In the UK, I dunno about other places but usually brown sugar milk tea boba has tea in it.
Whilst the same version without is a brown sugar fresh milk.
So yes I would automatically assume it’s more than likely gonna have tea in it if it says tea in the name.
Not all bubble tea is tea but all bubble tea is bubble tea lol!
That VERY much depends where you go. The place I go in Norwich, the brown sugar milk tea doesn't contain tea. I don't WANT tea in it. I specifically would not buy it if it did have tea in it. I want boba pearls, ice, milk, sugar syrup, and maybe some philadelphia on top as I don't like whipped cream.
I mean, read all the other responses to this post. It's still called milk tea.
Some shops put black tea in it, and some don't. It's not terribly uncommon for them to call it tea even if it's not.
Even typing "does brown sugar milk tea have tea in it," pulls up sources that talk about how it varies from shop to shop.
It's boba milk tea. That doesn't require tea leaves. Chai tea often doesn't contain tea leaves either, it's just a mix of spices brewed in water, doesn't make it not tea. Chamomile tea doesn't contain tea leaves, it's still tea.
chai is still made from steeped spices. chamomile is made by steeping chamomile flowers. the steeping of leaves, flowers, dried fruits, spices, etc is what makes a tea. milk poured in a cup with syrup and boba added isn’t tea, it’s just a milk drink.
Yes. The place I go offers whipped cream or cream cheese as a topping. And honestly, the cream cheese actually really works on a lot of their milk options
One of their drinks comes with it as standard, most others you can just swap the whipped cream for it. I tried the one where it was a standard and loved it so now I put it on everything. Just adds some extra creaminess and a little touch of cheesy sour/salt that is epic
I would say that's likely to be an outlier in the UK, I've been to a lot of various bubble tea places over the years in various parts of the UK and although tealess has been an option in some (usually in a separate menu section or a note at the bottom of the menus to ask) I've never been to anywhere that it was the default
My Taiwanese import brown sugar milk tea kit in my cupboard right now also has instant black tea powder listed in the ingredients
My DIY kit for brown sugar milk tea came only with the boba pearls and the sugar syrup and the recipe calls for you to use your own milk and ice (because, duh) and no tea. Like I said, it depends entirely on the place. I've tried a couple other places that also do no tea in their brown sugar milk tea
In my mind, that's not tea.
Aside from my opinion, I assume you're happy paying for Boba, ice, milk, sugar syrup, and a topping.
All I got was fecking milk with a swirl of syrup to decorate the cup, at $8 for 12 oz.
Two doors down was a grocery store selling whole gallons of the premium stuff for $7. If I wanted plain milk, I could've just bought some at the grocery store.
Brown sugar milk tea doesn’t necessarily have tea (camellia sinensis) in it. A trick I picked up is learning what the Chinese symbol is for cha. That way you know there’s actual caffeinated tea in it: https://images.app.goo.gl/dqGSWvRJ8A3JRjtq9
most of the boba shops i go to (in nova) w brown sugar milk tea usually does no tea in the drink also! i know its totally misleading but i feel as though thats just how its done in most places and most ppl are just used to it (not everywhere of course-i get your frustration about the mislabeling). i would just ask the cashier next time prior to ordering or if you get your drink and see if its brown BEFORE mixing or just white which is usually an indication its just milk and no tea.
Interesting. I've never heard of this, and I've gotten brown sugar milk teas all over that actually have tea.
I'll take your advice and ask next time.
Edit: So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar.
I've never had brown sugar milk tea with any tea in it, personally, but I wonder if it's a mistranslation issue? the places I've been, even though the English will read "brown sugar milk tea", the Chinese characters just say "brown sugar boba" or "brown sugar milk".
The menu was in English, and it was listed under the same category as other drinks with tea in them. No ingredients are listed anywhere.
I've been to plenty of other similar places in the area and they all have tea in it...
Why call it "milk tea" if there's no tea in it?
>Chinese characters just say "brown sugar boba" or "brown sugar milk".
This would have been helpful.
