Out & About #477 | Chat One Tea Bubble

​You read that correctly: It's "Tea Bubble", not bubble tea, for your information.

​In an area that's saturated with quick service eateries, questionable nail salons, and more industrial organizations than hip hangout spots, I hadn't expected to find decent bubble tea parlour within the 15-kilometre radius.

​While en route back from another deeply stressful North York run - 5-minute stopovers always have me antsy for parking enforcement teams - a shop bearing a yellow-white storefront caught my attention. Chat One was one of the names that had appeared on a prior search of the area, though it hadn't actually occurred to me that it was located so close. Moreover, there was a parking lot - tiny, but nonetheless a private space where I wouldn't live in fear of being ticketed.

My first visit took place on a Friday afternoon. The specialty shop was largely empty at the time, and there was only one customer before us.

​​Wait time was minimal at the cashier; it was, in fact, my demands for further clarification of the menu that was time-consuming. Choices were vast, though decision-making was difficult for the menu had been arranged in a somewhat confusing manner.
A set of ten signature drinks were shown on a folded takeout sheet, but displayed underneath them was no more than an internal item code. One would need to dart back and forth between the complete menu and condensed takeout menu to match beverage images with names.

Approximately five minutes passed before I finally decided on the Dazzling Matcha Milk Tea. The concoction comprised of freshly whisked matcha powder, milk, and a combination of the tea shop's Caramel, Cactus, and Crystal Tapioca.
Similar to One Zo, Chat One offered a rotating selection of tapioca - all supposedly crafted in-house. I couldn't perceive distinct differences between the individual flavours of the starchy pearls, but the texture was undeniably enjoyable.

It was belatedly discovered that the girl behind the cashier hadn't inquired about my desired ice and sugar levels. Yet, oddly enough, my drink was delivered with the ideal amounts of both components. Although not quite reminiscent of ceremonial grade, the drink was tasty and as grassy as I had desired/expected.

A Taro Milk Tea was also ordered on this visit. I was informed that it did not exhibit the overly powdery characteristics of other establishments.

​On a tightly-spaced second visit, I was informed of the shop's new, off-the-menu addition of Taro Slush. The girl behind the cashier had recognized me almost instantly, much to my surprise. (Or maybe I'm just terrible with remembering faces?)

Cactus Tapioca was not available this time around, but I was permitted to make substitutions with whichever toppings were available.

< Pictured above and below:

• C11 Dazzling Matcha Milk Tea
• Taro Milk Tea
• A9 Cactus Rose Oolong Tea (swap Sakura Tapioca)
• C7 Crystal Spring Tea (swap Green Tea Jelly)
• C10 "Dirty" Milk Tea (Large)
• B1 Passion Fruit Green Tea (Large) >

​Cactus Tapioca was swapped for Sakura Tapioca (not on the menu), while Crystal Tapioca was swapped for Green Tea Jelly (in fear that tapioca would turn waterlogged after a few hours of storage). Sakura Tapioca was a mix of yellow and pale pink pearls; the palette was appealing while its notes of floral were subtle, pairing well with the straight Oolong. Minimal rose accents were sensed despite its name, however. I had also found it odd that the tea bag remained in the drink during consumption.

"Wont' the tea get bitter?" I asked one of the three baristas.
"Nope!" came the response.

​​Truthfully, there was no bitterness within the first 90 minutes of sipping. It wasn't until I had reached the bottom of the cup that astringency became apparent.

​The Crystal Spring Tea was loaded with a heaping portion of Osmanthus Jelly and, upon my request, Green Tea Jelly was also observed nestled at the bottom of the cup. Spring Tea is, conclusively speaking, an acquired brew. Flirting with acidic notes of over-stepped green tea and a delicate, natural sweetness, the blend is best served with citrus/fruity highlights. Personally speaking, it was a tad too sugary for my liking, especially with the addition of osmanthus.

Rather than the opaque, olive green blocks I had been anticipating, Green Tea Jelly had taken the form of small, translucent pearls. Its taste was, once again, unmistakably floral. "Green Tea" hadn't meant matcha after all. The entire composition veered too far into the botanic spectrum.

​On a fateful third visit, the smiley girl behind the cashier was nowhere to be seen. I had contemplated Milk Tea Soft Serve from Yorkdale at first, but wasn't exactly inclined to attempt the potential parking monstrosity. More than anything, I had wanted an icy cup of Thai Milk Tea from Holy Snack, but the lack of parking was too much of a hassle for a condensed lunch break.

Chat One's price points are slightly lower than that of One Zo, although the tapioca prices are consistent. I originally believed drinks from the former to be more cost-effective and better-tasting (on a general note), but my third, and possibly final, visit proved me wrong.
"Dirty" Milk Tea actually tasted like dirt. Not a single shred of tea was apparent, and the black sesame mix was ridiculously synthetic. A request for "half sugar" equated to insufficient simple syrup content, while "less ice" meant no ice at all (read: just cooler than lukewarm).

Passion Fruit Green Tea was decent, though I wasn't too fond of the exclusion of passion fruit seeds. The Passion Fruit jelly found at the bottom of the drink proved powdery - almost dust-like in the tackiest sense. Flavour-wise, I much prefer my tried-and-true Bubble Gaga.

A single stall bathroom is located at the foot of a steep staircase. Although maintained decently, it was odd to observe the absence of a toilet paper holder.

​In conclusion, Chat One isn't a poor pick for the area. Serving up a range of jellies in addition to housemade tapioca pearls is a bonus. Regrettably, the tea shop's drinks are a hit or miss. A password-secured Wi-Fi network is always appreciated, but drastic variances in beverage quality cannot be dismissed easily, especially for a tea house. Parking is another tremendous challenge, for there is minimal leeway between the sidewalk, compact asphalt strip, and annoying concrete fixture separating them.

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