This is the Osmanthus Oolong Matcha Milk Tea ($6.90, +$1.00 for matcha milk tea, +$0.90 for upsize, +$1.00 for golden pearls, less ice, 100% sugar) from Tea Republic. It consisted of an osmanthus oolong milk tea base blended with matcha.

The beverage had an opaque khaki hue with golden pearls at the base and fine particles suspended throughout. Consumed chilled, the sweet honeysuckle notes of the osmanthus were immediately evident, complemented by a subtle grassy quality from the matcha that amplified the tea presence in the beverage. The drink had a smooth mouthfeel, free from astringency or bitterness, with the usual vegetal sharpness of the matcha rounded by the earthy and toasty notes of the oxidised oolong base. This balance avoided the overly sweet or dairy flavour that some matcha lattes use to restrain bitterness. The pearls added their usual enjoyable bouncy texture.

Overall, this milk tea confirmed our earlier hunch that the osmanthus oolong from Tea Republic would have worked better as the base for a milk tea, allowing the delicate floral notes of the osmanthus to shine.

This Osmanthus Oolong Matcha Milk Tea was purchased from Tea Republic in June 2024.