Best Bubble-Tea Macchiato in Singapore

I almost got type 3 diabetes after doing this! #JustKidding

An awesome Tea-Macchiato has three major components: (1) Full bodied tea: strong tasts without much bitterness (a plus). If present in excess, fullness leads to “softness”, which leads to “flatness”, an occasional flaw in black teas. (2) Silky smooth foamed milk (3) Option to choose either a cutter or straw to drink it the way one prefers (I prefer a cutter) I didn't include other pricier/atas options (like hotels and such) as i have no money(boohoo) and it's not fair to do so.. One does not simply compare orange to apples ​

​ Some of you might be wondering why do I keep mentioning bubble tea. Reason being; I grew up with it, it’s like the older brother which I never had (ok no link..).

Be it post-trainings with my buddies, to even fighting over who could have the last mouth/pearl with my siblings at those old shops with no longer exist(e.g.Sweet-Talk etc where the nice server gave you more toppings as you looked "cute" when one was younger)

I would be reviewing the new age bubble tea drink: **drumroll please** the Tea Macchiato!

I visited more well-know franchises(KOI, Each a Cup, Gong Cha) as they have a more standardized taste so you can try them out too and tell me what you think :)

Most stalls offer various levels of sweetness:

Full Sugar (100%) "diabetus" Less Sugar (70%) Half Sugar (50%) Quarter Sugar (25%) No Sugar (Healthy, what does this word even mean??) "eeyerr"

**I ordered all my drinks with less ice so it doesn’t dilutes the drink as much. Also I tried all the drinks with 50% & under sugar levels(there are some exceptions) Always drank them with a straw too, ensures easy adjustment when I want more/less cream** percentages before the drink indicate my preferred sugar level. Here goes nothing! (In ascending order for each brand)

(75%)Lime macchiato($3.40): Had to request for the person to add extra syrup from 50% and I (was too shy to go back to ask for a second addition) as this was wayyyyyyyyyy to sour *purses lips*. If you can't take sour stuff, go for 100%. Felt as if I had like a sore throat towards the end till I had a drink of water Waaahhh factor: V (This is half a W if you're wondering..) (25%)Oolong Tea macchiato($2.60): Nice kiss of jasmine at the end of every sip. Didn't really work for me though as the cream blotted out the floral note of the tea Waaahhh factor: Waaa (25%)Black Tea macchiato($2.60): Found this to be like a super gao(thick) english tea Waaahhh factor: Waaa (25%)Caramel black tea macchiato($3.40):Don't let the word caramel deceive you, it's just a slight hint of caramel. Thus the slight sugar level made this one quite pleasant Waaahhh factor: Waaah (25%)Green Tea macchiato($2.60): After trying all the sugar levels I found that 25% is the best if you like a stronger aftertaste/aroma of green-tea which hits you post the silky & sweet cream on the top Waaahhh factor: Waaah

(25%)Peach macchiato($3.40): You know those Japanese peach jellies? Convert it into liquid form and you have this. Surprisingly not too sweet and no artificial aftertaste! Waaahhh factor: Waaah

(25%)Mango macchiato($3.40): Say mango aloud without "go". Ok no link.. This one had a slightly artificial aftertaste but the pulp in the syrup made up for that Waaahhh factor: Waaah

(0%)Ovaltine macchiato($3.80):($3.80): Big price doesn't equate to big flavour for this baby. Tastes like chocolate milk & was too sweet despite the sugar level.. Waaahhh factor: no idea how this was a macchiato in their list.. But "Waaah" for chocolate milk ranking!

(25%)Passion Fruit macchiato($3.40): There are only 2 sizes(Medium & Large), but I wouldn't mind diving into a swimming pool of this. The creaminess of the milky foam contrasts perfectly with the tangy-ness of the fruit which isn't too sour or sweet. Shiok ah!

Waaahhh factor: Waaahh(no last "h" cos they only have 2 sizes)​

(20%)Red Tea macchiato($2.50): What surprised me is that they made their tea and cream fresh! However, the freshness of the tea was not complemented by the cream which was slightly flat and also lacked that hint of sweetness. Tasted like diluted lipton milk tea if you ask me. Should've tried asking for a double shot of tea bags? Haa.. Waaahhh factor: W (20%)Black Tea macchiato ($2.50): Tasted like an english with milk if you ask me. Go for >50% sugar if you like sweet stuff

Waaahhh factor: Wa

(20%)Green Tea macchiato($2.50): The tea being freshly brewed, was very fragrant; almost had like a jasmine green tea scent to it. However the cream again did not complement the tea (although i asked for more of it) Waaahhh factor: Waaa

(20%)Oolong Tea macchiato($2.50): This was similar to the black tea macchiato, however it had a more pleseant aftertaste; floral notes came through plus there was a nice aroma as it was freshly brewed Waaahhh factor: Waaa

For Gong-Cha they don't have a macchiato series. However they do have a "House Special" series which actually has milk froth so it will have to do (30%)Matcha Tea($3.40): This screamed artificial like anything.. I know that naturally desserts are made with lower quality matcha poweder as they require a stronger taste, but this was off the radar.. I only finished this as i was attending the 2015 Singapore Night festival and i was really thirsty from walking around the place.. Waaahhh factor: W (Didn't dare to try..)Matcha Tea w Azuki Beans($4.10): Didn't dare to try after going for the one above.. Do let me know how is it if you do try it. Waaahhh factor: ?? (30%)Green Tea($2.80): Lacked fragrance, didn't go well as the cream was too overpowering. Waaahhh factor: W (30%)Black Tea($2.80): This was slighlty better, tasted like lipton tea with that extra layer of foamed milk(didn't have that particular hint of sweetness on this one tho(inconsistency in their foamed milk). Waaahhh factor: Wa (30%)Oolong Tea($2.80): Supringly the floral notes on this one came through, perhaps it was due to that missing hint of sweetness in the foamed milk? Waaahhh factor: Wa (30%)Alisan Tea($2.80): Strong hint of floral notes on this one. Like an evolved/gao oolong tea. Waaahhh factor: Waa (30%)Melon Tea($3.00+$0.50): This with white pearl jelly(extra cost) is the best combinatin in my opinion. The jelly is pretty much flavourless, however the texture of it simply clicks with the cream and aftertaste of the melon tea(something like a really nice super chewy aiyu jelly). Waaahhh factor: Waaah (30%)Dessert($4.90): This was like the black tea but the toppings we're on steroids!?! I feel like almost every single topping on the menu was inside this one. Spent more time chewing than anything.. Was bloated after this one! Waaahhh factor: Wa​

No macchiato series too, guess the "Crème" will have to do. This was actually a tough one to review as they're located only at specifc areas like Wisma Atria, Woodlands, Bugis and jurong point.. For the love of bubble tea!! *Ordered all my drinks with the salted crème as the sweet one was too sweet and it had a weird aftertaste..* Green Tea($2.10): I found the cream to be too overpowering on this one. Tasted like a salted green tea.. Weird! Waaahhh factor: W Red Tea($2.10): Waaahhh factor: Oolong Tea($): Waaahhh factor: Wintermelon Tea($): This one is a classic; something I usually get. As per usual, the strong hint of wintermelon aftertaste with the creamyness was yum! Waaahhh factor: Waaahh (0%)Mango Green Tea($3.30): Upon my first sip i found it tasted like any ordinary mango green tea, tangy with a fragrant green tea aftertaste. What set this apart is that it actually tasted like a mango pudding (with pulp), plus it had no artifical taste! Hands off for this one!!!!!!!! Waaahhh factor: Waaahhh