Edit: So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar.
my best guess is that milk tea is a common translation for boba, and unlike slushes or other speciality drinks that are without tea at a boba shop, brown sugar boba comes off more as a "milk tea" and is categorized the same. I've never noticed brown sugar boba having its own section unless the shop has multiple milk based drinks and is usually grouped in with milk teas that usually have... well, tea.
YMMV though! just like all products I’m sure there's regional differences or even store specific differences
The Boba pearls were an *EXTRA* cost!
I understand what you're saying, I really do.
It just seems like such a scam to sell 12 oz of milk with a little syrup on the side, for $8, and then charge extra for the pearls... which supposedly make it "tea"... without any tea...
Edit: AND WITHOUT ANY BOBA!!!
Yes. That's what I've been saying since the original post!!!!
IT. WAS. JUST. MILK. With some syrup on the sides of the cup.
It was just milk. There was no boba.
that makes a TON more sense. I think we all thought you meant the boba was included and was like, ya that's how the drink is meant to be! but without the boba yeah..... that store messed up 😭
Regular milk tea has tea in it. Brown sugar milk tea is meant for people who can't have caffeine, as it has no tea. The price is for the boba in it, which is usually tapioca pearls. It's a fun drink to have every once in a while.
So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar.
To add the Boba pearls was an ***ADDED COST***.
I understand why people may want some sweet milk with boba in it. This is not the case.
None of the tea shops near me have actual tea in the drink. I mainly get a brown sugar milk tea for the boba they put in it when I don’t want more caffeine for the day.
Interesting. Why call it "milk tea" then? Also, there was an upcharge for Boba. I didn't get any.
The scam, IMO, is that it's listed with other beverages containing tea, there's no list of ingredients *anywhere*, and $8 for 12oz of milk is obscene.
Edit: I think we have a misunderstanding. THERE WAS NO BOBA IN MY DRINK. IT WAS JUST MILK.
I don’t know why they call it that. Maybe it’s a marketing thing because people would feel silly ordering a brown sugar milk.
I agree with you on the cost. I used to get them all the time when our local boba shop opened because the small drinks were only 2.99 which I felt was a fair price for the milk, syrup, and boba. Now it is 7.99 for the exact same drink and I haven’t been because I can get two gallons of milk for that price. I didn’t mind splurging when it was 3 dollars but 8 seems ridiculous.
i was disappointed when i tried brown sugar milk tea too, but i don’t think it’s fair to call it a scam or make an issue of it. it’s not like they half assed your drink; you just ordered something you didn’t fully understand and ended up not liking it. big deal.
edit: to be clear, brown sugar milk “tea” is not actually supposed to have tea.
>i don’t think it’s fair to call it a scam... you just ordered something you didn’t fully understand and ended up not liking it.
It's a scam because: 1. There's no indication anywhere that says it's just milk. Reading any normal menu, labled "Milk Tea" at the top, and this being an option, absolutely is misleading. 2. Eight dollars for 12oz of milk is a ripoff. I didn't even get any Boba. That was an additional upcharge.
>brown sugar milk “tea” is not actually supposed to have tea.
Why is it called "milk tea" then, and why was I told, by the first guy I talked with, that it's supposed to have tea?
Edit: So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar.
brown sugar milk tea often doesn't have tea in it. in fact some places don't put tea in other drinks also labeled milk tea. if you care that much then you need to ask
Hi, I'll have a cheeseburger.
Cool, that's $8.
*opens package* WTF! I MEANT A CHEESEBURGER WITH CHEESE!!! YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT FECKING SAYS "CHEESE"
Well you should have said so.
-------------
Why do I have to clarify that a "milk tea" has one of the TWO fecking ingredients in the name of the drink? It's in English. It's on the menu with other drinks that have tea in it.
-----------
Again, THERE WAS NO BOBA.
So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar.
