Mr Sun Tea - Markham

I recently sampled their lychee smoothie with cheese crema and found that even with regular sugar, the sweetness was delicate. Not only was this drink visually appealing with its layered presentation, but it was also very tasty. I also tried their mango smoothie with cheese crema, which was incredibly refreshing. It had been a while since I had a mango smoothie, so this one really hit the spot. For more photos, check out my Instagram page @kellychows!

Encounter Tea is a chain of bubble tea shops that serves a range of creative and visually enticing beverages! I sampled their lychee smoothie with cheese crema and found that even with regular sugar, the sweetness was nicely subtle. The drink was also beautifully layered, making it quite a sight to behold. I also tried their mango smoothie with cheese crema, which was incredibly refreshing. It had been a while since I had a mango smoothie, so this one really hit the spot! Encounter Tea currently has two locations in Ontario: one in Downtown Toronto at 439 Spadina Ave, and another in Markham at Pacific Mall, 4300 Steeles Ave E (E65).

Even though it's a bit more expensive, the quality of the drinks at this restaurant really stands out! I tried the maruo bean milk tea and grape cheese smoothie with w/blast beads (similar to crystal tapioca/agar jelly). The maruo bean milk tea was delicious, especially with the mochi on top. It was even better when I dipped the mochi into the milk tea - I could really taste the tea flavor! I highly recommend this drink. The grape smoothie with cheese was beautifully presented and very refreshing. I could tell they use real grapes because I found a few seeds in my drink - although it would be better if they removed them beforehand.

I have visited this restaurant multiple times and they offer dairy-free alternatives like lactose-free milk. However, if they do not have regular milk alternatives like oat milk, there are many other bubble tea places in the mall to choose from.

I visited Pacific Mall over the weekend and found that it is the only tea store in the mall that offers non-dairy options. The staff at the counter were very helpful and cheerful, and the service was good. We ordered a Uji Matcha Tea Latte with Soy Milk and Matcha-flavored Tapioca, as well as a Yakult Lemonade. We requested the Matcha tea to be 25% sweet and with only 75% ice, and it was amazing. The Matcha flavor came through perfectly and the level of sweetness was just right, not overpowering. The Matcha-flavored tapioca was only okay, as we would have preferred a stronger flavor. The Lemonade, on the other hand, was outstanding. It was a perfect summer drink, flavored with 10% sugar and with Mango-flavored tapioca. The sweetness of the Lemonade was just right, and the subtle mango flavor of the tapioca complemented it perfectly. The two slices of lime that came with it were good, but we wondered why there weren't lemon slices instead. Nevertheless, we will definitely be returning for more.