Around 2018, there was a boom in tapioca that some say was the third wave of its popularity. Tapioca shops were popping up everywhere, even regular Chinese restaurants were selling tapioca. Places like Gong Cha had long lines that stretched for over 30 minutes when they first opened. However, as the tapioca boom faded, you hardly see the word "tapioca" anymore. Despite this, Gong Cha is still operating steadily. It's nice to see businesses that don't just ride the wave of trends, but establish themselves firmly. Nowadays, you can buy their drinks without waiting in line, which is a plus. Also, Gong Cha is actually a Taiwanese tea shop, not just a tapioca shop, so you can order non-sweet teas without tapioca as well. The prices are quite reasonable. It's great to see them continue to operate as a reliable tea shop, even when the tapioca craze has passed.

It has been four years since the last update, but I visit this place consistently every week. Lately, they have been running out of Jasmine tea stock, so I have been sticking to Earl Grey tea. I prefer less ice in my drink because I don't like it getting diluted quickly. Previously, ice was free, but now there is a charge for no ice, so I usually ask for less ice. The loyalty card used to offer double points on rainy days, but now it's only on days with a "5," which is a bit disappointing but understandable. One thing that hasn't changed is that I can usually avoid waiting in line and leave without much hassle, except during lunchtime. The place seems to have calmed down compared to before, and while other popular places like Gong Cha at "Lalaport TOKYO BAY" still have long lines, this place only gets busy during lunch and after work hours. It quietly stands between a building and a shrine, which may contribute to its low profile, or perhaps the location in Mitsukoshi-mae doesn't attract the main target audience. They occasionally offer limited-time menu items, and I missed out on the brown rice milk tea but got to try the roasted green tea, which I loved for its fragrant aroma. I also enjoy jasmine tea, so I appreciate when it's available. Their milk tea is good, but their milk foam is even better. I'm not a fan of sweet drinks, but I enjoyed the subtle sweetness of the milk foam before mixing it with a "less sweet" drink, creating a perfect balance. Matcha milk tea is a classic choice, and I always order it less sweet. Toppings-wise, I prefer nata de coco because it's low in calories compared to black sugar pearls. Nata de coco has a chewy texture and almost zero calories, making it my go-to topping. Occasionally, I opt for black pearls. Their grass jelly topping has a jelly-like texture that I find enjoyable. Overall, I had a satisfying experience. My second loyalty card is filling up quickly, especially with the free toppings I've earned.

The location is convenient, with a green park in front where you can also enjoy your meal outside. There is space inside the store as well. They offer a student discount. I usually use their takeout service. There is an eat-in space, but it's relatively small. The staff seemed a bit indifferent and mechanical, lacking in friendliness. It's not a big deal, but I did wonder if they are in the customer service industry.

Today, my husband bought me a tapioca drink. It was my first time trying tapioca matcha, and it was delicious! The tapioca pearls were chewy and there was plenty of them in the drink. The matcha flavor was refreshing and easy to drink. #tapioca #tapioca shop #Gong Cha #tapioca milk tea #tapioca lover #want to connect with tapioca lovers #want to connect with people who love tapioca

I saw a release from Gong Cha about their "Tea Tasting Campaign" and decided to try it after a long time! I chose the Ali Shan Oolong tea for only 200 yen per cup. It's amazing that you can enjoy Ali Shan tea at this price! As someone who doesn't drink alcohol or coffee but loves tea, I really appreciate the idea of a "tea stand" becoming popular. It's great to have the option of enjoying delicious tea like at Starbucks. It seems like Gong Cha is promoting themselves as a "Taiwanese tea house" with a focus on refreshing tea instead of tapioca. The new direction may be due to changes in leadership. The plan is to expand to 400 stores, similar to Nakau in scale. I hope the day comes when we can casually go to Gong Cha for a slightly better tea, like going to Starbucks for coffee. The campaign is ongoing even in winter. I'll try the next one with hot tea and milk foam!

-Conclusion: There are always restaurants that do not just follow trends but stand the test of time. This place has been a leading force in the tapioca boom, offering a distinct taste that sets it apart from other shops. It feels like a place that will remain popular regardless of trends, and I look forward to visiting regularly in the future. -Impression: This shop is famous in Taiwan and has been a driving force behind the tapioca boom in Japan, making it a popular spot. I have visited multiple times, and the Nihonbashi location seems to be a hidden gem with shorter lines. This time, I chose the Mango Alishan, Tropical Fruit Party, and Mango Juice. While my choices were juice-centric this time, the tea here is truly delicious and pairs well with any flavor. This place cannot be dismissed as just a passing trend; it offers genuine deliciousness. I hope to continue enjoying their offerings in the future.

