Tealips Bubble Tea & Coffee

Tealips Bubble Tea & Coffee

Tealips Bubble Tea & Coffee | $
(Edmonds Skytrain x Highgate Village)
7139 Arcola Way, Burnaby
(778) 397-3972
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Claim to Fame 

Loose leaf teas, shaved ice desserts, dessert waffles, baked goods.

Plus

Fresh ingredients, extensive drink selection, bright and spacious interior, friendly atmosphere, quick service, accessible neighbourhood.

Minus

Baked goods rarely available.

Quick Picks

Shaved ice, dessert waffles, teas and coffees. Yes, everything I've tried.

Like a sweet oasis, Tealips had tins aplenty filled with aromatic bliss for guests to sniff, a stylish and modern interior. and an appetizing scent in the air. A steady stream of customers of all ages and backgrounds filtered into the friendly neighbourhood establishment.

Trails of condensed milk in the Matcha Shaved Ice
(Click on photo to enlarge)

I sensed a Korean influence in Tealips' shaved ice desserts and dessert waffles. I was told the Korean owner makes small batches of home-made baked goods every so often, but was out of luck on my visits.

Tealips did not seem very busy during the day. Its floor-to-ceiling windows let in lots of natural light and looked out onto the peaceful surroundings of Highgate Village. It was easy to find a table and spend a few hours catching up with friends. We savoured our enormous matcha shaved ice, which came adorned with ice cream, red beans, green mochi balls, almonds and walnuts, condensed milk, and loads of fresh fruit. So perfect with which to while away a hot, sunny afternoon.

My second occasion at Tealips occurred in the evening. Looking over the drink menu, my eyes drifted quickly to the extensive selection of hot drinks. I sniffed both the lavender and the caramelized pear teas. The barista had an obvious soft spot for the lavender tea latte, but dutifully informed me that popular caramelized pear tea was often out, as well. I ordered the lavender tea latte, with regular milk. I was delighted to see the lavender in my latte. The milk was airy and held its foam. It was not scalding. There were no sweeteners added and I did not add any myself, but I may ask the barista to add honey next time. It tasted overwhelmingly of milk until I let the lavender steep in my drink a while longer. It was a very calming drink and a good size as well.

Lavender Tea Latte and Iced Americano ~ Matcha & Red Bean Shaved Ice ~ Mixed Berry Liege Waffle

On this occasion, I tried two dessert waffles. First, I devoured the mixed berry Liege waffle. The waffle itself had sweet bits and a crunchy exterior. It went well with the ice cream and berries, though there were no tastes that stood out other than the waffle. I found the overall taste of this dish to be somewhat bland. Next, I had the matcha and red bean Brussels waffle. In contrast with the Liege waffle, the Brussels waffle had a denser texture and lacked the crunchy exterior. It was also noticeably less sweet. My companion noticed a syrup on the waffle, hidden under the ice cream, in the red beans and mochi. This waffle seemed a bit bigger and I took my time finishing it. By the time it was gone, I was surprised to realize I enjoyed the matcha and red bean Brussels waffle more than the mixed berry Liege waffle. In particular, I enjoyed the sweetened red beans with the waffle. If I were to have the waffles on their own, however, I would prefer the sweet and crunchy Liege waffle

By the time the sun started to set, Tealips was filled with families and friends looking for an after-dinner diversion. We took our time leaving our seat by the window and ventured out into the cool evening.