have kept going indefinitely. Chatime’s innovative menu is a who’s who of trendy flavours in the bubble tea world. Try it yourself at one of their Canadian stores in Ontario and BC.
