By Katrina Simyab | Photography By Hillary Schave
Whether you like creamy, layered lemonades or something else — these dreamy drink locations need to be on your refreshment radar.
CANDY CLOUD
With two locations and a rotating menu of flavors, there’s always some- thing new to try here. Drinks are available iced or blended, and customers can add popping bobas to a create-your-own lemonade for a flavor burst. The custom-made Revibe energy drink contains plant-based caffeine and can be mixed into flavor options such as peach ring and mango dragon fruit.
If it’s an ice cream kind of day, soft-serve shakes like Cookie Butter Dream and Strawberry Crunch Cake come out freshly spun and super creamy. Whatever you choose, all drinks are canned to order and sealed with a pop-top lid, making them easy to grab and go.
LIV’S DRINK EMPORIUM
Head over to Sun Prairie to see why the “dirty soda” craze has been so popular on social media. So what is a dirty soda? It’s a base of your favorite soda transformed into something spectacular with a variety of mix-ins, including fruit purees, syrups and creams. For example, the Berry Sweet consists of Dr. Pepper, raspberry, coconut cream and half and half. The Cherry Sublime is Coke or Pepsi, grenadine, coconut cream and fresh lime. Or sip on a One in a Melon — Sprite, blood orange, strawberry and watermelon.
BAMBU
Select from an ample offering of traditional and Vietnamese-inspired beverages at Bambu’s Madison or Sun Prairie locations. The eye-catching bevvy of options here are half dessert, half drink. The taro milk tea is a customer favorite and a go-to for regulars, boasting a distinct, slightly sweet and nutty flavor, similar to a purple sweet potato. The aptly titled #10 Bambu Favorite is made with red tapioca, grass and pandan jellies, and coconut milk — a perfect entry point into Bambu’s menu.
TEAMOJI
The ultimate destination for bubble tea enthusiasts, this State Street shop mixes flavorful favorites. If you have yet to try out its brown sugar milk tea, what are you waiting for? It’s topped with pistachio cheese foam, lychee jelly or even crystal boba. Switch up your go-to order with a mango coconut slushie with grapefruit, a common flavor combination in Chinese drinks. If indecision strikes when looking at the menu, you can’t go wrong with its signature strawberry matcha latte.
SENCHA TEA BAR
Serving more than loose-leaf tea blends, Sencha strives to “always get you a drink you love.” Its popular Blush Lemonade is made with house-brewed green tea, lemonade, pear, lychee and fresh lemons. If you’re strolling the Dane County Farmers’ Market, stop here first and order the Cherry Pop. This new drink on the summer menu is made with a dewy cherry herbal blend, lime and simple syrups, and garnished with fresh lime wedges.
ICKI STICKI
At Icki Sticki’s three locations, the drinks and desserts are an experience. Its customizable affogato (an Italian dessert that combines espresso and ice cream) allows customers to choose from 36 flavors of Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream as the base. Two smooth espresso shots are poured on top. It’s the perfect balance of rich and refreshing — perfect for summer.
If you’re looking for a light and juicy option, the Mango Madness Boba (described as “sunshine in a cup”) is made with house-brewed green tea, signature housemade mango syrup and bursting mango popping boba.
LE C’S PATISSERIE & TEA HOUSE
With tea lattes, milk teas, fruit smoothies and more, you might have to visit Le C’s two locations a few times to fully sample the menu. Start with an Ancient Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Tea (which also comes in a bucket size for devotees), then move on to a matcha smoothie, strawberry latte with coconut pudding or a Kumquat Meet Lemon fruit tea. For a protein-packed sip, try Yakult, a popular Japanese probiotic dairy drink. It comes in flavors like Okinawa Pineapple, Intensive Grape with Orange and Green Tea.
DREAMY TEAZY
“Good vibes, great company and even better boba” can be found here, tucked into a cozy shop on Sherman Avenue. Regulars gravitate toward the variety of milk teas, with coconut and taro being top choices. Many drinks have the option to add complimentary boba, with a small charge for any additional flavored popping bobas.
Cool down on a hot day with a mango smoothie or an iced peach or dragon fruit tea. For an extra bit of zip, get a fruit “sizzler,” a combo of fruit tea and sparkling water.
