Showing posts with label EasyWay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EasyWay. Show all posts

28 March 2012

Taste Testing: EasyWay Tea Indulgence, Fruit Pulp Party 2 Series, CBD Sydney (23 Feb 2012)

694 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://easywaytea.com.au


Tropical fruits the easy way

Thanks to Nicholas Yap from EasyWay for inviting me to taste test the Fruit Pulp Party 2 flavours of passionfruit, mango and pineapple. This time I visited the George Street store near World Square which had some limited seating as opposed to the hole in the wall Wynyard store I’ve visited before. On first impressions the speakers on the counter had the sound turned up too loud for my liking which made it quite difficult to hear other people talking and thus creating a rather unpleasant and slightly stressful dine in experience. Being located on a main street of noisy passing traffic didn’t help for a calming atmosphere either. First drink provided to sample was the Passionfruit Black Tea which was quite liked and not too sweet which actually ended up being my favourite of the session. The piled high icy Pineapple Frappe with Pineapple Jelly Toppings was brain freeze material if you used the larger straw. I didn't really like the taste which just seemed a bit artificial somehow for me and was the least liked. The Pineapple Milk Tea was quite subtle on the pineapple flavour but the one that we ended up finishing off the most.

If you're a fan of EasyWay pearls then the Passionfruit Shakes with Pearls Toppings and Half Sugar might be the one for you. With only half sugar I found it still sweet enough for me. Pearls were soft and apparently they're freshly made about every 2 hours although I found the separation of liquid from the pearls at the bottom not particularly appetising to see. The Mango Milk Tea with Half Sugar was subtle in mango flavour so perhaps a bit more flavour would have been welcomed. The final tasting of Mango Green Tea with Aloe Vera Toppings and Half Sugar tasted quite tart to me so perhaps needed more sugar for my liking. I quite liked the texture of the aloe vera pieces. I learnt EasyWay use powdered milk so I'm assuming that's a costing factor over fresh milk. There was visible fruit pieces in these drinks but I'm wondering if some of the flavour has been lost in the processing because I did find the flavours a bit subtle.

Other visits to EasyWay:
23 Feb 2012 – ‘Fruit Pulp Party 2 Taste Test
15 Mar 2011 – ‘Fruit Pulp Party’ Taste Test
10 Jan 2011 – ‘Floral Series’ Taste Test

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Lots of locations, Lots of menu choices, Affordable, Quick and easy
CONS: Very limited seating at this store, I thought the background music was too loud at the time of visit making it unpleasant to dine in
WORTH TRYING: Passionfruit Black Tea

Passionfruit Black Tea
WORTH TRYING :-)

Pineapple Frappe with Pineapple Jelly Toppings

Pineapple Milk Tea

Passionfruit Shakes with Pearls Toppings and Half Sugar

After a little while the Passionfruit Shakes with Pearls Toppings separates a bit which I don't think particularly looks good but perhaps it wouldn't last this long anyway

Mango Milk Tea with Half Sugar

Mango Green Tea with Aloe Vera Toppings and Half Sugar


Taste testing production line

Menu board

Service counter

Limited seating — doesn't look particularly comfortable so only for short stays

I thought these speakers on the counter were too close to the front seating making it difficult to hear each other talk — maybe it's so people don't sit

17 March 2011

EasyWay Tea Indulgence: Fruit Pulp Party new flavours, Wynyard Station, Sydney CBD (15 Mar 2011)

Shop G12A, Wynyard Station, Sydney NSW 2000


Mixing in real fruit flavours

Thanks to Katheryn Lui from EasyWay for organising a taste test for to me try the new Fruit Pulp Party range of flavours at the highly popular Wynyard Station shop. The friendly Emily made the drinks for me which were consumed with the help of two of my work colleagues. First up was the Strawberry Pulp Milk Tea ($4.50) with pearls ($0.60) which thankfully wasn’t too sweet due to be ordered with half sugar. A refreshing one for the strawberry lovers out there. Next was the Papaya Puree Ice Green Tea ($4.30) which was more green tea in taste and unfortunately only had a very subtle suggestion of papaya flavour. Perhaps a better balance with more papaya puree would have helped for my liking — this one was the least favourite in today’s selection. I thought I would have liked it the best because I'm a big fan of papaya.

The Mulberry Pulp Ice Black Tea ($4.30) with Aloe Vera ($0.60) was probably my favourite of the day. I really enjoyed the slightly firm and fibrous crunch of the aloe vera pieces which is different to the soft slightly chewy pearls. It was both refreshing and well balanced in flavours I thought. I was a little scared about the Prune Pulp Blended Ice ($4.60) but it thankfully ended up tasting better than I thought, to everyones surprise. Perhaps the half serving of sugar and ice helped dilute the overall prune taste to make it more palatable in the end. It’s topped with a whole prune for that spot of extra fibre.

