This shop is located far from any ticket gates, making it inconvenient to access. I tried a Rooibos milk tea for the first time. It was not too sweet and had just the right amount of ice. Gong Cha's milk tea blends well with any tea and is easy to drink.

Arrived at Ueno Station around 4:00 pm on a regular evening. It was hot that day, and I was craving something sweet and cold, so I decided to stroll around Ecute Ueno. I noticed a shop with lots of young girls and foreigners lined up, and I was surprised because I didn't know this shop existed. It turned out to be Gong Cha (I later found out it opened in March 2020). I thought the tapioca boom from a few years ago had died down, but apparently, the popularity is still going strong with long lines. However, the line quickly dwindled to 2-3 people, so I mustered up the courage to join. I overheard a high school girl in front of me ordering and learned that you can choose the sweetness level, ice amount, and toppings. Feeling a bit unsure, I ordered a "Black Milk Tea M" with normal sweetness and ice levels. The staff asked about toppings, and I hesitantly chose pearls. After paying, I had to wait near the pick-up window where a few others were waiting. I observed some high school girls picking up their orders quickly through mobile ordering, and I realized it's more convenient. Finally, I received my Black Milk Tea with pearls, and it was delicious with a refreshing taste. The tapioca didn't have much flavor but added a fun texture. It was a learning experience for me. Thank you!

I ordered using mobile order. There is a bookstore nearby so I can kill time until the pick-up time. I chose a limited-time product. I could choose the sweetness and toppings, and even opted for no ice for an additional fee. I was able to pay with LINE points when using mobile order.

This is a chain store of tapioca drinks located in Ecute Ueno, called Gong Cha. It's often crowded, but it was quiet this day so I decided to stop by. Being a tea shop from Taiwan, they offer a wide variety of tea options, making it hard to choose (lol). I tried their taro milk tea with tapioca topping, which is not common in Japan. While I was paying, they prepared my order and handed it to me quickly at the pick-up counter. The taro milk tea had a slight purple color. I've never tasted taro before, but it had a slightly creamy texture and was delicious and easy to drink. Besides drinks, they also had pineapple cakes and egg tarts. The egg tarts came in various flavors and looked tasty too!

The customer service was great, so I'm reviewing Gong Cha again. This time in Ueno. It was around 10:30 on a weekday morning, and they were calmly operating inside the station. There was no line. I took advantage of the student discount they offered. I ordered the reliable black sugar tapioca drink. After a short wait, they served it to me with a straw in a bag. I thought to myself that it was filled generously as I inserted the straw. The trick is to place it on a flat surface and push it in. Although I was advised to mix it before drinking, I went ahead and drank it as is, and it was so sweet that I had to close my eyes. Mixing it with the straw helped to mellow out the sweetness, and it tasted just like the usual Gong Cha flavor. While drinking, I noticed there was an illustration and "Thank you" written on the bag. I've never experienced this even at Starbucks (laughs). It really lifted my spirits. The delicious tapioca and thoughtfulness, thank you very much. Black sugar tapioca drink (with student discount): 372 yen

I finally tried Gong cha for the first time. I wonder why there used to be long lines for it. Was it because it's delicious, or maybe it's the type of drink that people get tired of easily? I don't really understand. It was past 7 pm at Ueno Station, a bustling passageway where many people were transferring trains. Among the commercial facilities inside the ticket gates, Ecute, there was one lonely-looking store - Gong cha. I've seen long queues at their stores in Ikebukuro Parco and other locations. People would wait for 30 minutes or even an hour. But lately, I've been noticing that their stores are empty. I decided to give it a try after realizing they also offer juice bar-like options besides just tapioca. I ordered a pomegranate soda with konjac jelly, without any tapioca. The drink was quickly prepared and handed to me before I could even take my change. It was a refreshing drink with a strong acidity and carbonation, perfect for quenching my thirst. The konjac jelly added a fun texture to the drink. I finished it in almost no time, and the whole experience from seeing Gong cha to finishing the drink probably took only 1-2 minutes. I enjoyed the drink, but for me, time-saving is more important than following trends. It's up to each person to decide whether to join the trend or not. I simply believe in saving time rather than following every trend just because it's popular. (By Natsuhazaki, 10/4/2020)

