Out & About #257 | The Alley Preview

One would imagine that someone who spent the past two days in their entirety engaging in social activities would prefer to stay in for the next few upcoming days, especially if that person happens to be a natural introvert.

In my case, it's true. Or it was anyway. After attempting some of blogilates' older exercise videos, I realized that I had placed a significant amount of strain on my wrists, with the reduced range of motion becoming notably evident when playing badminton. An urgent call to the chiropractor landed me with an appointment during supposedly off-peak hours, followed by a trip to the bubble tea shop that's been making waves since their soft and grand openings: The Alley.

Joining Commerce Gate's flourishing bubble tea community (ie. Chatime and CoCo) is The Alley, which features a rustic, cozy atmosphere and, occasionally, flavoured tapioca pearls. (Rumour has it that the black sesame pearls are only available after 8:30 pm, for reasons beyond me.)
In addition to the standard array of milk teas and tea lattes (ie. those crafted with real milk as opposed to milk powder), the menu also includes a special selection of six beverages - all of which are promoted at the cashier in both English and Chinese. While I do find the names innovative, little is said about the exact contents of each beverage in titles.

My first reaction to the gradually expanding lineup forming at the front is amazement combined with sheer perplexity. Mid-afternoon hours on a weekday should technically be on the quiet side, but the antler-themed franchise seemed to be doing quite well.

While waiting in line, I was offered a sample of their Royal No. 9 Milk Tea. According to the plastic glove-clad (thank you for maintaining some degree of hygiene!) staff member, it's the store's top seller and is concocted from an Assam variety roasted with blueberries. The fruity berry aftertaste was decently strong when tasted in the sample, so I opted to try a Regular-sized version. A tad pricier than CoCo but yet to reach Grotto's new tags, the Regular set me back by $5.00 (or slightly over $6.00 after taxes and the inclusion of tapioca). The Large would have rung in at a base price of $5.50.

The Royal No. 9 Milk Tea kept me company for approximately five minutes of my torturous 90-minute drive back home. My preferred ice and sugar levels had been executed properly, though the blueberry aftertaste that had resonated so prominently in the sample cup was only to be tasted every few sips, and ever so subtly at that.

Truthfully, I had learnt of The Alley's hefty price tags since their first Instagram photo was posted. Reluctant to simply cross it off the list though, I knew it was only right to give it a try first.

Their number one isn't so formidable I'd be itching to return anytime soon, but considering that their prices are more or less on par with Grotto, I suppose I'll keep the shop in mind as a hangout option next time I find myself in Richmond Hill.