What is bubble tea?

But what, exactly, is bubble tea, and how did a chartered accountant find himself boiling up tea leaves in Greenside?

Happy Me owner Jan Roode told a story of travel, adventure, and the alchemy of tea.

“This non-alcoholic bar is the result of three years of hard work. My wife and I travelled to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South America and Europe in pursuit of this dream,” he said.

Bubble tea has its origins in Taiwan. A tea base is usually mixed with fruit, milk or syrup, and will often contain small tapioca balls or ‘pearls’.

“Originally, tea-makers added various flavours to tea and shook it up, which made it bubbly or frothy. Later, tapioca balls were added to it, and it evolved from there, with jellies and panna cotta being added as well,” said Roode.

Despite bubble tea’s far-East beginnings, the Roodes first had the idea of a beverage bar in Patagonia, South America.

“We decided to travel and find the best beverages in different cultures, which we could put under one South African brand. I had bubble tea for the first time two years ago, in Hong Kong, and it was a trigger. I knew I wanted to explore texturing and layering drinks, which is why I describe what we do here as ‘mixology’,” he said.

“It’s the evolution of the drink.”

After weeks of training under Taiwanese tea masters, Roode set about creating his own blends in his Wynberg test kitchen.

“These drinks are very personal. My wife and I tested and tasted thousands of drinks, and it was never to just make money. We want our patrons to be drunk on happiness,” he said.

Patrons have the option of sampling creations like roasted oolong with apple and cinnamon, or osmanthus-infused black tea with tapioca balls and mesona grass jelly, or macha green tea with vanilla panna cotta and sweet red bean.

In addition to introducing South African palates to interesting, exotic flavours, Roode also wants to bring in an element of fun.

The presentation of the drinks and the large drinking straws make it possible to explore layers of flavour and texture.

“We’ve legalised playing with your food, and want to communicate that happiness is cool,” he said.

Details: 011 646 1450; www.happyme.co.za