Happy Cup: Under-The-Radar Bubble Tea Shop In CBD, Founded In 1996

Happy Cup in Tanjong Pagar is Singapore’s first bubble tea shop

Bubble tea chains are a dime a dozen in Singapore, and you can find at least one store at your nearest mall. But when exactly was the drink brought into Singapore? While we’re not completely certain, Happy Cup has claimed to be the first bubble tea chain in Singapore—the store was opened by a Taiwanese duo in 1996. Not many know of this brand as much as say, Sweet Talk, probably because they had undergone a rebranding in 2020.

Located on the second floor of 100 AM, Happy Cup stands out among their counterparts with their impressive row of tea dispensers. Read the label of each dispenser closely, and you’ll find a couple of references to Taiwan AKA the birthplace of bubble tea. Some examples include Alishan Oolong Tea and Sun Moon Lake Black Tea.

A tad overwhelmed by their extensive range of tea, juices, smoothies, and yakult drinks, we reached out to the amiable staff standing behind the counter. After chatting with him, we decided to get one of their recommended drinks—Roasted Oolong Tea with Evaporated Milk and Boba Pearl ($6.50). We also got the Jasmine Green Tea with Lychee Juice and Small Taro Ball ($6.80) to quench our thirst.

If you’re partial to clean-tasting tea flavours that are lighter on the palate, you’ll fancy their Roasted Oolong Tea. I wished the tea flavour was stronger, but a redeeming element would be that there wasn’t any astringent aftertaste. Their boba pearls had the right amount of chew, and we appreciated that they were neither too small nor chunky.

While my colleague thought the Roasted Oolong Tea was better, I personally found their Jasmine Green Tea mixed with Lychee Juice more to my liking. The combination of jasmine tea and lychee juice might seem odd, but they surprisingly blended well together without having one overpower the other. Also, the taro balls and boba pearls are handmade using natural ingredients!

For the adventurous, you can opt for their selection of smoothies or yakult drinks, including Taro Smoothie ($7), Pink Guava Smoothie ($6.50), and Grape Yakut Tea ($7.20). Do note that there’s only one size (large) available for all drinks here.

There’s even a cosy corner to chill with your friends while enjoying the drinks.

If you’re a fan of bubble tea, check out Yilin Likes Tea for tea lattes and fresh milk ice cream. Else, read our guide to the best Korean restaurants in Tanjong Pagar for legit jjajangmyeon, K-BBQ and more.

Address: 100 Tras Street, #02-27B, 100 AM, Singapore 079027
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 10pm
Tel: 8879 4859
Website
Happy Cup is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Raelynn Ng.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg