Happy Lemon in Chinatown caught my attention with a drink that sounded almost impossible: milk tea with Oreo, tiramisu and salted cheese. If I see something on a menu that I have never tried, that is usually what I order. This visit was a good example of where that habit can lead.

From the Roberts London archive: this short film was published on 16 September 2016. The menu and tasting notes below describe the visit shown in the video.

Choosing Happy Lemon in Chinatown

The film begins outside Chatime, where I talk about bubble tea and its chewy tapioca pearls. However, that is not where I buy the drink. After an earlier stop at Baozi Inn, I had noticed a nearby menu with a combination of tiramisu, cheese and salt. Curiosity sent me back to Happy Lemon.

There was a queue, which gave me a little time to consider the options. Even so, I needed help. The staff talked me through the order, and I joked afterwards that they had handled me like a young child. With this many unfamiliar choices, that was rather useful.

Oreo, tiramisu and salted cheese milk tea

At the menu, I settled on milk tea with Oreo and tiramisu salted cheese. The name alone made me wonder how it would taste. Cheese, tea and a sweet biscuit are not an obvious combination if you are thinking of an ordinary cup of British tea.

Once I had the takeaway cup, I found a spot outside to try it. The first reaction was mostly surprise. It was not bad at all, but I struggled to find a useful description. Each sip seemed to bring out another part of the drink.

A first taste that was difficult to describe

Initially, the strongest impression was very milky tea. Then came a slight hint of Oreo chocolate, a suggestion of cheese and the salt on top. I said I would never have guessed the full name just from tasting it.

As I carried on, the tea itself became clearer. It reminded me more of tea used in a cake than a mug of builder’s tea. I even corrected myself while trying to describe the flavour. This was an informal pavement tasting, with plenty of uncertainty left in the film.

The difference a good stir made

Finally, I worked out what had been missing: a thorough stir with the straw. Mixing the toppings through the drink changed my impression completely. Instead of trying to identify separate layers, I could taste the combination together.

My final comparison was a cheesecake drink, somewhere between a milkshake and tea. That was the description I had been searching for. By the end, I was smiling and recommending the experience, with one piece of advice from the tasting: give it a good stir.

Watch the Happy Lemon Chinatown visit

The seven-minute film follows the menu decision, the first uncertain sips and the final verdict. It is a small record of experimenting with Chinatown’s drinks in 2016, rather than a guide to today’s menu.

For a different order from the same year, see my Chatime roasted milk tea visit, with pearls, aloe vera and coconut jelly.