Kansai Foods

Like in much of the rest of the world, bubble tea has become hugely popular in Japan. Although it first appeared in the country in the 90s, it took until the 2010s to become a lasting trend. Some in-person bubble tea shops went out of business during the pandemic but plenty did survive. Plus, many of them have started offering more takeout options (including drive-throughs) and deliveries, meaning it’s still easy to get your bubble tea fix. Let’s look at some of the top choices around Kansai. Gong Cha One of the biggest international bubble tea chains is Gong Cha — a franchise from Taiwan. It has a major presence throughout Japan, including in several cities in Kansai. Most popular are the milk teas, but there are also straight teas, brown sugar tea (for extra sweetness), almond milk teas (for a dairy-free alternative to the classic options), and fruit teas. Where: Various locations in Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, and Wakayama Web site: https://www.gongcha.co.jp/ Pearl Lady A much smaller chain is Pearl Lady. Although a couple of the shops in Kansai have closed down, there are still three remaining: in Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka. A big advantage of going to…