Ecute inside Ueno Station, a takeout-only store located near the Joban Line platform. I've been using it quite frequently lately to adjust my transfer times. My stamp card is starting to fill up! This time, I tried the fruit vinegar drink that was just released on July 22nd. This fruit vinegar is a drink made from 100% fruit fermentation vinegar "Misato," fruit sauce, and konjac jelly. The base comes in two types: milk or soda, with three flavors available: - "Calamansi" with a refreshing citrus acidity - "Pineapple" with a tropical flavor - "Pomegranate" with a sweet and sour, vibrant taste. This time, I chose the following: Soda & Calamansi for 507 yen. The two layers have a beautiful color. They told me to mix it well before drinking, but it seems like a waste to mix it. The carbonation combined with the vinegar gives a strong carbonated sensation. It's incredibly refreshing! This is the perfect drink for hot weather. However, as soon as it enters the esophagus, the bubbles start to rise up (which can be a bit uncouth). I'm not a big fan of carbonation to begin with. It's impossible to gulp it down in one go. The konjac jelly has a great texture. Could this be the next big thing after tapioca? It's not as bouncy as tapioca, but it has a soft, chewy texture that makes sucking it up enjoyable. I actually love konjac jelly so much that I always have it at home. I like tapioca too, but I get tired of it. I hope konjac jelly as a topping becomes a regular option.

Got off at Ueno Station. Inside EKICUTE Ueno, there is a Taiwanese tea specialty store located opposite a bookstore on the site of a glasses shop. They provide transparent plastic bags for takeout, but the contents are clearly visible. After ordering and paying at the order counter, you receive a receipt with an order number, then line up at the adjacent pick-up counter. When your number is called, you can collect your drink. The menu only shows prices for Taiwanese tea, with additional charges for toppings like tapioca. The staff, despite it being a Taiwanese tea specialty store, were Japanese. The third tapioca boom seems to have calmed down, making it less stressful to purchase drinks without long waits. I was looking forward to this store's opening so much that I ended up buying a chocolate milk tea from Gong Cha Matsuya Ueno a few days earlier. This time, I ordered for takeout and was informed of a 70 yen additional charge for no ice. The order I placed was as follows (excluding tax): Chocolate Milk Tea (S) ¥420, sweetness normal, less ice, Topping: Nata de Coco ¥70. The total including tax was ¥529. In conclusion, the combination of Nata de Coco and chocolate did not work well. The normal sweetness of the chocolate tea made it taste more like cocoa, which I actually liked. The Nata de Coco, cut into thin strips, had a distinct texture and a sugary sweetness. When the liquid from the chocolate tea disappeared from my mouth, the sweetness of the Nata de Coco took over. Nata de Coco would have been better paired with a fruit-based drink. The combination of Chocolate Milk Tea and Nata de Coco may appeal to those who enjoy potato chips with chocolate, dry curry with raisins, or pineapple on pizza. As part of their opening promotion, they were giving away Gong Cha sticky notes with drink purchases. These sticky notes are being sold for around ¥300 on Mercari. Visited again in May, and only some drinks were available due to the reopening on 05/18. I ordered the following (excluding tax): Chocolate Milk Tea (S) ¥420, sweetness normal, less ice, Topping: Tapioca ¥70. I'm starting to feel that being able to add tapioca to drinks is a symbol of peace.

Iyo-kank mango milk tea for 600 yen, with extra sweetness. Mango jelly is 1.5 times more in the Instagram story post. It's very sweet and the mango jelly is delicious! A must-try for those with a sweet tooth! It's great that Gong Cha allows you to adjust the sweetness level!

Personally, it didn't suit my taste. I'm sorry. There might be a reason why it's popular though.

Soft and tender! Delicious.

Pine Milk