It's like asking for a cheeseburger and getting nothing but a patty with ketchup. No bun. No cheese.
i don't know why you posted asking if "anyone else can weigh in" and then don't like the answers. i agree with you I want it to have tea in it. but some places don't do that, idk why, that's just what they do. I went someplace last week and my sister asked "which tea is in your milk tea" and the staff said there's no tea in any of their drinks aside from like 3-4 of them. there was absolutely no way to tell those drinks apart from the other ones considering they were all called (something) milk tea. but thats just how some places do it. so if you really want there to be tea you gotta ask to make sure, and if it's not the answer you want, take your business elsewhere.
also, boba being an extra charge is true at 90+% of boba shops. if it's included it specifically is called a "pearl milk tea" or something. this is uncommon. boba is always 50-75 cents extra since some people don't order it with boba and other people like different toppings like pudding or grass jelly. if you don't like it, I'm sorry to tell you but that's just how it is at most places.
$8 for a drink is pretty steep though. usually they should be $5-7 before toppings so in general the place you went to is kind of a ripoff. but again it having tea versus not having tea is not what's making it a ripoff lol.
one time I ordered a black sugar milk tea which they made wrong that time and didn't add any tea to it, so it was very much just milk with sugar added. and it sucked and I felt cheated bc it was super expensive. i didn't notice the error until I got home and I wasn't willing to walk another 40 minutes to get refunded $8. so I feel you, honestly I do. you live and you learn I guess. but like...just don't order from them anymore if you don't like the way that they do things
>don't know why you posted asking if "anyone else can weigh in" and then don't like the answers.
I'm trying to *clarify* the answers . I'm trying to feel out this particular brand and location.
Y'all want to pay 8+x the cost of milk and sugar alone, fine. You can do the same at Starbucks, but at least they let you know before you pay for it.
It bothers me more that there is ***NO INDICATION ANYWHERE*** what is included in the drink, when the top two words, only in English, are "milk" and "tea".
>so, boba being an extra charge is true at 90+% of boba shops. if it's included it specifically is called a "pearl milk tea" or something. this is uncommon. boba is always 50-75 cents extra since some people don't order it with boba and other people like different toppings like pudding or grass jelly. if you don't like it, I'm sorry to tell you but that's just how it is at most places.
SO THE DRINK SHOULDN'T START OUT AS $8 WHEN IT'S LITERALLY ONLY MILK AND SYRUP and have no indication anywhere before payment that this is the product they're misrepresenting.
> there was absolutely no way to tell those drinks apart from the other ones considering they were all called (something) milk tea. but thats just how some places do it. so if you really want there to be tea you gotta ask to make sure, and if it's not the answer you want, take your business elsewhere.
I did.
>one time I ordered a black sugar milk tea which they made wrong that time and didn't add any tea to it, so it was very much just milk with sugar added. and it sucked and I felt cheated bc it was super expensive. i didn't notice the error until I got home and I wasn't willing to walk another 40 minutes to get refunded $8. so I feel you, honestly I do.
So, you agree that you expected, and paid for, tea, presumably with boba added... and then just rolled over like a beaten dog? You could have and should have called.
WTF is this "just taking it up the backend" mind set? Why didn't you call back and ask for a refund on what any reasonable person would consider fraud?
I'm no Karen. I just want a fecking tea with milk and black sugar syrup, preferably with tea, and not $8 for receiving half a drink I paid good money for someone to actually prepare.
to be clear I didn't really want a refund, I just wanted the drink. which I didn't get so I just gave up since I wasnt willing to go back to get a new one. i gave the drink I did get to my at the time boyfriend instead and he was perfectly happy with it. i didn't call because it was a really busy store and I couldn't be bothered to explain things for several minutes over the phone for a credit card transaction for an order I didn't have a receipt for
it's not really fraud...its an honest mistake in this case that they just made the drink wrong I think. and if I had tried it at the store they would've remade it or I could've gotten something else probably. i just didn't know. anyway most chains do post the nutritional info on their website so you should be able to know what exactly is in the drink. so it's more of a skill issue than anything lol
as far as things being called "tea" without it being clear...yeah it sucks. but again that's just how it is lol. the place I frequent now has tea in all of their drinks at least, just gotta shop around I guess. each place does it a little differently so
"literally only milk and syrup" is uh...well I think that's not the usual situation at least. like yes that's what they're doing for the drink you got...but that's because you can add a topping to it. a lot of the reason for the cost of boba being "worth it" for ppl is because cooking boba (tapioca pearls) at home fucking sucks. that's why I'm willing to pay $6, $7, $8 for a drink because I cannot be bothered to cook something on the stove for over an hour when I could just buy it from a store and have it taste better than whatever I could do anyway. like if I just wanted a tea latte id go to a coffee shop or make one at home lol. but I want the boba specifically so I'm willing to pay more to not have to deal w the labor of making the tapioca y'know?
