If you have heard of Each A Cup but don't know what it is, let me first clear up the confusion by saying, "No, it's NOT a store that sells cups of noodles!". Trust me when I say that I actually know someone who thought so.

For you first-timers, Each A Cup is a popular bubble tea franchise that originated from Taiwan, based in Singapore and the newest beverage craze to step foot in Brunei.

Each A Cup drinks are made with the finest quality tea leaves and the various fruit flavours are blended with concentrated fruit juice, rather than powder. And from what I have read online, Each A Cup drinks are concocted with the focus 'healthiness' in mind.

Each A Cup bubble tea has been around for around 25 years and currently has 34 outlets in Singapore, 56 outlets in Malaysia, more in Taiwan and Indonesia, and now, in Brunei.

I've been meaning to drop by to Each A Cup at Times Square, but only managed to get around to it yesterday. Many might miss it, as the bubble tea shop is not quite visible from inside Times Square.

Just head to Sugarbun, walk into this little alley beside it and you'll find yourself at the entrance of Each A Cup. :)

The layout of Each A Cup is simple with its trademark orange colour palette. You'll find a few high-top tables and springy stools, but ultimately, it's a place for you to just tapau (order) your drinks. 

Now, it's time to order. It was a difficult choice because the selections are MANY! Should I go for a Ice Blended? Or a Fruity Milk Tea? Or Premium Tea? Or a Smoothie? Or a Sunrise, which by the way, for the health-conscious, is Ice Blended Fruit Yogurt.

Decisions, decisions!

ALL the drinks are under B$3.00, which didn't make choosing any easier since I can order anything without feeling guilty. Also, I can add my Extras to my drink without additional charge. 

For the Extras, I have my pickings of Big Pearls, Mini Pearls, 4 kinds of Jellies, Mango Pudding and the intriguing Ai Yu Jelly. More decisions!

And what's this? I can also pick how sweet I want my bubble tea to be? Even more decisions!

So, apparently, you can ask for a bubble tea 'kao' or bubble tea 'kosong' or bubble tea 'kurang manis'! Now, that's new. 

After picking your drink of choice and your Extra, you also get to pick the percentage of fruit sugar level of your drink. 100% being bubble tea 'biasa' and 0% being bubble tea 'kosong'. 

I'm sure for those who are health-conscious can appreciate this flexibility. And for your information, the sugar used in Each A Cup drinks are not artificial sugar, but FRUIT sugar.

Ps. Don't use my 'kurang manis' or 'kao' lingo. But if you want to be laughed at (like me earlier on), feel free to follow my style! Lol!

When I sent out a tweet asking what drink should I try at Each A Cup, @AliyaZin recommended the Blueberry Green Tea. It's not bad all, and I can see why this drink was her favourite.

As my friend (the same friend who thought Each A Cup sells noodle cups) had said, the mini pearls were so 'cute' and has a good texture. If you're a fan of pearls in your bubble tea, the mini pearls are a must-try Extra to your drink. 

Price : B$ 2.10

For my second drink, I tried one of the Snowshakes. Each A Cup's Snowshakes are like blended cereal drinks and apparently, best taken when you're hungry.

I chose the Strawberry flavour, this time with Big Pearls at normal sweetness level. And if you look carefully, there are bits of cereal floating on top. 

I find this drink to be really tasty as well, and at 100% sugar level, it wasn't too sweet at all.

Price : $2.50

My first sip of the Lime & Lemon Sunrise made me cringe with sourness. Lol, but then again I took this drink right after the sweet Strawberry Snowshake. And of course, with a name like Lime & Lemon, it's supposed to be sour right?

After a couple of sips, my tastebuds got used to it, and I can then savor the Ai Yu Jelly that I picked for its Extra.

Ai Yu Jelly is also known as Ice Jelly, and has a typically softer texture than grass jelly. It's also healther as Ai Yu Jelly is made from the gel of fruit seeds.

Price : B$2.70

Next drink on the try-out list is one of the Coffee Sensations. The Mocha Ice Blended with Mini Pearls tastes really good, with its just-nice blend of coffee flavour and sweetness. 

By now, I'm such a fan of the Mini Pearls. I think it complements the Mocha Ice Blended pretty well and it didn't feel too weird having something to chew in my 'coffee'.

Price : B$3.00

The last drink I tasted is also my favourite of these 5 drinks - The Mango Smoothie with Mango Pudding as the Extra. As I told the Each A Cup peeps, I love mangoes and I also love puddings.

So, mango + pudding = winner.

It wasn't too sweet and the pudding was soft and delicious. I drank this all up to the last drop!

Price : B$2.70

Did You Know? 

For OhMyCard! Holders, you'll be eligible to get ONE free drink if you buy FOUR drinks from Each A Cup.

That's right!

Rejoice, for Each A Cup will be opening a new outlet at The Mall Gadong on THIS Saturday, 7th May 2011.

Awesome news for me as The Mall is just 5 minutes away from where I live.

You can find the new Each A Cup outlet on the 1st Floor of The Mall, right next to Pazzion and near Secret Recipe. Just watch out for their bright orange decor, you can't miss it!

Each A Cup is also celebrating the opening of their newest outlet with a LIMITED time promotion. For only the 2 days of this weekend (Saturday and Sunday), you will have the opportunity to get ONE free bubble tea when you spend at Each A Cup.

BUT you need to show a particular coupon to take advantage of the 'Free One Drink' Each A Cup promo. How to get this coupon? Easy.

1. Get a copy of the Friday (6th May 2011) issue of Borneo Bulletin, 
2. Find the advertisement on Each A Cup's Mall Outlet Opening ,
3. Cut out the advertisement clipping at the jotted lines,
4. Head to The Mall to get your drink!

*COUPON ONLY REDEEMABLE AT THE MALL OUTLET* 

You can cut out as many clippings as you want; but just don't try to be a smartass and make photocopies the newspaper clipping. That WON'T work.

Also, the coupon get you only ONE free drink, so again, DON'T try to be a smartass and think that you'll get 5 free drinks if you buy 5 bubble tea.

So, are you ready? 

See you at Each A Cup this weekend!

Each A Cup opened its first outlet in Brunei at Times Square, Berakas on 18th December 2010. The Each A Cup bubble tea shops are run by a bubble tea -loving duo who brought the popular franchise into Brunei due to its great quality and affordable prices.

Outlets:

Berakas        - Ground Floor, next to Sugarbun, Times Square

Opening hours : 10.30am - 10.30pm

Gadong         - 1st Floor, next to Pazzion and near Secret Recipe, The Mall.

Phone them at 2342 825.

Email them at eacbrunei@gmail.com.

Like them on Facebook.

What is YOUR Each A Cup drink of choice?