Bubble tea at 'Come Buy'

It's tough to find authentic bubble tea in Midtown West these days. Argo Tea does a nice twist on it, but it's not as creamy or sweet as the original (I'm guessing it is healthier though). There are a few restaurants that offer bubble tea, no dedicated cafes.

When I read that the new Taiwanese bubble tea cafe Come Buy opened in the Flatiorn district, I decided to venture down to 28th street. It's not in Midtown, but only a few stops away on the train. The sticky, shiny faces of people waiting on the platform should have warned me against taking the train, but the thought of a cold refreshing milk tea kept me motivated. 

Once I arrived on 5th avenue the huge COME BUY sign started screaming at me. I can't say that I'm a fan of the name, but that's not really important. Let's get to the tea!

The menu outside was promising. Milk teas, juices, smoothies, and something called 'teapresso' with interesting teas on offer.

The staff at the cafe are friendly but not overbearing. The place is very clean, and there are a few tables to sit and enjoy your tea. On the counter are small tins of teas that say 'smell me if you love me', which gave me a chuckle. It's nice that you can smell the teas without having to ask.

I did ask what a 'teapresso' was, and the reply was 'freshly brewed tea'. Not sure why it's given this complicated name, but they actually have some interesting options available- Wenshan Pouchong, Dongding Oolong, JinXuan, Keemun, even Rose Pu-erh. I will definitely have to try one hot or iced in the future, but I had been dreaming about the milk tea during my steamy subway ride.

I ordered a plain bubble milk tea, sans bubbles. I'm not a huge fan of the tapioca pearls. Later while I was reviewing the menu I noticed something called a COME BUY milk tea, which I'll have to ask about next time. The tea was exactly what I wanted- creamy, a little bit sweet, a little bit bitter. Perfect for this soupy day. Instead of a hard plastic top to your cup, Come Buy gives you a thin plastic sheet  that is easily punctured with a straw. Possibly more friendly for the environment, although I recycle my plastic cups anyway.

If you are hungry you can pick up a Dough doughnut for a snack. They actually looked quite tasty, but I knew if I had one with my sweet tea I would have felt drowsy all afternoon.

Even though the cafe is not walking distance from my office (at least not on a hot and humid day), it is in a great location for grabbing tea and walking up to Koreatown for dumplings and kimchi pancakes for lunch. It's also in a busy sample sale area. I'll definitely be back to try more of the items on the menu.

Come Buy: 251 5th ave NY, NY 10016. Recommended for a quick cup

Steep Thoughts- The 'Do You Swap?' Edition

Last week I received a fabulous tea swap package, and it had me wondering- do many tea lovers swap tea? It's a fun way to try new teas and meet new people. I've done swaps through Steepster before, and have recently been swapping through the Tea Review Blog.

Swapping is sometimes a mixed bag- I've had swaps where everything was not to my liking, and some that were very successful. It's a nice way to keep an open mind to new teas. It's also fun to see how each person packages their teas, and what little extras they include such as candy and tea ware. I like the Tea Review Blog swap, because you can indicate what kind of teas you like, and which you don't. So I usually don't end up with a package of all flavored teas, and rooibos (I try and try, but I just can't get into rooibos).

Through swaps I've had the opportunity to try teas I haven't had a chance to purchase myself, such as an oolong Darjeeling tea. It also reminds me of teas that I like that I haven't had for awhile. It has also exposed me to tea companies I haven't purchased from before. Also, it's just fun! Who doesn't like getting a package in the mail, especially when it's filled with tea? It's also a good way to give away tea that wasn't to my liking to someone that will enjoy it. It's nice knowing you are sending tea to a tea lover, and you may even introduce them to a new type.

Readers, do you participate in tea swaps? Do you go through a particular group, or do you organize your own?

A Great Bagged Tea!

I've always had mixed feelings about bagged tea. There are many good ones out there, but the purist in me looks for loose tea. I do have my favorite British bagged black teas for office use and for easy iced tea, but in general I prefer my tea loose. I've been trying to keep an open mind about tea bags (and have found quite a few good ones), but they disappoint more often than delight.

 A lovely friend brought back tea for me from his Cape Cod vacation. He found this tea in a local market and thought of me. How sweet is that? The tea is a bagged version of Ajri's Kenyan Black Tea. I tried the loose version quite awhile back and enjoyed it, but i actually think the bagged version is a great choice. The loose tea contains CTC leaves, making it difficult to use a tea strainer. The pieces are very small and sometimes fall through the tiny holes.

The bags yield a similar result to the loose tea- it's a strong, bold brew. Very basic, but a great morning black tea. Nothing fancy, it's nice and smooth. A little bit toasty with a hint of cocoa. Slightly drying on the tongue from the tannins. Would work well with milk and sugar if that is your preference. I'm going to try this tea iced as well, as it brews up super strong. It will hold up well to ice and still be tasty and refreshing.

Ajiri makes a great basic product with lovely packaging. The profits support orphan education in Western Kenya. A great tasting tea for a good cause, how can you go wrong? I'm happy to add this tea to my collection of basic black teas. It measures up to my favorite British heavy hitters.

My New Favorite Tea Mug

Last night my amazing friend Kelly gave me the best present! It's my new favorite tea mug.

Warning for those reading with kids, or those that are delicate- profanity is used, so click wisely.

best. tea mug. ever.