Taiwan-Based Bubble Tea Brand Milksha Is a Must-Try for Milk Tea Fans

Since the first milk tea concoctions emerged in the 1980s, fans across Asia have been slurping down on these cool, sweet concoctions—but it took quite a bit longer for the craze to catch on in the Philippines. It wasn’t until the turn of the century that this refreshing beverage started to make an impact on Filipinos, but nowadays, you can’t walk five steps without seeing another new milk tea shop. Proof that this country is addicted to the stuff!

Who could blame us, though? The cool, soothing sweetness of milk tea is a great way to beat the tropical heat. But not all milk teas are created equal. Connoisseurs know that milk tea from Taiwan is the standard. And one of Taiwan's well-loved brands, Milksha, has found itself on our local shores—and we've got Chowking to thank, for that! In case you didn't know, Milksha has been available at selected Chowking stores for about a year now–and if you're a milk tea fan and haven't tried it yourself, you're missing out on a lot.

Last November 11 to 13, Milksha set up a pop-up stand at SM Megamall, to showcase its premium recipes for all to see and taste. Vlogger Janina Vela kicked off the festivities, giving visitors a rather bubbly tour of the exhibit, which featured gigantic glasses of real milk tea, displayed along with their ingredients.

Milksha prides itself in using high-quality ingredients, sourcing them from all over the world. As explained by brand manager Theo Co, Milkshop—as it was originally named—was founded in 2004 by second generation dairy farmer Kevin Lin as an outlet for his milk production. Rebranded as Milksha for international franchising in 2018, it now boasts over 300 stores across Asia and the Pacific, with new branches opening up in the United Kingdom and the United States.

All Milksha outlets use fresh milk—no creamer or extender here! No artificial ingredients or preservatives are used in any Milksha recipe, which means you're only getting the good stuff. The taro used in their best-selling Signature Taro Milk, for example, is imported fresh from Dajia, Taiwan. The hand-ground taro gives it a nutty, earthy flavor that you don’t get from processed taro.

The premium chocolate in their popular Vahlrona Cocoa Milk, on the other hand, is sourced straight from France, giving it a deep and rich flavor that chocolate lovers will appreciate.

For those who want to try something a bit different, there’s Wintermelon Lemon, a sharp, tangy fruit tea made with fresh fruit and topped with crushed ice. A great wake-me-up on sleepy, sweltering afternoons.

As for us, we were drawn most to the Honey Pearl Black Tea Latte. Using Kenyan-sourced tea, it has a strong yet pleasant flavor. The Honey Pearls are freshly cooked with all-natural honey and no food coloring, giving them their distinctive taste and look. A combination that is at once familiar and surprisingly next-level for dedicated milk tea lovers. Basic it may be, harkening back to the original milk tea recipe, but with Milksha’s own special twist and attention to detail.

To expand the brand’s reach in the country, Milksha is sold over the counter at 53 selected Chowking outlets nationwide, with more to follow. As such, you won’t need to go hunting far and wide for your next-level milk tea fix.

To find out which branches carry Milksha, you can head on over to Chowking’s Facebook page and Milksha Philippines' Facebook page, TikTok, and Instagram.