Leaving campus to get food is something many students look forward to. Bubble tea in particular is enjoyed by many. There are not a lot of places near Blairstown to get bubble tea. One common spot for Blair students is the Gong Cha at Rockaway mall. It is very accessible because there are frequent mall trips. A less common place is Bubble in Paradise in Denville. So which store has the best bubble tea.
Bubble in Paradise:
Bubble in Paradise is a family owned business in Denville. While bubble tea is the most popular item, they serve much more than just that. Their menu also includes smoothies, hot drinks, shaved ice, egg waffles, and hot food. Inside the store you can also purchase stuffed animals and Asian snacks. It is my personal favorite as I have been going to it for years.
Location (4/10): Bubble in Paradise is located in downtown Denville. It is inconvenient for Blair students to get to because Denville runs are very uncommon. There are other places to get food nearby like Starbucks, Playa bowls, and other local restaurants. However, there is not nearly as much to do compared to the frequented Rockaway mall, and does take quite a drive when compared to places like the Newton food runs.
Atmosphere (10/10): Bubble in paradise has a great atmosphere. There are many stuffed animals that give the place a cute and cozy vibe (you can purchase them as well!). There are also Asian snacks you can purchase and claw machines you can play. While many people get their bubble tea to go, you can also sit down at one of the tables inside.
Menu (7/10): While Bubble in Paradise has a very wide menu, not all items are well executed. The hot food items are especially a weak point. While it is a nice option, the menu isn’t very unique. You can find similar food that is better and cheaper at other Asian restaurants. The desserts seem to be good, although my only experience is with the shaved ice. The menu is a little all over the place, and I think it would be better if they narrowed it down.
Bubble tea (8.5/10): I purchased brown sugar milk tea with tapioca pearls and brown sugar jelly. The tea itself had a strong brown sugar flavor and was very sweet (brown sugar milk tea is usually not made with actual tea, just milk and brown sugar). It is one of the sweeter drinks on the menu, however many drinks at Bubble in Paradise run sweet. You can adjust the sweetness of any drink if you ask. The tapioca pearls were a perfect texture. It was cooked all the way through with a chewy outside and slightly firmer inside. Occasionally there would be a slightly undercooked pearl, but overall it was pretty good! The tapioca pearls also had little taste, which I liked. The jelly was also good. It didn’t provide much taste besides being sweet. It mostly just provided a different texture in the drink. It is a good alternative for those who don’t enjoy boba.
Gong Cha at Rockaway Mall:
Gong Cha is a large bubble tea chain with locations worldwide. This Gong Cha is located in Rockaway mall. Drinks are very customizable. Many toppings can be added to drinks. In addition to the normal tapioca bubbles you can also add jellies, puddings, and milk foam. Teas, coffees, and slushes are also available on the menu. I have much less experience with Gong Cha compared to Bubble in Paradise
Location (10/10): The location is very convenient. There are frequent trips to the mall on weekends, and there is a lot to do around as well.
Atmosphere (1/10): Gong cha at Rockaway mall is just a food stand, so there really is no atmosphere.
Menu (8/10): The menu is very customizable. You can only purchase drinks, but the menu is more well thought out compared to Bubble in Paradise.
Bubble tea (5/10): I tried the creme brulee brown sugar milk tea with tapioca pearls. The milk tea was less sweet than Bubble in Paradise. I liked the levels of sweetness, but it had less flavor than the tea I got at Bubble in Paradise. I did still enjoy the milk tea, as I found Bubble in Paradise’s to be a bit too sweet. I also enjoyed the milk foam. It was supposed to be creme brulee flavor, but I didn’t really get that. I couldn’t pinpoint the flavor, but it balanced the flavor of the milk tea well. The tapioca pearls were a low point. They were small and undercooked. They also had a strange flavor. While I liked most of the drink and appreciated the ability of customization, the bad tapioca pearls ruined the whole thing for me.
