Food and Restaurant Reviews, Lifestyle

Best Milk Tea Places in Metro Manila (2018 UPDATE)

I AM A CERTIFIED MILK TEA ADDICT. Bubble tea, boba tea, milk tea! I love milk tea! Do you too? It’s like my sinful indulgence.  Trust me, I’ve been to, and tried A LOT, in the Philippines and beyond! (even in outerspace? kidding). So without further ado, the best milk teas in metro manila you should definitely give your taste buds a try!

I also included the WORST milk tea in the Metro. I avoid it at all cost.

BEST MILK TEA OF ALL TIME IN METRO MANILA

It’s a torn battle between DAKASI and Macau Imperial Milk Tea. Both have consistent quality among their branches kahit franchise sila.

https://www.facebook.com/imkayceeenerva/videos/pcb.2229291093983423/2229291050650094/?type=3&theater

Both steep their tea with the right amount of time. So you can still taste the strong tea flavor even when mixed with milk and flavorings. I’ve tried almost all of their variants and they deliver consistent and premium milk tea experience.

Try Dakasi’s Roasted Milk Tea for that burnt rice (tutong) flavor. Combined with milk and sugar it delivers that satisfying kick.

For Macao Imperial Tea try their cheesecake teas.

 

BEST Rock Salt and Cheese Tea – HAPPY LEMON

happy-lemon-rocksalt-and-cheese

I finally get a taste of this concoction mixed with green tea, himalayan pink salt and cheese that tastes like fruit salad cream you get in Christmas it was magical! So magical it became our #1 happy drink every time.
I HATE THAT THEY DISCONTINUED THEIR MANGO MATCHA LINE!!!
The cheese here is what gets you. I can definitely taste condensed milk, but it has a slight fruity kick I don’t know where it comes from but the closest I can explain to you is it taste like fruit salad cream with a bit of saltiness from the salt and cheese. It tastes like comfort. Like home. It takes you to a, happy place. Their Happy Lemon is aptly named.  From green tea, to coffee, to chocolate. Happy Lemon’s Rock Salt and Cheese is definitely one for the books.

BEST Taro Milk Tea – CHA TIME

cha-time-taro-milk

What makes Cha Time’s Taro Milk Tea special is the extra big chunks of real taro you can chew on with every sip. I suggest getting 75% sweetness and no bubbles to enjoy it fully. They also have great Thai Milk Tea sad to say it’s limited edition.

BEST Wintermelon Milk Tea – GONG CHA

gong-cha-wintermelon-milk-tea

Gong Cha is a good contender as the best rock salt and cheese but Happy Lemon really beats him to a pulp. Their wintermelon taste so much like cotton candy on steroids it’s my friend Paul’s happy drink. I tried other wintermelon tea from other shops and they just taste artificial. Gong Cha’s makes really great wintermelon milk tea.

BEST Ice Cream Red Milk Tea – FIFTEA

icecreamredteafiftea-729x1024

Located in the basement of Alphaland, this hidden gem produces the best red milk tea that will make your heart flutter. Their red milk tea is not too sweet and you can taste how well they brewed the tea leaves perfectly. Not too strong, not too mild. The ice cream makes the drink feel and taste more luscious. There’s a certain “kilig” with every sip! I first tried this in Singapore and I’m glad they brought it to the Philippines

BEST Budget Green Milk Tea – SIMPLE LINE

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Refreshing, creamy, and not to mention affordable. Located in the heart of UST, Dimasalang. This is my go-to tea when tired from work and want to treat myself! Their jasmine green milk tea tea is THE BOMB especially when you add grass jelly and sip it with the small straw. They can mix a bit too sweet so I always ask for 50% sweetness.

BONUS – SERENITEA’s  Mango Green Tea Frost OKINAWA

Sometimes when you want to try something exotic. The refreshing and creamy blend of mangoes, green tea, and milky cheese! It has wonderful mango bits you can nib on and it’s my quick fix for dessert. It can be a little too sweet and has sawa factor but there are times I miss this and hey I come in for their yummy peppery snacks like pepper corn and pepper tofu!

I got several reactions from my friends that they prefer Serenitea’s Okinawa Milk Tea over my Green Mango Frost. Fine!!!! Why? Here’s a screenshot of our convo. They say the black sugar milk tea gives a certain dark sweet flavor to the tea and eliminates the floral taste. I prefer floral flavored teas thou!

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Capture

WORST Milk Tea Shops – MOONLEAF

& Happy Cup

I mean their teas are the worst. Any kind. It’s not steeped well. The syrup they use hurts my throat a lot even if I asked for 10% sweetness. It tastes artificial. I tried more than 10 visits in their store at different branches and tried different milk teas but I get disappointed each time. Kudos to their interior department because the ambiance still has that comfy feel that students will appreciate hanging out to. Since my last visit, I never came back. Ever.
Do you like milk teas? Do you think it’s just a fad about to die down already? What’s your favorite? Do you agree with my list? Let me know and leave a comment below!!!! I want to hear what you think
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30 Comments

  • Reply Rhen December 8, 2014 at 11:14 am

    I love Gongcha's Wintermelon milk tea! I haven't tried Happy Lemon, but now i'm very curious!