Other visits to EasyWay:
23 Feb 2012 – ‘Fruit Pulp Party 2 Taste Test
15 Mar 2011 – ‘Fruit Pulp Party’ Taste Test
10 Jan 2011 – ‘Floral Series’ Taste Test


SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Quick and friendly service, Plenty of menu choices, Refreshing taste, Interesting flavours, Lots of locations, Seems reasonably priced
CONS: No seating at this shop, Uses a lot of plastic packaging, Not sure about the sugar content and some flavours are not natural
WORTH TRYING: Order with less sugar to make it less sweet and healthier

Strawberry Pulp Milk Tea ($4.50) with pearls ($0.60)

Papaya Puree Ice Green Tea ($4.30)

Mulberry Pulp Ice Black Tea ($4.30) with Aloe Vera ($0.60) – that's aloe vera cubes on the bottom

Prune Pulp Blended Ice ($4.60) – that's real prune on top

Left to right: Strawberry Pulp Milk Tea ($4.50) with pearls ($0.60), Mulberry Pulp Ice Black Tea ($4.30) with Aloe Vera ($0.60), Papaya Puree Ice Green Tea ($4.30), Prune Pulp Blended Ice ($4.60)

Fruit Pulp Party flavours

Emily preparing the drink samples

Samples on the run

Small shop front


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EasyWay - Wynyard Station on Urbanspoon

12 January 2011

EasyWay Tea Indulgence: Floral Series Taste Test, Wynyard Station, Sydney CBD (10 Jan 2011)

Shop G12A, Wynyard Station, Sydney NSW 2000


Spoilt for choice

Easy Way Tea’s mission is to be the most loved and valued tea beverage brand in the world.

I'm very much a foreigner to the EasyWay drinks so thanks to the Marketing Manager Katheryn Lui for contacting me to be part of a tasting panel to sample 3 new Floral Series flavours. I visited the Wynyard Station shop and while waiting for the samples to be made I quickly realised how popular this shop was and I assume all other EasyWay shops as well. There was a constant parade of customers who seemed to know exactly what they wanted and I likened it to how people focus on getting their coffees in the morning with little time and patience to satisfy their craving. The efficient and friendly staff were busy at work making up all the numerous combination requests with ease and diligence.

My first sample drink was the rather sweet Roselle Lemon Blended Ice which I slurped up with one of the thick straws which instantly gave me a stinging brain freeze — I didn't realise at the time I should have perhaps used the thin straw, lesson learnt now. The second drink was the Roselle Lemon Green Tea which I preferred — refreshing with a nice balance of the Green Tea although still quite sweet. The Osmanthus Black Tea was an interesting flavour which I'm not sure if I liked or not. The osmanthus crushed petals gave a slightly gritty texture but was less noticeable in the Osmanthus Blended Ice version. The Chrysanthemums Honey Green Tea was the least sweet and my least favourite out of all the drinks with a noticeable taste of the tea tannin. Flower petals sat at the bottom and my first suck of the straw pulled up a whole flower bud but it's probably because I was using the thick straws. The sweeter version of Chrysanthemums Blended Ice was more palatable for me.

After sampling the 6 drinks I was given the opportunity to have 4 of them made up again to take away back to work for further testing. The Roselle Lemon Blended Ice gave a few colleagues brain freezes as well for drinking it too fast but was quite popular. The Roselle Lemon Green Tea was well received and even though I didn't quite like the Chrysanthemums Honey Green Tea it did have its fans being not too sweet — I think it might be an acquired taste and it grew on me a little bit. With the myriad of combinations and flavours on offer I found the menu quite overwhelming as a first time visitor but I'm sure after time it's one of those places where you begin to decide on a regular favourite drink that satisfies your taste buds — it reminded me of Barry Schwatz's talk on 'The paradox of choice' which I recommend everyone find the time to watch. For me there certainly isn't any easy way of working out what I'd order or what I'd actually like so this taste testing has given me a better idea of how it all works.

Other visits to EasyWay:
23 Feb 2012 – ‘Fruit Pulp Party 2 Taste Test
15 Mar 2011 – ‘Fruit Pulp Party’ Taste Test
10 Jan 2011 – ‘Floral Series’ Taste Test

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Lots of menu choices, Refreshing taste, Interesting flavours, Lots of locations
CONS: No seating at this shop, Watch out for brain freeze from Blended Ice drinks, Uses a lot of plastic packaging, Not sure about the sugar content and if all flavourings are natural or not
WORTH TRYING: Roselle Lemon Green Tea

3 new flavours made 2 different ways each

Roselle Lemon Blended Ice

Roselle Lemon Green Tea

Osmanthus Black Tea

Osmanthus Blended Ice

Chrysanthemums Honey Green Tea

Chrysanthemums Blended Ice

Promotion of the Roselle Lemon

Drinks being made with a myriad of ingredients

Thick straw and thin straws — choose wisely

Menu — so many combinations to choose from I'm not sure where to start


Take away tray of 4

Caution: Beware of chocking on toppings — at least they warn you I guess

Small shop front

Handy location to Wynyard Station


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EasyWay - Wynyard Station on Urbanspoon

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