A Nice Cuppa

Saint???s Alp Teahouse
39 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10003

En route to meet some friends for drinks on a Friday after work, a fellow bubble tea devotee and I couldn???t help but wander into Saint???s Alp Teahouse in the East Village (on 3rd Ave between 9th and 10th), NYC. Whether you???ve already been introduced to bubble tea, or haven???t a clue what I???m talking about, this tempting little teahouse is a must-try for all. The two locations in Manhattan (this is actually an international chain originating in Hong Kong in 1994), one in the East Village and the other in Chinatown, are both excellent spots to grab a consistently great cup of bubble (or regular) tea and a light, offbeat snack.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with bubble tea, here are the basics: Chewy tapioca pearls (aka bubbles), about the size of a small marble, are added to a slightly sweetened black or green tea with milk. Sometimes it is also mixed with a skim milk-based flavored powder, giving the drink a frothy texture. Seems a little strange at first, but I don???t know many people that give it a fair shot and don???t get hooked.

Saint???s Alp Teahouse offers a comprehensive array of teas (with pearls and without), as well as nectars, coffee drinks, milkshakes, and smoothie-like drinks called Sorbies. The eleven different categories on the drink menu offer something for everyone???s taste buds ??? and the Taiwanese-inspired snacks are the perfect complement to your tea choice. Have your bubble tea hot or cold; both are equally delicious. The cold bubble teas are served in adorable tall milkshake glasses that mimic something you would find at an old-fashioned soda shop ??? perfect for a date! Hot bubble tea is served in oversized thick mugs, perfect for a warming winter treat. The brightly colored, oversized bubble tea straws allow you to easily suck up the gummy bubbles (be careful not to drink too fast ??? it???s easy to slurp them down in a couple minutes.) If you???re like me and prefer your bubble tea to be about half tea half bubbles, this is the place for you??? they never skimp.

Since my first visit to Saint???s Alp back in late June, I???ve visited this teahouse at least four more times to sample the different flavors. Here are my recommendations: If you???ve never tried bubble tea, I recommend starting out with the basic green or black milk tea, the almond milk tea, or the coconut milk tea. For the more adventurous palate, try the black tea with wheat germ or the sesame milk tea (my absolute favorites!); both have a light, nutty flavor. Plus, the addition of sesame or wheat germ adds yet another textural dimension to this drink.

As for snacks, the herbal jelly is something not to be missed. It???s an herbal tea-based tapioca starch jelly topped with lightly sweetened adzuki beans and, you guessed it, bubbles! I???ve also tried the Taro pudding??? a circular purple mold with a flan-like texture, and light jasmine flavor - also a good choice. The Taiwanese toast, which comes as a thick toast with condensed milk and peanut butter is another classic favorite.

Need a conversation starter? Be sure to point out some of the slapstick wording of menu items like the Cappuccino with coffee agar, ???a rich full body shot of espresso??? or the ???rice stick noodles with cuttlefish balls???. Although the inside d??cor is nothing to write home about, with its somewhat fast-food joint feeling (i.e. fake brick walls and a smattering of framed posters), the tea-riffic menu makes it a worthwhile stop while strolling around the East Village or to meet friends for a quick snack.