What is the best treat for yourself during the hottest season？Besides facing the cooling breeze from air-conditioner, I bet everyone wants a bit of sugar and ice to refresh. Thanks to the development of milk tea(奶茶 nǎichá) economy, it is hard not to find a drink bar along the street. Have you ever tried to order this what the young called “daily spiritual drink” in Chinese by yourself?
Staff: 你好，请问要点什么？Nǐhǎo ，qǐngwèn yào diǎn shénme？
You: Can I have a nǎichá please?
Staff: 好的，加冰吗？要珍珠吗，七分甜还是五分甜，另外还要红豆仙草或布丁吗，奶盖要哪种奶盖啊？Hǎode，jiā bīng ma？yào zhēnzhū ma，qīfēntián háishì wǔfēntián，lìngwài háiyào hóngdòuxiāncǎo huò bùdīng ma，nǎigài yào nǎzhǒng nǎigài a ？
You: %^&#@)#(* I just want a nǎichá.
You may wonder why there are so many other things than nǎichá, and the staff is way too enthusiastic about introducing his product to a foreigner. Although there are English menu provided in many milk tea bars, it is still more fun to practise your Chinese.
The basic orderUsually staff at milk tea bar will ask you about the size of the cup and how sweet, cold or hot do you want your drink to be after your main order is given. What are they in Chinese?
Size of the drink
Medium cup 中杯 zhōng bēi
Large cup 大杯 dà bēi
Sugar 甜度 tián dù
100% sugar 正常 zhèng cháng
70% sugar 少糖/七分甜 shǎo táng /qī fēn tián
50% sugar 半糖/五分甜 bàn táng /wǔ fēn tián
30% sugar 微糖/三分甜 wēi táng /sān fēn tián
0% sugar 无糖 wú táng
Hot or cold 温度 wēn dù
Normal ice 标准 biāo zhǔn
Few ice 少冰 shǎo bīng
No ice 去冰 qù bīng
Room temperature 常温 cháng wēn
Hot 热 rè
Open or take-away
打开还是带走
dǎkāi háishì dàizǒu
Now you can say out loud to the staff that you want a milk tea in large cup of 30% sugar with few ice：
You: 你好，我要大杯珍珠奶茶，三分糖，少冰。
Nǐhǎo，wǒ yào dàbēi zhēnzhū nǎichá，sānfēntáng，shǎobīng。
Staff: 好的，珍珠奶茶，大杯，三分糖，少冰。打开还是带走？
Hǎode，zhēnzhū nǎichá，dàbēi，sānfēntáng，shǎobīng。dǎkāi háishì dàizǒu？
You: 带走，谢谢。
Dàizǒu，xièxiè。
Customize your drinkIf you are a senior milk tea fan, I understand you will not be satisfied with basic options only. There are more ingredients to add for you to explore the hidden menu.
Ingredients 加料 jiā liào
Tapioca/Bubble 珍珠/波霸 zhēn zhū/bō bà
Sago 西米 xī mǐ
Grass jelly 仙草 xiān cǎo
Coconut jelly 椰果 yē guǒ Read bean 红豆 hóng dòu
Pudding 布丁 bù dīng
Snow cap/cheese topping 奶盖 nǎi gài
Finally you can make the ultimate order: 我要一杯珍珠奶茶不要珍珠，三分糖，我要冰的但是不要冰块，再来一份布丁，一份红豆不要仙草，谢谢！最后带一份波霸，不要打开，带走！Wǒyào yìbēi zhēnzhū nǎichá búyào zhēnzhū，sānfēntáng，wǒyào bīngde dànshì búyào bīngkuài，zàilái yífèn bùdīng，yífèn hóngdòu búyào xiāncǎo，xièxiè！Zuìhòu dài yífèn bōbà，búyào dǎkāi，dàizǒu！
Do you get the order? Let us know your favourite milk tea drink in the comment below!
