A Canada-wide bubble tea shortage has put all the bubble tea places in Toronto on notice. Toronto Pho, like so many others, is at risk of a major shortage in bubble tea. Here’s some information on what’s happening and what to expect when you put in an order at Toronto Pho.
Why is There A Bubble Tea Shortage in Toronto
Normally, when you walk into Toronto Pho to buy bubble tea, you’ll find lots to choose from. Passionfruit, strawberry, pearls, pineapple, honeydew, coconut, mango, watermelon, taro, matcha green tea, Thai red with grass jelly, brown sugar bubble tea, and roasted oolong. They are great flavors come summer which is why bubble tea in Toronto is usually so popular at this time.
This year, things are a little different. You see, up to 97% of bubble tea in Canada comes from ingredients procured from India or Taiwan. For those supplies to get in our hands, they come through the Suez Canal. Though the Suez Canal blockage has been cleared, there are still large amounts of ships stuck and waiting to get through. This massive delay has meant relying on warehouse stock which has been run down in the last 3-4 weeks. Everyone is running out.
The main ingredient that we are low on is tapioca pearls. The chewy pearls, aka boba, fortunately, can be made with other ingredients however for restaurants like ours in Toronto, shortages, and delays in the supply chain have had a far-reaching impact.
What to Expect With the Bubble Tea Shortage
For a little bit, it’s going to be really tough to find and afford bubble tea. From the shops and restaurants like us to the suppliers, everyone’s in a holding pattern waiting for everything to engage and return to normal.
If nothing at all, this goes to show how integrated the global supply chain is at providing menu items that some of us order every day or every week. To make bubble tea, you can’t do it exclusively from Canada. We require cooperators from other countries to transport key ingredients. Without them, there is no bubble tea as we know it in Canada.
When will the bubble tea shortage in Toronto end – it depends not only on how long it takes to move this backlog through but also the ongoing pandemic restrictions and how that’s impacting the movement of goods. Current estimates suggest it could be until mid-summer before things are back up and running. Momentarily, customers can expect bubble tea prices to rise in most bars, coffee shops, and restaurants by the rules of ‘supply and demand’.
What Toronto Pho is Doing With This Bubble Tea Shortage
Make lemons from lemonade. That’s how we see it. As supplies for bubble tea run out, we’re introducing a new menu item. It’s a bubble tea alternative and a great pick-me-up for any summer morning or afternoon when you need a little kick. We’re talking about our Vietnamese coffee slushie.
We came up with this creation and recently held a contest to name it. Instagram users came up with 31 different names and voted on the best one. VA VA VIET was born May 21st!
Va Va Viet takes your average Vietnamese iced coffee and makes it into a slushie format. In it, you get some caffeine to elevate your mood and focus with a little cold to calm your body under the suns of summer. While it’s not quite bubble tea, it’s something we thought could help at least a few customers searching for something to replace their typical bubble tea order.
Vietnamese iced coffee is relatively straightforward with what’s in it. It doesn’t have any passionfruit, strawberry, or any of the fruits you’d normally find in bubble tea. It’s French press coffee, condensed milk, and ice. The taste is a delightful coffee you’ll love to have in-hand all summer long.
While we are sorry to our customers for the potential for a worsening bubble tea shortage, we recommend the Vietnamese iced slushie this summer as an alternative. Try it once. It may just become your new favourite drink. After a sports game, a downtown summer shopping spree, or exploring all the unique things Toronto will have to offer this summer, use this Vietnamese iced slushie to hydrate, wake your body up, and get energized.
Stop by Toronto Pho this summer and order your first Va Va Viet Vietnamese iced slushie or check out more of our summer beverages including smoothies, fruit drinks, and more.
Toronto Pho offers the best pho, many classic Vietnamese dishes as well as plant-based alternatives for our vegan/vegetarian friends. Visit one of our 4 locations across Ontario today! Or order online for pickup or delivery through our easy to use app available for both Android and iPhone smart phones.
