'Ono Kine Grindz

Starbucks Coffee

Now available in Hawaii!  If you haven't already tried the Tazo® Green Tea Frappuccino® Blended Crème with Melon Syrup beverage from Starbucks Coffee locations throughout the state, I think it's time for you to do so.

Long a favorite in Japan, and the rest of Asia, Starbucks finally made this drink available to it's Hawaii stores on July 12 (I meant to announce this sooner).  Released as a "limited" offering, buy it now so that it can become part of the regular Starbucks lineup along with some of my favorites like the Caramel Frappuccino® Blended Coffee beverage, and the Mocha Frappuccino® Blended Coffee beverage.

Cool and refreshing, this drink helps you survive all that heat and humidity we've been having lately.

Godiva Chocolatier

After dinner at Sunrise Restaurant last night we all ended up in Waikiki.  It was hot and humid, with not nearly enough of those tradewinds to keep us cool.  So to cool down, we ended up having one of these.

It was a Godiva Chocolixir^TM(US$4.50).  This one here is called the "Dark Chocolate Decadence" and is made using Godiva 72% extra dark chocolate pieces, some chocolate powder and crushed ice.  Blend well, then serve.  The beverage is topped with whipped cream and some dark chocolate syrup. 

The drink was delicious, but didn't really WOW me.  I was actually hoping for a more "chocolatey" experience, especially since this was Godiva.  By the way, you should have seen the line, it was out the door.  Guess everyone had the same idea I did.

Coffee Day

It's been scorching hot here the past couple of days.  In addition to the heat, the humidity has been slowly rising.  I hope we get some rain and some relief soon.  So to beat the heat, I went for a cool drink at Coffee Day.

This shop sells bubble drinks, coffee, tea and shaved ice.  Today, I'm here for the green tea latte flavored bubble tea (US$3.50).

The drink is cool and refreshing.  Tastes a lot like the matcha cream frappuccino® that you can get at Starbucks Coffee® in Asia.  Smooth and creamy, the green tea flavor is to die for.  To top it off, you get lots of colorful, chewy "bubbles" (tapioca pearls) on the bottom of the glass.  Mmmmmm...this sure hit the spot.

Coffee Day
Samsung Plaza
661 Keeaumoku Street Space 105A
Telephone:  808.941.6625

Bee's Dessert House

After my dim sum lunch, I decided to treat myself to dessert.  What better place to visit than Bee's Dessert House.  Located at the food court at 99 Ranch Market, Bee's is very well known for the tasty "bubble drinks" that they serve. 

I was told about 7 years ago, that this drink first originated in Hong Kong, made it's way to Taiwan, where it's hugely popular, and slowly migrated here.  The most popular offerings at Bee's are the taro and honeydew pearl cream teas.  Today, I have the jasmine pearl  cream tea (US$2.25).  This is made by combining jasmine tea, cream, ice and mochi balls in a shaker, then serving cold with lots of ice.  You need to have the big straws so that you can suck up all of the mochi! 

Wanna know the reason that sets this drink at Bee's apart from everyone else's?  It's the pearls!  They're not too mushy, but have just the right "firmness" to them.  Nice bite...and very chewy!

Since I'm going to be taking this with me, I also sit down to have the shaved ice with azuki beans, green beans and mochi balls (US$3.10).  This is all topped with some evaporated milk.  Mmmmmmmm!  Just look at all the toppings!  I like the fact that this dessert is not too sweet, although the amount of beans is a little too much for me....

Bee's is one of the best bubble tea places that I have visited and has become one of the shops that I must visit everytime I shop at 99 Ranch Market.

Bee's Dessert House
1151 Mapunapuna Street
Telephone:  808.834.8888