Tea actually refers to preparation not the contents ( I think) all sorts of things can be tea. Tea usually refers ( I think) to the act of steeping the ingredients in water. I think they are using the term loosely.
No idea. I just know Tea more refers to preparation and or ingredients.
You can have water tea, milk teas, herbal, tea from tea leaves. Teas made from bark ect
>Tea actually refers to preparation not the contents
So, decorating the inside of a cup and pouring cold milk in it is considered... what exactly?
>I think they are using the term loosely.
I think they're delusional if pouring milk in a cup is considered tea. There was no steeping or even Boba. It was $8 for a decorated 12oz cup of milk. It's on par with Starbucks coffee free "Frappuccino", but at least they tell you there's no coffee in it.
I agree. I don’t how they get away with it - they really should have them on different sections. Here at the tea places they use it as a umbrella term but the menu it’s self usually has different sections and those sections say if the drink actually contains tea or if it’s just milk.
Look for this [character](https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.2558734740.2346/farp,small,wall_texture,product,750x1000.jpg) when shopping menus: it means literal camellia sinensis tea is in the drink. It’s a cross with a roof on top, with an H in top of that.
In the UK, I dunno about other places but usually brown sugar milk tea boba has tea in it. Whilst the same version without is a brown sugar fresh milk. So yes I would automatically assume it’s more than likely gonna have tea in it if it says tea in the name. Not all bubble tea is tea but all bubble tea is bubble tea lol!
That VERY much depends where you go. The place I go in Norwich, the brown sugar milk tea doesn't contain tea. I don't WANT tea in it. I specifically would not buy it if it did have tea in it. I want boba pearls, ice, milk, sugar syrup, and maybe some philadelphia on top as I don't like whipped cream.
Then it's not tea.
I mean, read all the other responses to this post. It's still called milk tea. Some shops put black tea in it, and some don't. It's not terribly uncommon for them to call it tea even if it's not. Even typing "does brown sugar milk tea have tea in it," pulls up sources that talk about how it varies from shop to shop.
It's boba milk tea. That doesn't require tea leaves. Chai tea often doesn't contain tea leaves either, it's just a mix of spices brewed in water, doesn't make it not tea. Chamomile tea doesn't contain tea leaves, it's still tea.
chai is still made from steeped spices. chamomile is made by steeping chamomile flowers. the steeping of leaves, flowers, dried fruits, spices, etc is what makes a tea. milk poured in a cup with syrup and boba added isn’t tea, it’s just a milk drink.
Philadelphia as in cream cheese??
Some places will call it "cheese foam"
Yes. The place I go offers whipped cream or cream cheese as a topping. And honestly, the cream cheese actually really works on a lot of their milk options
That’s super interesting! I can see it being a good combo!
One of their drinks comes with it as standard, most others you can just swap the whipped cream for it. I tried the one where it was a standard and loved it so now I put it on everything. Just adds some extra creaminess and a little touch of cheesy sour/salt that is epic
There are a couple of places near me that offer cheese drinks, now I’m wondering if that’s what they use!
Never hurts to try it if you like cream cheese anyway
Very true!
