Hong Kong

It's late in summer but the heat shows no sign of letting up in Hong Kong. On the streets, it seems everyone is gulping huge cups of Taiwanese-style bubble tea, juices or coffee just to keep cool.

For those unfamiliar with bubble tea, it is made mainly from green or black tea. These drinks can be made to order, with options to add milk, large brown tapioca pearls or jelly cubes. Bubble refers to the way it is made - vigorously shaken or whipped until there is thick head of foam. Most drinks come with the large chewy tapioca pearls, but you can opt to leave them out.

The flavor options offered by these tiny bubble tea shops, which are on almost every street corner, are really phenomenal. When bubble tea first became popular in Hong Kong, the choices were more limited. These days, you can even dictate the level of sweetness in your drink.

The long lines outside these small shops, usually on the ground floor, are an indication of their sustained popularity. I like the green tea with whipped milk from Gong Cha in Causeway Bay where the lines are always long. I usually visit after dinner in the evening, so there would be many customers waiting.

The system is efficient. Place your order and you are given a printout. In a few short minutes, you will get a 500cc plastic cup and a fat long straw. Green tea with whipped milk is slightly sweet with a refreshing flavor, a rich whipped topping and a sprinkling of matcha powder. It definitely makes you want more.

For summer, fruit-based drinks are also popular. Office worker Vivian Ma's favorite is the passionfruit green tea with pearls.

"It's summer. It's hot. I get thirsty easily and these shops are everywhere, so it's convenient. Plus I like the pearls," Ma says.

Ma adds that these beverages are a popular afternoon refreshment choice and she has seen people order 20 cups at once for tea time.

The drinks are mainly based on a type of tea, with oolong, Earl Grey and jasmine being the most popular. You can also choose fruit juice bases, or even coffee or yogurt.

Flavors range from the classic to the exotic and include taro, mango, passionfruit, peach, green apple, caramel, honey, red bean, sesame and chocolate.

Here are a few shops to check out if you are in the neighborhood.

China Daily