Washington State, renowned for its diverse culinary landscape, now boasts a delightful addition to its repertoire: the inaugural Bubble Tea Trail. Bubble tea, a vibrant fusion of tea, milk, fruit juice, and tapioca pearls – affectionately known as boba – traces its origins to Taiwan. However, a treasure trove of boba delights awaits exploration along Washington’s very own Bubble Tea Trail.
Mark Everton, CEO of ‘Explore Seattle Southside,’ the mastermind behind this trail, expresses his enthusiasm, stating, “I think we’re approaching being the bubble tea capital of the country.”
Embarking on this sweet escapade is facilitated by a complimentary mobile passport, guiding enthusiasts to over 20 bubble tea establishments scattered across south Seattle. Much like any trail, there are myriad discoveries awaiting adventurers along the way.
One such gem on the trail is Natalie’s Sugarcane and Desert, where they freshly press sugar cane, sourced from owner Natalie Dinh’s brother’s farm in Vietnam, to concoct their signature beverages. Notably, they stand out as the sole stop offering drinks infused with durian, a tropical fruit renowned for its distinctive aroma.
“The durian you have to like it or you don’t like it, there’s no in-between. It has a little bit of smell to it,” Dinh remarks.
Natalie’s offers a myriad of flavors for intrepid palates, catering to adventurous souls with offerings like Pennywort Mung Bean, all crafted with fresh ingredients and a dash of whimsy.
Coco, a Taiwan-based franchise boasting over 5,000 outlets worldwide, adds to the trail’s allure. The Coco branch at Westfield Southcenter, owned by Tommy Sy and his wife Carrie, stands as a prominent stop within the mall, welcoming patrons of diverse backgrounds and ages.
“It’s always nice to see people with my drink or any bubble tea I guess. Because it’s different ethnicity, age groups, they all love it,” Tommy shares.
Seattle Southside reveals that an impressive 10% of the state’s bubble tea establishments thrive in this region, attributed to a blend of cultural diversity, economic viability, and significant visitor footfall.
“You’ve got to have cultural diversity, which this region has to the nines, there is an amazing amount of diversity,” Everton remarks. “You have to have economic viability, and this area’s flourishing. And the third key piece is you’ve got to have a lot of visitation, we have over 100,000 visitors a day that come to the Seattle Southside region.”
Thus, immerse yourself in the unique flavors and experiences offered by the Bubble Tea Trail, savoring the essence of what makes this locale truly exceptional.