  • Reply MJ PEREZ December 8, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    Nice review ms kat, I also tried glutawhite and it did lighten my skin a bit in 1month time, but it gave me breakouts huhu. Btw I love your posts really informative and straightforward more power cheers! 🙂

  • Reply Matromao December 8, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    Black sugar milk tea is my favorite anywhere. 🙂 Though I'm trying to switch it up with fruit tea, just to vary the experience. Happy Lemon makes super yummy Oreo cream-something milk tea (it looks like there's creamy polvoron inside the cup), but I find their sizes bitin.

  • Reply nheng December 8, 2014 at 10:57 pm

    I love Happy Lemon's Rock, Salt and Cheese!

  • Reply kikaysikat December 9, 2014 at 12:37 am

    yes

  • Reply kikaysikat December 9, 2014 at 12:37 am

    thanks!

  • Reply Jobelle Lucban December 9, 2014 at 4:17 am

    Hindi po ba nakakapimples yan? And is it true na nakakatanggal ng pimple marks ang gluta?

  • Reply Ma.Jeanna Constantino December 10, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    After reading this yesterday, I immediatley told my self "Mukhang masarap nga ang Milk Tea". You see, I am coffee lover. So Milk teas doesn't appeal to me that much. I have once tried Figaro's Milk Tea and it taste like fruit Salad. Happy naman ako sa first try ko. hahaha! So naisip ko dapat na syang masundan..and thank angels from above (I mean lalo na sayo) you made a review about what's the best Milk Tea we should try! Gonna try that Green Tea with Rock salt and cheese of Happy Lemon later. (still at office pa eh. hehehe)

  • Reply Tiana Gulapa December 15, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    Did this break you out? I really need to lighten my dark spots. I had pregnancy acne kasi. Now I am on acne meds and after this I plan on taking gluta. I want to start with this sana or Ishigaki kasi nga medyo mura hihi mahal kasi gatas ni baby lol. Or kahit after ko mag Ishigaki pwede ba ito nalang gluta white pang maintenance ko? Tsaka nakakalighten ba ng dark spots and kili kili ang glutathione? Hahaha 2mos postpartum palang kasi ako ngayon and pangit na pangit ako sa sarili ko lo

  • Reply Gg January 14, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    Kojie san or this?

  • Reply kikaysikat January 15, 2015 at 2:29 pm

    This. Definitely.

  • Reply castell January 20, 2015 at 12:46 pm

    san po nakakabile ng ishigaki premium , first timer po ako iinom ng gluta white. 😀 at na enganyo ako sa mga reviews mo, until now ishigaki ka pa din ??? or iba na ??? thanks Ms. kat "more powers sa blog mo "

  • Reply lhei January 26, 2015 at 1:17 am

    Great review. 😀 will definitely buy this soap. Thank You anyway 😀

  • Reply kikaysikat January 26, 2015 at 7:40 am

    😉

  • Reply YanYan February 4, 2015 at 10:41 am

    Hai ate kat , pwedeng mag tanong?
    anong the best whitening soap.

  • Reply kikaysikat February 5, 2015 at 1:24 am

    hello yanyan, hiyangan talaga kasi sya, pero for me I like likas papaya, SVR gluta soap, and glupa.

  • Reply gel light February 6, 2015 at 5:07 am

    Thanks for this info. Now , i have something to try. I am aiming for a fair flawless skin so I hope Belo kojic would work for me.

  • Reply Jm February 28, 2015 at 5:29 am

    Anu po bang mas effective likas or belo? thankyou po im a boy po pala thanks ulit
    ….

  • Reply Mommybear March 20, 2015 at 6:42 am

    I use Likas every other day with my Clarisonic Mia and it cleared my face of acne!

  • Reply priscilla March 25, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    hi miss kat! 🙂 tanong ko lang po after using this soap pwede ko po ba gamitin chin chun su o himalaya moistrizer cream po? ito lang po kasi ang meron kmi sa bahay 🙂

  • Reply wanderlust March 25, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    Would you recommend this for those who have sensitive skin? c:

  • Reply kikaysikat March 27, 2015 at 11:25 pm

    no 🙁 too harsh

  • Reply kikaysikat March 27, 2015 at 11:34 pm

    yes! kaya I exclusive used Belo products lang that time

  • Reply kikaysikat March 30, 2015 at 1:59 am

    hello priscilla, pede naman 🙂

  • Reply kikaysikat March 30, 2015 at 2:04 am

    Wow! Where did you buy your clarisonic?

  • Reply jane March 30, 2015 at 2:21 am

    hi kat. I'm currently in canada. Do you know where I can order these things online esp the glupa?

  • Reply priscilla March 30, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    Thank you po sa response miss kat! 🙂

  • Reply Review: Cha Tuk Chak Milk Tea and Coffee Hub - Philippines Top Lifestyle and Beauty Blog on Makeup, Skincare, Tech, Fitness, Fashion, Food, Travel May 19, 2017 at 4:20 am

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