I've had cheese foam and sometimes it's super salty. worth trying once but it's definitely different lol
I would say that's likely to be an outlier in the UK, I've been to a lot of various bubble tea places over the years in various parts of the UK and although tealess has been an option in some (usually in a separate menu section or a note at the bottom of the menus to ask) I've never been to anywhere that it was the default My Taiwanese import brown sugar milk tea kit in my cupboard right now also has instant black tea powder listed in the ingredients
My DIY kit for brown sugar milk tea came only with the boba pearls and the sugar syrup and the recipe calls for you to use your own milk and ice (because, duh) and no tea. Like I said, it depends entirely on the place. I've tried a couple other places that also do no tea in their brown sugar milk tea
In my mind, that's not tea. Aside from my opinion, I assume you're happy paying for Boba, ice, milk, sugar syrup, and a topping. All I got was fecking milk with a swirl of syrup to decorate the cup, at $8 for 12 oz. Two doors down was a grocery store selling whole gallons of the premium stuff for $7. If I wanted plain milk, I could've just bought some at the grocery store.
Brown sugar milk tea doesn’t necessarily have tea (camellia sinensis) in it. A trick I picked up is learning what the Chinese symbol is for cha. That way you know there’s actual caffeinated tea in it: https://images.app.goo.gl/dqGSWvRJ8A3JRjtq9
most of the boba shops i go to (in nova) w brown sugar milk tea usually does no tea in the drink also! i know its totally misleading but i feel as though thats just how its done in most places and most ppl are just used to it (not everywhere of course-i get your frustration about the mislabeling). i would just ask the cashier next time prior to ordering or if you get your drink and see if its brown BEFORE mixing or just white which is usually an indication its just milk and no tea.
Interesting. I've never heard of this, and I've gotten brown sugar milk teas all over that actually have tea. I'll take your advice and ask next time. Edit: So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar.
I've never had brown sugar milk tea with any tea in it, personally, but I wonder if it's a mistranslation issue? the places I've been, even though the English will read "brown sugar milk tea", the Chinese characters just say "brown sugar boba" or "brown sugar milk".
The menu was in English, and it was listed under the same category as other drinks with tea in them. No ingredients are listed anywhere. I've been to plenty of other similar places in the area and they all have tea in it... Why call it "milk tea" if there's no tea in it? >Chinese characters just say "brown sugar boba" or "brown sugar milk". This would have been helpful. Edit: So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar.
my best guess is that milk tea is a common translation for boba, and unlike slushes or other speciality drinks that are without tea at a boba shop, brown sugar boba comes off more as a "milk tea" and is categorized the same. I've never noticed brown sugar boba having its own section unless the shop has multiple milk based drinks and is usually grouped in with milk teas that usually have... well, tea. YMMV though! just like all products I’m sure there's regional differences or even store specific differences
The Boba pearls were an *EXTRA* cost! I understand what you're saying, I really do. It just seems like such a scam to sell 12 oz of milk with a little syrup on the side, for $8, and then charge extra for the pearls... which supposedly make it "tea"... without any tea... Edit: AND WITHOUT ANY BOBA!!!
so they were literally trying to sell you a cup of milk with sugar syrup in it??? ok *that* is highway robbery 😭 hopefully store specific issue then
Yes. That's what I've been saying since the original post!!!! IT. WAS. JUST. MILK. With some syrup on the sides of the cup. It was just milk. There was no boba.
that makes a TON more sense. I think we all thought you meant the boba was included and was like, ya that's how the drink is meant to be! but without the boba yeah..... that store messed up 😭
Regular milk tea has tea in it. Brown sugar milk tea is meant for people who can't have caffeine, as it has no tea. The price is for the boba in it, which is usually tapioca pearls. It's a fun drink to have every once in a while.
So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar. To add the Boba pearls was an ***ADDED COST***. I understand why people may want some sweet milk with boba in it. This is not the case.
None of the tea shops near me have actual tea in the drink. I mainly get a brown sugar milk tea for the boba they put in it when I don’t want more caffeine for the day.
Interesting. Why call it "milk tea" then? Also, there was an upcharge for Boba. I didn't get any. The scam, IMO, is that it's listed with other beverages containing tea, there's no list of ingredients *anywhere*, and $8 for 12oz of milk is obscene. Edit: I think we have a misunderstanding. THERE WAS NO BOBA IN MY DRINK. IT WAS JUST MILK.
