Creme brulee bubble tea makes its debut in Saigon

By Di Vy    April 6, 2019 | 01:12 am PT
Brown sugar and marshmallow are caramelized with a cooking torch to add a brand new flavor to bubble tea.

Originally from Taiwan, bubble tea with its many variations has become popular among Vietnamese youth. It is also known as "spring" juice on social media.

A store in Saigon recently introduced creme brulee bubble tea. Within a week it began to attract many curious customers.

Sugar and marshmallows are torched. Photo by VnExpress/Di Vy

Sugar and marshmallows are torched. Photo by VnExpress/Di Vy

The way to make creme brulee bubble tea is not too different from normal bubble tea. The barista starts by putting pearls and other toppings into a cup, pours milk tea over it and covers the top with a thin layer of cream followed by marshmallow and brown sugar.

The final step is what gives the drink its name. The barista uses a handheld cooking torch to caramelize the marshmallow and brown sugar until it turns dark brown and has a strong aroma.

You can feel the rich taste of the cream as well as the aroma of the caramel in each sip. Though the drink has many sugary ingredients, you can still get the strong scent of the tea.

Besides bubble tea, customers also have the option of creme brulee milk, which is made in the same way but with fresh milk and less sugar.

Creme brulee bubble tea is available in two sizes costing VND49,000 ($2.1) and VND59,000 ($2.5). Photo by VnExpress/Di Vy

Creme brulee bubble tea is available in two sizes costing VND49,000 ($2.1) and VND59,000 ($2.5). Photo by VnExpress/Di Vy

The drink is sold on Tran Hung Dao Street, District 1, near Ben Thanh Market, and on the 8th and 9th floors of Nguyen Hue Cafe Apartment, in District 1.

Two years ago many stores started selling brown sugar boba milk and the drink quickly caught on thanks to its tasty cane sugar and chewy bubbles.

When newly introduced in Vietnam, brown sugar boba milk was quite expensive, but now many sidewalk stores are selling this drink for just VND15,000 (65 cents).

 
 
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