Missing Te'Amo? Here's an Easy Recipe for Mango Bubble Tea.

June 10, 2020

I’m usually a frequent visitor to Te’Amo. It’s one of my favorite study spots on campus—I’ve spent a great number of afternoons memorizing Russian verbs and finishing essays while happily drinking Mango Green Tea with Bubbles.

So it came as no surprise that I quickly began to crave bubble tea while quarantining in Columbus, OH. And while lucky Chicago residents can still order boba deliveries via Grubhub, I realized that I would have to make my own bubble tea in order to satisfy my cravings. As such, attached below is my easy recipe for making mango bubble tea from home!

The Recipe (Serves 3-4)

Ingredients and Supplies—all of which are available via Amazon delivery:

*2 Bags of Rishi Organic Jasmine Green Tea
*Le Sirop de Monin Mango Syrup, added to taste
1 Cup WuFuYuan Tapioca Pearl (Black Sugar Flavor)
Cane Sugar, also added to taste
3-4 Bubble Tea Straws
*Feel free to substitute different teas and fruit syrups. Also feel free to add milk to your bubble tea. Mango bubble tea has always just been my favorite, so I ordered mango syrup first. However, the Le Sirop de Monin brand alone sells numerous fruit syrups via Amazon - from raspberry, peach, and strawberry, to more exotic flavors like blood orange and desert pear.

#1) Brew the iced tea. Boil a 32 oz. pitcher of hot water, and add 2 bags of Rishi Jasmine Green Tea. Let steep for 3 minutes. Add about 2 Tb of sugar, to taste. Let the tea cool for a few minutes, and then place in the fridge.

#2) Make the tapioca pearls. Start by boiling 10 cups of water in a large pot. Once the water comes to a boil, slowly add 1 cup of tapioca pearls and stir. Once the bubbles start floating to the surface, cover the pot and cook the bubbles for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Next, turn off the stove and let the bubbles simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes (allowing the bubbles to soften, to preference).

Let the tapioca pearls cool. Remove the bubbles from the pot, and let them sit in cool water for about 20 seconds. Then place the bubbles in a dry bowl and add sugar.

#3) Mix the iced tea, bubbles, and mango syrup to taste. Enjoy!

The Finished Product

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The Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago

July 13, 2018

Chicago summers call for expanding your repertoire beyond Jimmy's and the Pub and venturing out to enjoy the weather atop one of the city's countless rooftop bars. Whether you're taking in sweeping views of the Loop and Lake Michigan from a Downtown rooftop, or enjoying a drink on the second story of a Wicker Park or Logan Square joint, keep reading for some of our favorite rooftop bars in the city.

1. Cindy's Rooftop

Cindy's is a classic and our love for the rooftop restaurant and bar has been extensively documented in the past. Do yourself a favor and swing by in the summer, when sunlight hours stretch longer into the evening and you can still enjoy a glittering view of the Lake as late as 7 or 8pm while sipping on one of their expertly crafted cocktails.

2. London House

Lots of nights should end on the 22nd floor of London House, where views of the Lake, the Chicago River and Magnificent Mile can be enjoyed alongside bites off of their new American menu and extensive list of cocktails. Reservations may be required, so check the website in advance before you head out for the night.

3. Raised

Check out Raised for waterfront views of Downtown and an indoor/outdoor roof terrace. The menu has a fair amount of shareable platters and punch bowls, making it the perfect destination for group outings. They also have a "VIP greenhouse" which sounds pretty cool if you're willing to figure out what it takes to be a VIP.

4. Fountainhead

Fountainhead's rooftop garden boasts a mouthwatering menu of charcuterie boards and cheese platters to accompany their impressive (and extensive) roster of beers and whiskeys.

5. Waydown

Waydown is the Ace Hotel's rooftop bar and lounge. Featuring live music every week, Waydown is the perfect spot to grab drinks with friends and split a round of Guajillo Short Rib Nachos or Chips and Guac. Better yet, you can grab a burger, cocktail or a beer and shot combo for only $6 on Mondays!

6. Gene's Sausage and Delicatessen

Stop by Gene's rooftop beer and wine garden to sip on seasonal beer selections on tap or a glass of red or white while you enjoy a plate of pierogi, schnitzel, bratwurst, goulash or shish kebab–whatever suits your fancy! Better yet? Gene's is located right in the heart of Lincoln Square, so there are plenty of other places worth checking out!

7. Drumbar

Drumbar has a speakeasy feel and specializes in cocktails. Test out a house speciality like Chamomile Ketel Soda (chamomile infused vodka with Cocchi Americano, blackberry lemon and soda) or their Cucumber Margarita (tequila with japapeño infused St. Germain, Avéze, salted cucumber and lime).

8. The Up Room

Enjoy cocktails on the 13th floor of Wicker Park's art deco-era Robey Hotel at the elusive The Up Room. Shift between the bar, lounge and terrace for one-of-a-kind views of the city that overlook Downtown. This venue is fairly intimate, so dress up and make a night of it.

9. Streeterville Social

Swing by this massive outdoor terrace on the third floor of the Loews Hotel Downtown for $5 Rosé by the glass on Wednesdays, boozy popsicles or brunch on the weekends. This is the perfect spot to start or end your night and can accommodate a larger group or party.

10. Whiskey Business

Last but certainly not least, Whiskey Business is a Wicker Park nightlife staple. The restaurant, bar and rooftop mixes "80s and 90s nostalgia with over 115 different whiskeys," so prepare your liver and get ready for a night of dancing to some great throwback tracks.

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Caffeine Gum!

January 10, 2018

This year I made the grave mistake of scheduling work and classes on alternating days all at 8 am for the entire week. The ghost of my second year soul smiles on proudly because I've finally managed to have a normal sleeping schedule, but it's not the theoretical eight hours of sleep that has kept me alive and awake this entire quarter. It's a slow weaning off of caffeine through something that combines two of my favorite things: caffeine and gum.

Something I discovered from the wisdom of my brother and his friend was this strange product. Available exclusively on Amazon, Military Energy Gum is a low-maintenance, high-functioning caffeine supplement.

It comes in three flavors: arctic mint, spearmint, and cinnamon.

So far, I've only tried out arctic mint. It does taste a little funky at first. After the mint flavor dies out a little, you can definitely taste a little bit of caffeine (which I didn't know actually had a distinguishable taste).

Each pack contains five pieces of gum and each piece of gum contains 100 mg of caffeine. For reference, a normal cup of coffee - that's 8 fluid ounces - averages on 95 mg of caffeine. The package says to not consume more than 4 pieces in 24 hours, so be wary on just popping a piece of gum every hour.

Here are all the flavors basking in their glory of academic and sleep-schedule efficiency.

I definitely think this is more efficient and surely more safe than caffeine pills, which I've generally ended up having disastrous experiences with. Caffeine gum is much more manageable and tasty in my opinion. Plus, each order comes with 24 packets of 5 pieces each, so one order per quarter should last you the entire 10 weeks.

Buy it here!

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