Exploring the Art of Tea at Chatime: From Brews to Fun Facts

Exploring the Art of Tea at Chatime

With its global success in the last couple of decades, bubble tea has taken on a life of its own. Because of that, people sometimes forget that the heart and soul of a bubble tea is right there in the name – tea. 

Bubble tea began as a humble mixture of locally grown Taiwanese tea, dairy, and tapioca pearls.

And to this day, one brand – Chatime – continues that rich tradition by offering high-quality teas from Taiwan and elsewhere. 

Whether you need a delicious pick-me-up while you shop on Toronto’s Yonge Street, or are craving a bubble tea on UBC campus between classes, there is always a Chatime close at hand.

But for all its ubiquity and fame, how much do you really know about the brand? 

In this article, let’s take a closer look at Chatime by focusing on a core element of their menu that brews its way into several famous drinks: tea.

We’ll explore a few of the brand’s unique teas, and then review a few factoids you might not know about their approach to tea. 

What’s Brewing? The Wide World of Chatime Teas

Their signature milk tea is made from premium black tea, an aromatic and satisfying sip that pairs perfectly with their toppings.

However, the story doesn’t stop there; Chatime also offers several other teas on their signature bubble tea menu: 

• Genmaicha
• Matcha
• Alishan JinShyuan
• Oolong-style Tieguanyin
• Jasmine 
• Earl Grey, and others. 

These teas each bring a different flavour and aroma profile to the table, and each pairs magnificently with the wide selection of toppings and flavourings they offer. 

The True Tea: Facts and Trivia about Everyone’s Favourite Bubble Tea Brand

Tea is an integral part of their story. In this section, let’s get to know them better by delving into a few tea-related factoids about the company.

Here are a few things you should know: 

• Tea is right there in the name: Did you know that “Cha” means “tea” in Chinese? Therefore, Chatime can be loosely translated as “Teatime” or “Time for tea”!
• Chatime has a long, storied history of brewing tea: The company started in 2005 when a tea lover named Wang Yao-Hui set out to make this new Taiwanese craze called “bubble tea” into an internationally loved beverage. His bright idea? Use the best possible tea to make the drink. 
• Chatime’s tea is painstakingly vetted for quality: Their tea gets its stamp of approval from the company’s “Tea Masters,” a group of specialized agronomists (read: global tea experts) that methodically test and assess each batch of tea for rigorous quality standards. 
• The company gets serious about sustainability: The company has implemented natural farming techniques that “promote biodiversity and ecological balance” in an ongoing effort to boost sustainability. 
• Chatime wants bubble tea to be inclusive and universal: The brand goes to great lengths to ensure that everyone can enjoy the thrill of a bubble tea. They offer caffeine-free teas. They include oat milk substitutions on their menu. And recently, Chatime Canada announced that its entire menu is Halal-certified. 

For a fuller story of Chatime’s tea obsession, visit the “About Tea” page on the Chatime Lab website.

Or, better yet… Go drink a bubble tea!

What’s your fave bubble tea?

Let me know, til then—cheers m’deres!

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