Looking for something to munch with your milktea?
- Spicy Dumplings
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Mochi
- Crème Brûlée
- Tapioca Pudding
- Caramel Popcorn
Milktea has come a long way since its rise in the Philippines from way back 2008. For one, it has gone from form to form through the years—from buying it directly in teahouses to being able to concoct it on your kitchen counter via powdered milktea. Not only did its arrival usher a fresh era of fast food in the market, but a new wave of snacks as well.
Milktea shops included in their wide array of choices food that enriched the experience of drinking boba tea. These offerings only made sense because at its core, the well-loved beverage is saccharine. Hence, it can be eaten with a variety of food—from equally sweet products to piquant flavors.
Pairing the drink with food also made sense because Filipinos naturally love snacking. Take a short trip around any village in the country and you will find small stores, coined as sari-sari stores, where shelves are lined with chips, biscuits, candies, and all sorts of easy-to-eat goodies.
Going back, you, being a boba enthusiast, have most likely come across these famous snack pairings already. Spiced tofu, chicken poppers, fries, and thick slices of cake are just some of the usuals.
While classics are called “classics” for a reason, there’s no shame in wanting to try new combinations with your fave boba flavors such as Chemag Taro.
Well, Chemag’s got you covered with unconventional yet tasty food that will surely elevate your milktea experience. Find out what they are below!
1. Spicy Dumplings
Capsaicin is a chemical compound found in chili peppers. Eating such triggers a burning sensation in your mouth. Many have a liking for the heat, but there’s always a tendency for too much piquancy. When the latter happens, most usually reach for a common beverage: milk.
The science behind this is that many milk-based products have a protein called casein. This particular element helps to break capsaicin.
The above reason gives justice to the spicy dumplings and milktea pairing. The best thing about this dish is that the heat tends to double because of the piquant flavor plus the actual temperature of the steaming dumpling. So, if you love spicy flavors and countering the heat with saccharine goodness, you’re up for a good time with this addicting combo.
2. Mochi
Sometimes the reason for someone’s affinity for milktea is not the sweet mixture but rather the experience of chewing sinkers while drinking. Mochi with milktea gives off the same vibe.
Whether it’s as a sinker or as the traditional Japanese rice cake, eating mochi with boba tea is a sure way to enrich your experience.
Mochi doesn’t just offer more texture but also flavors too. Albeit usually neutral tasting, it’s also made with different fillings that will add more exciting tastes to your palate.
3. Grilled Cheese Sandwich
As compared to the aforementioned, this might not come as much of a surprise. Opposites generally attract when it comes to milktea pairings. Hence, salty food paired with a saccharine beverage is obviously a match made in heaven.
This combo is one that you can easily whip up at home. Take your powdered milktea mix such as Chemag’s bestselling Chemag Taro and follow this recipe for a scrumptious grilled cheese sandwich. Yum!
4. Crème Brûlée
As mentioned in the beginning, pearl milktea has transformed in many ways through time. Its forms have gotten more and more innovative—such as powdered milktea and all sorts of mix-ins. Case in point: Crème Brûlée tops.
Yes, opposites attract but there’s no denying how identical tastes also work. So, despite this pairing being sweet on sweet, it still has much merit.
This also offers more texture with its crunchy top. Bonus fun! It’s also pretty fun breaking the caramelized layer.
So whether you enjoy this as a layer on top of your milktea or the actual dessert itself, you’ll be ensured of an experienced filled with exciting crispiness, delectable softness, and saccharine goodness.
Milktea is called boba tea and pearl milktea because of its well-loved sinkers. In that vein, this specific option works because it already contains familiar ingredients for milktea enthusiasts: tapioca and pudding.
So, what’s not to love? It’s like separating the toppings and eating them in one form while drinking milktea. Simply delicious!
Imagine spooning that jiggly pudding, chewing the tapioca balls, and finishing with a sip of Chemag Taro. Isn’t your mouth watering already?
6. Caramel Popcorn
The logic behind why this food pairs wells with boba is quite similar to that of Crème Brûlée. It simply adds more texture to your experience!
When you’re ordering a caramel-based milktea, you’ll find that caramel sauce is dripped on the sides of the cup. In this example, the caramel is just in a different context—crunchier and more felt!
Pick Your Pairing!
Now you’ve got an expanded list of choices to match with your boba tea! No need to just stick to the options provided by your local boba tea seller. You can even remake some of the above or grab them from a nearby supermarket.
Whatever’s your choice, feel fulfilled with an enriched milktea experience and a satisfied palate! Enjoy!