This is a tapioca drink shop in front of Mitsukoshi. Due to certain circumstances, I don't seem to have time for a leisurely lunch today, so I decided to stop by here to eat porridge and fill my stomach a little. It's pouring rain outside, so I'll spend some time here charging up until the expected time. There were several types of porridge on the menu, but I was told there is only Samgyetang available now, so I'll go with that. I also decided to try the Creamy Tapioca as well. The staff brought the finished dish to my table. The taste was... Oh, I completely misunderstood. I thought they would serve it in a bowl like at a Chinese restaurant, but it was more like a snack size. The broth was well flavored but quite ordinary. The Creamy Tapioca had tapioca balls inside the cream, living up to its name. It was decently tasty but not something I would crave. The black tea in the set was basically unsweetened black tea. Since I still had time before the planned time, I ordered an additional drink. The vinegar drink had a slightly acidic taste, with more noticeable konjac jelly than fruit pieces. The tapioca trend seems to be ongoing, with various food items being introduced in this industry, but it doesn't seem like they will be able to break free from this struggle anytime soon. In the end, my initial plan to fill up a bit failed, as the easily digestible food I consumed only made me feel hungrier. That's it...

After having lunch with my junior colleague at a shed, they suggested using a coupon for a tea shop nearby. I decided to go along, thinking I might never go there otherwise. The shop seemed popular with female customers. I ordered the same as my colleague, which was Black Tea for 200 yen and two toppings of Tapioca and Milk Foam for 80 yen each. With the coupon, the total came to 360 yen. I thought I could have had a beef bowl at Yoshinoya for that price. I usually don't like milk, so I hesitated with the Milk Foam, but I followed their suggestion. I asked for less sweetness. I tried the Tapioca Milk Tea for the first time in my life, sucking through the thick straw. The Milk Foam naturally mixed with the tea, and the taste was pleasantly mild. The texture of the Tapioca was interesting, soft and chewy. The Milk Foam was more like whipped cream than milk, which was a pleasant surprise. I couldn't finish it before returning to the office, so I savored it slowly. I didn't have a particular interest in trendy Tapioca drinks, but it was surprisingly delicious. Still, for 360 yen, I'd rather have a beef bowl, even though they are different genres.

I went to Gong Cha on a weekend afternoon. The tapioca boom seems to have passed, with many shops closing down, and the former president, Mr. Harada, resigning for personal reasons. However, the tapioca at Gong Cha is still delicious! It may be high in calories, but I still want to come back again.

It's tough with the coronavirus, but hang in there Gong Cha! The Gong Cha in the Takeda Building is on a side street so it's relatively quiet, and you can buy without waiting in line. There are still a few customers coming in, like mothers and daughters out for a walk and nearby office workers. Today I got the Black Sugar Milk Oolong and Black Sugar Milk Black Tea. It's our nearest store and the kids love it, so please don't close down.

This shop is relatively empty. Even during the tapioca boom, there are only a few people in line, so you can buy from Goncha quickly, which is a miraculous experience. I love Goncha's tapioca because it is chewy and has a great texture, very delicious. I always drink it in the square of the nearby Fukutoku Shrine. It's a wonderful place to visit multiple times.

After having dinner at Beans on Beans, my family stopped by Gong Cha. It had been a while since we last visited, so I was a bit confused about how to order, haha. Different tapioca shops have different ordering systems, right? I ordered a small hot Milk Foam Green Jasmine Tea. My husband got a large iced Milk Foam Green Jasmine Tea with tapioca. And my daughter got a small iced Chocolate Milk Tea with tapioca. The total came to 1566 yen for all three drinks. Tapioca is an optional add-on with an extra charge, but the size of the drink (small or large) doesn't affect the price. The Milk Foam on the Jasmine Tea had mixed with the tea by the time I drank it, creating a delicate and subtle flavor. The Chocolate Milk Tea had a strong chocolate taste, almost like cocoa. Chocolate and tapioca go well together. I wish they had a drink with brown sugar flavor too.

10/23/2019 (Foodie Adventure) ❤️ Pearl Milk Tea ❤️ In Tokyo, there wasn't much of a line, so I was able to buy it without waiting. I chose the popular pearl topping. I've had it in Taiwan before, but it's delicious no matter where you drink it. I like the texture of the tapioca pearls from Gong Cha the best.

On a certain holiday in September 2019, there was no line!!! Maybe the boom is calming down? But it's still delicious, so I'll drink it! I've tried tapioca from several stores, but Gong Cha is quite high on my list (*´ω`*) I think the moderate sweetness is delicious! So here's what I drank: Black Milk Tea (S) ¥475, normal sweetness, normal amount of ice, with tapioca topping. It's difficult to drink it frequently if I have to line up, but if there's no line, I'd like to drink it regularly (*´ω`*) Thank you for the meal!

