I must admit that I’ve become a bit of a bubble tea addict lately. So, when I was planning for our trip to the Okanagan last month, I researched potential bubble tea spots. Not that I was expecting International chains like Chatime or Gong Cha to be there, but more like local bubble tea houses. What turned up in my search was a small, family-owned Asian cafe in Kelowna called Formosa Tea Cafe. One evening after dinner, my family and I decided to visit Formosa for a bubble tea fix.
Spacious and Inviting
The interior of the cafe is very spacious and inviting. There are couch areas, arm chairs, a communal table and a few dining tables. It seemed like a cozy place to hang out with friends, to get work done on your laptop, or to spend a lazy afternoon with your favourite book.
The walls are adorned with art pieces by local artists.
Formosa also has a collection of classic board games for customers to enjoy. My family and I played a bit of Jenga that evening.
Formosa Menu
Formosa specializes in premium organic loose leaf teas, bubble teas and espresso-based beverages. Bubble tea comes in two sizes: regular ($3.75) and large ($4.50). Choices include creamy flavours, milk tea, iced tea, smoothies, tea lattes, smoothies, lemonades and more. Toppings are $0.50 and include tapioca pearls, aloe, red bean, coconut and lychee jelly.
What We Tried
We played it safe and went with a taro and classic milk tea with pearls. I thought the drinks were okay for a small, local bubble tea place. The tea flavour could be stronger but the tapioca pearl texture was reasonable. Smooth, slightly soft on the outside and chewy to the center.
We also tried their house-made matcha chocolate cake. Even though it was near closing, the cake was still quite moist, fluffy and light. Really nice balance of matcha and chocolate flavours without being too sweet.
Overall Impression
My family and I had a nice time enjoying dessert, bubble tea over board games at Formosa Cafe. Friendly place with a nice neighbourhood vibe. Rating: 3.5/5
Website: http://www.formosateacafe.ca/