Pearl milk tea, a tea-rific beverage

On campus, it’s not unusual to see upperclassmen arriving back from lunch with cups of pearl milk tea in their hands or to witness the mob of students on the steps during a pearl milk tea fundraiser. Fondly abbreviated as PMT, the drink is a popular staple for many high school students, often substituting for lunch or serving as an energy boost.

As the trend for PMT grows, so do the number of different stores that sell them. These stores are especially prominent in Asian American communities, like the Bay Area, as the drink first originated in Taiwan. With nearby places like Bar Code, Verde and the classic Tapioca that all range in affordability and variety, students have a myriad of options to satisfy their cravings. 

“It’s refreshing and keeps me awake, and there are many different flavors to choose from so I never find myself getting tired of it,” sophomore Nova Ng said. 

While traditional places like Tapioca Express offer pearl milk tea all priced at 2.50 dollars, Verde (located in the bustling Cupertino Square) is a tad more pricey at 2.59 dollars per cup but stands out in that its drinks are “frothy” and less dense. 

Aside from the expected flavors such as a range of teas and fruits, there are also smoothie- and coffee-flavored PMTs. Customers can also choose to add in ingredients like aloe, grass jelly or mini-sized pearls, which are made from tapioca. Verde even sells a suspicious-sounding menu item called the “QQ Ramen” pearl milk tea, which supposedly has ramen noodles as a substitution for pearls. 

PMT isn’t for everyone, though; sophomore Mohith Subbarao found that he disliked the drink when he first tried it a year ago during a school club fundraiser.

“I haven’t had it since because I just didn’t really like the flavor,” Subbarao said.

Despite this, the market trend for PMT continues to flourish as students keep gaining interest in the refreshing beverage. Part of the appeal for students comes from being able to hang out together with friends while enjoying their drinks. 

“It’s like Jamba Juice; [people] go there to socialize over good food,” junior Tiffany Yung added. “Places like Verde are cultural hotspots, which is why the line always reaches far outside the door at all times of the day.”