On September 21, I visited Gong Cha located in the Takeda Global Headquarters Building in Nihonbashi. It was a day for exploring Tokyo Station area, with occasional rain forecasted. We decided to go ahead with our plans despite the rain. We gathered at Shin-Nihonbashi Station and walked from the site of Hatchobori to the border between Chuo Ward and Chiyoda Ward to see the statue of Eiichi Shibusawa, who will appear on the next ten thousand yen bill. We then visited Fukutoku Shrine in Nihonbashi Muromachi and passed by the Takeda Global Headquarters building. When we arrived at Gong Cha, there was no line, unlike during our previous visit. I tried Gong Cha's tapioca drink for the first time, choosing Jasmine Green Tea as the base, with no milk, less sweetness, and regular ice, topped with pearl tapioca. It was refreshing and delicious. I compared it with the drinks my companions ordered - Matcha Milk Tea and Black Milk Tea. The experience was enjoyable, sipping the pearl tapioca through a thick straw. By the time we finished, a small line had started to form. I wonder if you can avoid waiting if you go early on a Saturday morning. Next time, I would like to try a milk-based drink. Thank you for the meal.

Located a 2-3 minute walk from Mitsukoshimae Station on the Ginza Line, and also easily accessible from Shin-Nihonbashi Station on the JR Sobu Rapid Line, this place is situated just behind COREDO Nihonbashi. I visited "Gong cha," a Taiwanese tea specialty shop. Gong cha is said to have originated from the tradition of offering the highest quality teas to the emperor in China, known as "tribute tea." I visited around 3:00 PM on a Sunday, and there was a line of around 10-15 people, which moved quickly thanks to the efficient staff. You can customize your drink by choosing the type of tea, sweetness level, amount of ice, and toppings. I ordered the limited-time hojicha milk tea, which had a delightful aroma and was quite delicious, although it was a bit on the sweet side (especially if you're used to brown sugar tapioca). Overall, it's a nice place to stop by for a drink while shopping or just to enjoy some tea.

Gong Cha, a Taiwanese tea specialty store, has been expanding its presence in Tokyo. The store in Nihonbashi is located on the first floor of the Takeda Global Headquarters Building, just a 1-minute walk from Mitsukoshimae Station on the Tokyo Metro and Shin-Nihonbashi Station on the Sobu Line. The location is relatively quiet and off the main street, making it a hidden gem. The staff provides excellent service, surpassing other bubble tea shops. It is recommended to take your drink to nearby Fukutoku no Mori for a break. On a side note, THE ALLEY will be opening a store in the Coredo Muromachi Terrace.

I tried the limited-time offer Mango Milk Tea with tapioca. I'm not usually interested in mango, but I thought I'd try something different for a change. I heard that the drink itself is already sweet, so I chose it without sugar. I also opted for no ice. Maybe it would have been better slightly colder. I think I prefer the classic milk tea with tapioca. But since it's a limited-time offer, it's worth trying out.

Located behind the Fukutoku Shrine in Nihonbashi, there is a Goncha that is usually not very crowded. We stopped by to grab a quick bite before heading to the Art Aquarium. I followed the recommendation and ordered the limited-time Mango Milk Tea M with zero syrup and tapioca topping (570 yen), while my husband got the Black Milk Tea S with zero syrup and tapioca topping (440 yen), excluding tax. It was our first time at Goncha, so we were a bit confused when placing our order. We didn't have much time to study the menu as we didn't have to wait long. The lady at the counter kindly guided us through the ordering process. It was nice to be able to adjust the sweetness level. The tapioca was also delicious. Thank you for the meal.

The tapioca milk tea boom in 2019 is incredible. There are various chain stores, but Gong Cha has the highest ratings. The Gong Cha store directly connected to Yokohama Station always has over 100 people lining up, so I decided to try the one in Nihonbashi since the line wasn't as long. When I went after work, there were barely 10 people in line on a Sunday night after 7 PM. I wasn't sure what to order since I didn't know what they had. I looked at the menu and was confused about what to choose. In the end, I asked the cashier for a recommendation. The black milk tea with pearl milk tea was the most popular, and I had to add pearls (tapioca) as a topping. You can also customize the amount of ice and sweetness. I tried it and found the milk tea to be quite sweet. The tapioca pearls were chewy, and you drink it with a thick straw. I still don't understand why there are such long lines, but as an older gentleman, it wasn't clear to me.