Thu | Mar 28, 2024

‘Pop’ in for some Heecha

Published:Thursday | January 16, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Heecha’s eggloo waffle, served warm and piled high!
If there’s one thing to be said, Heecha has the cutest presentation in the game!
Naturally purple, this taro tea is made from the ube yam which gives a yummy flavour and fun colouring!
Food got to try all the smoothie flavours together! Can you tell which one’s which?
You can’t go wrong with mangos. Get this tall cup of mango yoghurt, and don’t forget your boba straw!
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Kingston is chock-full of yummy eateries offering a variety of cuisines and flavours that challenge the palate or offer those good wholesome tastes that remind us of home. If you’re a bit of an adventurous eater, someone who prefers trying something new, go no further than ‘Heecha’. Two years and one month old, Heecha is located conveniently at the side entrance of the Liguanea Plaza and offers something other cafés just don’t – authentic East Asian bubble tea.

So what’s bubble tea? Bubble tea, or boba as some people call it, gets its name from the bubbles that form on top of the tea when it’s been shaken and not from the ‘bubbles’ at the base. Those bubbles are actually tapioca pearls formed from something we all know very well in Jamaica, cassava! So maybe bubble tea isn’t something that far off from our palates but it is pretty unique here, and that’s literal, as Heecha is the only bubble tea shop in Jamaica. Heecha offers a wide variety of premium teas, yoghurts and smoothies, as well as sweet treats such as its homemade waffle ‘cones’ and ice cream and the red bean pudding, which at first is confusing but is definitely worth the challenge.

Food got to chat with some of the regulars and found out that the must-tries include: Heecha’s classic Royal Bubble Tea, which is a milk tea; the Honey Lemon Iced Tea, the perfect blend of refreshing and lightly sweet; the mango smoothie, which is thick, cold and made from real fruit, like all their smoothies are; or the caramel latte if you’re feeling for a caffeinated pick-me-up. Proprietor Sabrina Chin wants you to try everything though and, really, there’s enough for you to try something new every day. Heecha has quite an extensive menu but you’ll be quick to settle on a favourite once you’re comfortable. The friendly staff is ready to help you out.

You can even design your own milk tea with the range of toppings such as tapioca, tea flavours like the strong oolong, non-dairy substitutes for milk and those delicious boba pearls. What’s more, on Sundays, Heecha has family day where they offer a variety of foods ranging from BBQ wings, sausages and kebabs, to tofu and noodles. There is something for everyone.

Sure, you want the best food, but you also want the best practices, especially in this era of climate change, where single-use plastics and styrofoam have been banned. Heecha is making sure to get with the times, offering special discounts when you bring your Heecha cup, biodegradable bags, special boba and smoothie straws fit for getting those delicious pearls to your mouth, and paper-based sealant that protects your car against spills! It’s these practices, along with their dedication to quality and innovation, that make Heecha so reliable for the regulars, and attractive for newbies looking for delicious sustainability. Treat yourself to something a little exotic and try Heecha!