Out & About #79 | Kuma's Candy + Pre-/Mid-Exam Visuals

My first exam is tomorrow, and I'm currently conflicted between the urge to post recent visuals and the need to digest the methods used to find the primal/dual of a function. In the end I chose to play Tsum in order to finish the second Bingo card instead.

Earlier this week, I finally got around to visiting a newly-opened bubble tea and candy store in Westdale by the name of Kuma's Candy.

A friend of mine had told me about this store's migration from Jackson Square to Westdale Village about three weeks ago, but only recently have our breaks overlapped due to the semester slowing to an end.

The location that they took over was initially an antique shop, which had sold interesting, but extremely dusty, trinkets that would've brought much visual interest to food photography shoots. Its interior was now painted an excessively sweet cotton candy pink, which seemed appropriate as the walls were lined with a never ending selection of sweets and cute toys.

Towards the back of the store was a bubble tea bar, along with shelves displaying various types of tea and a few teapots with intricate designs.

I'll be frank: the kitchen was literally a blender, a small selection of flavoured powders and jellies, and a blender. The menu looked like an elementary school-level project, with cartoon-like words printed atop tacky patterned backgrounds and binded in a soft cover binder in clear sheet protectors. I suppose they served their purpose though; students rarely appreciate fancy menus anyway.

< Pictured above: Small Taro Slushie and a ginormous black bear plushie >
[ Side note: I wish I had chosen a different colour straw: the colour contrast would definitely result in a greater degree of visual appeal... ]

The store originally had a $1 bubble tea deal for its first little while of opening. This steal has now ended, but all items remain to be 15% off store-wide until the end of the month, I believe. (Not that it really matters that much to be honest, as the items are incredulously overpriced to begin with. I doubt a student budget would allow for leisure spendings in the form of a $20 bento box.)

And since no post can ever be complete without some of my weekly food snaps, this week's degustatory visuals include attempts at creating the perfect taro milk tea/slush and a seemingly health lunch consisting of leftovers.

The above can only be described as Blanched Romaine Hearts and Chicken Breast with Diced Tomatoes and Mozzarella on Whole Wheat Toast. Though quite simple, I have to admit that this lunch was more filling than expected. And, of course, if all else fails and the fridge is dire state of refilling, there's always cheese to turn towards for a satisfying bit. (I swear, I could probably live off of mozzarella and brie.)

Later on in the week, an Oolong Chiller w/ Aloe and Mix Tapioca was thoroughly enjoyed. For any others curious to try this out, I'd recommend adding a splash of milk to boost the flavour of the tea and provide a nice contrast in taste.

My mom also brought back some pellet-like shortbread cookies from T&T the other day. I decided to try one out along with an iced London Fog I had crafted just ten minutes prior. I don't think I'll go for another one though: small, dense taste-less lumps aren't really my thing.

While this might not thrill too many, obtaining taro powder was definitely one of the highlights of my week! I had never understood why so many bubble tea fanatics worshipped the flavour, nor did I even know how it tasted. By mixing the pastel purple powder with the remnants of a can of full-fat (*shudders* Indeed, you heard correct, but this was only because coconut milk was needed and the light versions were not on sale) coconut milk.
Thoroughly blending these ingredients, along with non-fat milk to loosen up the concoction, yielded two unique products: a taro-coconut slush and a taro-coconut milk tea. Both were beautifully flavourful, made lightly fragrant from the taro and just the right degree of richness from the coconut milk.

(I think I've discovered my new calling in life.)

And now I'll finish off this post with an interesting observation.
Recall how I mentioned a certain "Josh" that I usually see working at the 24-hour Starbucks at Square One? Well I dropped by that same location after busing back from an exam to redeem a reward on a Chicken Salad and Brie Wrap and earn a couple bonus stars by purchasing an Iced Peach Blossom Latte. And guess who I see? It's "Joshie" this time, the letters boldly scrawled onto a new name tag. He's still smiley, but seems a bit more occupied/cautious (either one of these) than before. I also notice that he's the only one wearing a white polo, while the other 4-5 baristas/cashiers are all wearing black.
At this point, one can only assume that his status is different, and that it is highly likely that he got promoted.

I doubt he'll ever chance upon this specific entry (and if that is to occur, I hope writing about my daily observations isn't too strange-sounding?!), but assuming that my hunch is correct, congratulations Josh!! As a customer, it was always nice to see their barista smiling to them at the end of a long day, and for all the times that I've seen you working, you're definitely a pleasant person to relay an order to. I wish you good luck on your future endeavours! ^ ^