One of the largest bubble tea chains in Taiwan, Milksha (known as Milkshop in Taiwan) is opening its first Australian flagship store on Elizabeth Street in Melbourne on Saturday 21 September.
Founded in 2004 by a third-generation Taiwanese dairy farmer, Kevin Lin, who decided to open a bubble tea store using fresh milk rather than non-dairy creamer, Milksha has grown to over 240 outlets in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, and now Melbourne.
Voted as the best bubble tea brand by readers of popular Taiwanese news website PopDaily in 2018, Milksha has set itself apart from its bubble tea competitors using 100 per cent fresh milk, flash-frozen freshly squeezed fruit juice, cane sugar and premium selected ingredients without preservatives or artificial colourings.
“Those familiar with the Milksha brand, know that it’s a premium bubble tea brand. We chose Melbourne to launch our flagship store because it is no doubt the foodie capital of Australia. The city is a melting pot of different cultures open to trying new products, which can be seen in its established and growing market of bubble tea lovers,” says Peter Huang, General Manager of Milkshop International.
Milksha’s Australian menu features five bubble tea categories; Fresh Milk (pure milk blends), Tea Latte (loose leaf tea and milk), Specialty (seasonal juices and teas), Tea (Jasmine Green, Earl Grey, Light-roasted Oolong, Oolong and Barley teas) and Yoghurt Drink (Strawberry, Avocado and Mango).
“We source high quality loose leaf teas from various regions around the world including Taiwan and Sri Lanka. Our tea leaves are brewed and tested regularly for quality control. There is a lot which goes on behind the scenes, including using water that goes through a multi-filtration process. But we believe in providing the best quality ingredients for our discerning customers,” says Peter.
Supporting local farmers is a focal point for Milksha with the company partnering with award-winning St David’s Dairy for all its fresh milk. “Our team tested over 30 different milk brands in Victoria, and the team at St David’s proved exceptional. The quality of their milk extended beyond the product, and through their sustainability practices by offering small scale processing, localised supply chains and transparency in their commitment to ethical and environmental welfare”, adds Peter.
Milksha also makes its own signature honey pearls toppings. The tapioca pearls are freshly cooked in honey without any additives until the translucent pearls turn golden, then are frozen before being shipped to Melbourne using quick freeze technology to maintain the chewy texture and consistency. Other Milksha toppings include milk pudding, red bean and herbal fairy-grass jelly.
Another key ingredient is Milksha’s fresh taro milk where the unique taro is imported from the Dajia District in Taiwan, famous for its taro farming, is smashed by hand and then blended with fresh milk. Milksha also uses 100 per cent premium Valrhona cocoa from France, a premium chocolate brand established in 1922 focusing on high-grade luxury chocolate, and matcha from Izumo Tousuien, a century-old matcha specialty brand from Japan.
Keeping in line with Milksha’s environmental focus, they use 100 per cent biodegradable bamboo straws which are grown and made in Taiwan and are completely free from plastic, bioplastic, and PLA, not to mention never get soggy. “By using paper bags, paper cup holders and bamboo straws instead of plastic, we hope to reduce our impact on the environment. Milksha is a proactive brand and we will continue to seek other sustainable alternatives to integrate within our business,” says Peter.
To celebrate the official opening, Milksha will be giving away five x year’s worth of bubble tea! Customers simply need to follow @milksha_melbourne and capture their best #MilkshaMoment. The competition runs from Saturday 21 September 2019 until Monday 14 October 2019.