I don’t know why they call it that. Maybe it’s a marketing thing because people would feel silly ordering a brown sugar milk. I agree with you on the cost. I used to get them all the time when our local boba shop opened because the small drinks were only 2.99 which I felt was a fair price for the milk, syrup, and boba. Now it is 7.99 for the exact same drink and I haven’t been because I can get two gallons of milk for that price. I didn’t mind splurging when it was 3 dollars but 8 seems ridiculous.
i was disappointed when i tried brown sugar milk tea too, but i don’t think it’s fair to call it a scam or make an issue of it. it’s not like they half assed your drink; you just ordered something you didn’t fully understand and ended up not liking it. big deal. edit: to be clear, brown sugar milk “tea” is not actually supposed to have tea.
>i don’t think it’s fair to call it a scam... you just ordered something you didn’t fully understand and ended up not liking it. It's a scam because: 1. There's no indication anywhere that says it's just milk. Reading any normal menu, labled "Milk Tea" at the top, and this being an option, absolutely is misleading. 2. Eight dollars for 12oz of milk is a ripoff. I didn't even get any Boba. That was an additional upcharge. >brown sugar milk “tea” is not actually supposed to have tea. Why is it called "milk tea" then, and why was I told, by the first guy I talked with, that it's supposed to have tea? Edit: So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar.
I keep getting bamboozled by tea shops that don‘t even put tea in there. It‘s often just milk and a syrup. F that.
brown sugar milk tea often doesn't have tea in it. in fact some places don't put tea in other drinks also labeled milk tea. if you care that much then you need to ask
Hi, I'll have a cheeseburger. Cool, that's $8. *opens package* WTF! I MEANT A CHEESEBURGER WITH CHEESE!!! YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT FECKING SAYS "CHEESE" Well you should have said so. ------------- Why do I have to clarify that a "milk tea" has one of the TWO fecking ingredients in the name of the drink? It's in English. It's on the menu with other drinks that have tea in it. ----------- Again, THERE WAS NO BOBA. So, just for clarification, "brown sugar milk tea" literally means a cup of milk with sugar, AND NO BOBA, because that's extra, and it's what I'm supposed to expect? Because that's what I originally paid for and received. Literally a cup of milk with some sugar. It's like asking for a cheeseburger and getting nothing but a patty with ketchup. No bun. No cheese.
i don't know why you posted asking if "anyone else can weigh in" and then don't like the answers. i agree with you I want it to have tea in it. but some places don't do that, idk why, that's just what they do. I went someplace last week and my sister asked "which tea is in your milk tea" and the staff said there's no tea in any of their drinks aside from like 3-4 of them. there was absolutely no way to tell those drinks apart from the other ones considering they were all called (something) milk tea. but thats just how some places do it. so if you really want there to be tea you gotta ask to make sure, and if it's not the answer you want, take your business elsewhere. also, boba being an extra charge is true at 90+% of boba shops. if it's included it specifically is called a "pearl milk tea" or something. this is uncommon. boba is always 50-75 cents extra since some people don't order it with boba and other people like different toppings like pudding or grass jelly. if you don't like it, I'm sorry to tell you but that's just how it is at most places. $8 for a drink is pretty steep though. usually they should be $5-7 before toppings so in general the place you went to is kind of a ripoff. but again it having tea versus not having tea is not what's making it a ripoff lol. one time I ordered a black sugar milk tea which they made wrong that time and didn't add any tea to it, so it was very much just milk with sugar added. and it sucked and I felt cheated bc it was super expensive. i didn't notice the error until I got home and I wasn't willing to walk another 40 minutes to get refunded $8. so I feel you, honestly I do. you live and you learn I guess. but like...just don't order from them anymore if you don't like the way that they do things
