Boba Battle: Brown Sugar Boba Milk Showdown Part 3.

Round 3...fight!

Here comes the third chapter of this epic battle, and for this installment, I have included a newcomer and a few old timers. Lets see if the previous standard bearers can keep up with the new competition.

If you have yet checked out the previous parts of this sugar crazed saga, do click here for part 1 and here for part 2. So now, on with the next one!

Bang Bang Milk (RM7.05)

Tealive, Empire Shopping Mall

Still here...

Tealive has really been hit hard with the new competition lately. But even though the new guys are coming in with guns blazing, there is still that usual queue at most branches. Smaller,but its still there. 

Will it boba? 

With regard to the goods, their version of the brown sugar milk boba potion is actually pretty decent. The milk is of high quality. That barista class sort of quality. And the sugar syrup is not too bad. It was reasonably thick and has that classic nutty and slightly smoky after tones. The boba pearls were also pretty good and had a lot of brown sugar flavour in them. 

However, just being good is no longer enough. This old timer may have passed beyond minimum requirements, but other competitors have excelled even further. As such, causing them to be ranked lower. Still a force to be reckoned with. 

One thing to note is that for the price, it is really good. It is much better than Family Mart and has more volume. And the price difference is just 15 sen! Mad props 

Pros: all elements done well

Cons: too many competitors have further excelled in the game

Notable points: queues are generally more tolerable and great value for money

Overall scoring: 6.75/10

Brown Sugar Milk with Pearl (RM10.50)

Gong Cha, KLCC

Still a line

Another of the old guard was really put to the test this time. With all that new competition, how does Gong Cha stack up? Not too well, unfortunately. As such, it will end up at the lower tier of the list of combatants. 

The milk, sugar syrup and pearls are decent. But thats about it. The syrup is slightly thicker than Tealive and the boba has a good bite. But for the price, I honestly think it is not that good for the value, especially with the newer and slightly more expensive versions of the drink are not that far behind. And comparing it to Tealive and Family Mart, you do not get much yield in terms of what you pay. 

Ribbons of blackness

Don't get me wrong. As it is, Gong Cha's version is alright. But when it comes to this battle,  it is seriously lagging behind and just being alright is not enough. I remembered that Gong Cha used to be a real show stopper. But now, the show has probably stopped for this one. 

Pros: boba a bit more chewy and the syrup is a bit thicker compared to the rest of the old timers. 

Cons: too many competitors have further excelled in the game. Price is also an issue. 

Notable points: ...

Overall scoring: 6.5/10

Brown Sugar Pearl with Fresh Milk (RM12.90)

Chun Yang Tea, One Utama

Front of the house. 

Another Taiwanese combatant has entered the ring! So how does it fare against its fellow countrymen? 

Unfortunately, not that well. For the price they are charging, which is at the same level and Xing Fu Tang and the Alley, there is seriously nothing much to offer here. I  personally think that it is very similar to Family Mart. In fact, if I have 2 Family Mart boba milk and pour it into a glass and put this side by side and do a blind taste, I would not be able to say which tasted better. 

The sugar really sits down huh? 

The boba is too squishy and does not hold its shape. The milk is alright and the syrup is decent. But as you can see now, being decent is not enough.  As such, a lower scoring. Is it just me or am I becoming some sort of boba snob? Sorry for not being sorry. 

Pros: boba a bit softer, if you are into that 

Cons: price is a serious issue, and does not justify the quality 

Notable points: ...

Overall scoring: 6/10

Grand Scoring (for now)
1.    Daboba @ 8.5/10
2.    The Alley @ 8 /10
3.    Xing Fu Tang @ 7.5/10
4.    Tiger Sugar @ 7/10
5.    Tealive @6.75/10
6-7. KOI The @ 6.5/10 (tied)
6-7. Gong Cha @ 6.5/10 (tied)
8-9. Family Mart @ 6/10 (tied)
8-9. Chun Yang Tea @ 6/10 (tied)

So there you have it, the bear still roars! What an epic battle it has been so far. Also, I was actually pretty surprised myself at how well Tealive was able to cope with the rest of the gang. There is a few more left to go, so do check this space for the fourth and probably, final installment of this glucose crazed war.