Dining Scene
Lunch Break: Tea Chest serves cooling juice, chai and bubble drinks

By Debra Yuen
TGIF Editor

Satomi Goo of Tea Chest Hawaii holds a peach bubble milk tea concoction. The tea shop is at Pioneer Plaza. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

... All together now: How hot has it been? It's been soooo hot, sometimes you can't resist the urge to rush into any air-conditioned bank branch or store or ... if you're really in luck, you've rushed into Tea Chest Hawaii at Pioneer Plaza downtown.

You could have hot tea, too, but if you need to cool off, there are juices, chai drinks, iced teas and the ever-popular bubble drinks in a variety of inviting flavors such as passion fruit, almond, peach and taro.

The bubble milk tea drinks top out the regular menu at $3. Those "bubbles," by the way, are very large tapioca pearls, with a bit of maple syrup that gives them a smoky color. The drinks come with a wide straw so you can suck up those chewy bubbles with joyful ease. The lychee flavor — either you hate it or you must have it — was very lychee-y, in a good way!

Then there's the Tea Cocktail ($2.75). The Strawberry Hula is made of premium iced tea, strawberry purÚe, mint, lemon and a bit of sugar — a thirst-quenching and sophisticated mix.

Tea Chest is at 900 Fort Street Mall, sharing space with other vendors that include a snack haven with an eye-popping variety of Samurai packaged treats. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. 566-6678.