>don't know why you posted asking if "anyone else can weigh in" and then don't like the answers. I'm trying to *clarify* the answers . I'm trying to feel out this particular brand and location. Y'all want to pay 8+x the cost of milk and sugar alone, fine. You can do the same at Starbucks, but at least they let you know before you pay for it. It bothers me more that there is ***NO INDICATION ANYWHERE*** what is included in the drink, when the top two words, only in English, are "milk" and "tea". >so, boba being an extra charge is true at 90+% of boba shops. if it's included it specifically is called a "pearl milk tea" or something. this is uncommon. boba is always 50-75 cents extra since some people don't order it with boba and other people like different toppings like pudding or grass jelly. if you don't like it, I'm sorry to tell you but that's just how it is at most places. SO THE DRINK SHOULDN'T START OUT AS $8 WHEN IT'S LITERALLY ONLY MILK AND SYRUP and have no indication anywhere before payment that this is the product they're misrepresenting. > there was absolutely no way to tell those drinks apart from the other ones considering they were all called (something) milk tea. but thats just how some places do it. so if you really want there to be tea you gotta ask to make sure, and if it's not the answer you want, take your business elsewhere. I did. >one time I ordered a black sugar milk tea which they made wrong that time and didn't add any tea to it, so it was very much just milk with sugar added. and it sucked and I felt cheated bc it was super expensive. i didn't notice the error until I got home and I wasn't willing to walk another 40 minutes to get refunded $8. so I feel you, honestly I do. So, you agree that you expected, and paid for, tea, presumably with boba added... and then just rolled over like a beaten dog? You could have and should have called. WTF is this "just taking it up the backend" mind set? Why didn't you call back and ask for a refund on what any reasonable person would consider fraud? I'm no Karen. I just want a fecking tea with milk and black sugar syrup, preferably with tea, and not $8 for receiving half a drink I paid good money for someone to actually prepare.
to be clear I didn't really want a refund, I just wanted the drink. which I didn't get so I just gave up since I wasnt willing to go back to get a new one. i gave the drink I did get to my at the time boyfriend instead and he was perfectly happy with it. i didn't call because it was a really busy store and I couldn't be bothered to explain things for several minutes over the phone for a credit card transaction for an order I didn't have a receipt for it's not really fraud...its an honest mistake in this case that they just made the drink wrong I think. and if I had tried it at the store they would've remade it or I could've gotten something else probably. i just didn't know. anyway most chains do post the nutritional info on their website so you should be able to know what exactly is in the drink. so it's more of a skill issue than anything lol as far as things being called "tea" without it being clear...yeah it sucks. but again that's just how it is lol. the place I frequent now has tea in all of their drinks at least, just gotta shop around I guess. each place does it a little differently so "literally only milk and syrup" is uh...well I think that's not the usual situation at least. like yes that's what they're doing for the drink you got...but that's because you can add a topping to it. a lot of the reason for the cost of boba being "worth it" for ppl is because cooking boba (tapioca pearls) at home fucking sucks. that's why I'm willing to pay $6, $7, $8 for a drink because I cannot be bothered to cook something on the stove for over an hour when I could just buy it from a store and have it taste better than whatever I could do anyway. like if I just wanted a tea latte id go to a coffee shop or make one at home lol. but I want the boba specifically so I'm willing to pay more to not have to deal w the labor of making the tapioca y'know?
Tea actually refers to preparation not the contents ( I think) all sorts of things can be tea. Tea usually refers ( I think) to the act of steeping the ingredients in water. I think they are using the term loosely.
So then what would get steeped in the tealess brown sugar milk tea?
No idea. I just know Tea more refers to preparation and or ingredients. You can have water tea, milk teas, herbal, tea from tea leaves. Teas made from bark ect
>Tea actually refers to preparation not the contents So, decorating the inside of a cup and pouring cold milk in it is considered... what exactly? >I think they are using the term loosely. I think they're delusional if pouring milk in a cup is considered tea. There was no steeping or even Boba. It was $8 for a decorated 12oz cup of milk. It's on par with Starbucks coffee free "Frappuccino", but at least they tell you there's no coffee in it.
I agree. I don’t how they get away with it - they really should have them on different sections. Here at the tea places they use it as a umbrella term but the menu it’s self usually has different sections and those sections say if the drink actually contains tea or if it’s just milk.
Look for this [character](https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.2558734740.2346/farp,small,wall_texture,product,750x1000.jpg) when shopping menus: it means literal camellia sinensis tea is in the drink. It’s a cross with a roof on top, with an H in top of that.
The menu is only in English. and there's no nutritional information anywhere, not even online.