Written by Nancy Yang
Ever heard of a fun drink called Bubble Tea? Bubbles in the famous Bubble Tea are actually tapioca pearls boiled in tea. For those wary of tea, you must venture out and try new things! You may become addicted like me!
I've been going to the Tea Garden since it first opened on Hennepin and 26th in South Minneapolis. That's been about 10 years or more. I used to live in Cottage Grove and forced my then fiance to drive me all the way to Minneapolis for a $5 Bubble Tea shake.
You can't miss the giant tea leaf!
Imagine my excitement when a new Bubble Tea opened in the Grand and Snelling Avenue area! It's right across from Ramsey Junior High School and way easy access for students at Macalaster College. It's popularity has grown and you really have to fight for a good parking spot.
This is a picture of my daughter with her Strawberry Shake with Strawberry Jellies.
Tea Garden hosts inspiring and creative artwork from local artists. This fun atmosphere coupled with tea baristas in shirts with sayings like, "Shake it like you mean it" creates a great ambiance.
Tea Garden has done well for itself, opening a new location in Downtown St Paul. It's located in the US Bank building on the skyway and now busy professionals can enjoy Bubble Teas as well. There are Tea Gardens located on the U of M campus and also at our Mega Mall, Mall of America.
And of course, in my lovely city of Woodbury, Tea Garden has recently opened the Steepery Bar. I go there to snag a yummy shake on my lunch break. The Steepery Bar is located next to Duc's Vietnamese Restaurant. I will blog about my visit to that restaurant as well. Both businesses replaced the old Vietnam Restaurant that was there previously right off of Tamarack Rd and Radio Drive. I met my significant other at that restaurant so it's too bad it's gone, but great for me because I don't have to drive over to Grand Avenue to get my fix of Bubble Tea.
Go and give it a try! My favorites are Strawberry Mango or Passion Fruit Mango shakes with Pearls (Bubbles in Bubble Tea). I have to confess that I have become some what of a Bubble Tea snob. Tea Garden cooks their pearls with a secret ingredient: honey. And I have a wonderful client who started a new, treatment free honey line that's locally sourced, called Bare Honey. Bare Honey is now being sold and used at all the Tea Gardens. Watch for my next blog regarding this great new company that's super sweet!
All the Tea Gardens and the Steepery Bar have tons more than just Bubble Tea. Vietnamese Coffee, a myriad of tea flavors and organic chai flavors you can imagine, and of course, coffee!