Yi Fang - Saint Ives Australia

YiFang Fruit Tea is a well-known bubble tea and fruit tea chain originating from Taiwan, with locations across the globe. In Metro Vancouver, YiFang has rapidly expanded, boasting 13 locations—some already opened while others are in development. One of their earliest establishments in the area is located at 1725 Robson Street in downtown Vancouver.

Hello! I hope everyone is having a fantastic day. Can you believe it's already December? Time really does fly! Grayson and I have been frequenting Yi Fang whenever we crave fresh fruit tea because their beverages are always incredibly refreshing. Like all their locations, this Yi Fang has a charming wooden counter and a nature-inspired theme throughout the cafe. I enjoy it because it reminds me of my time living in Taiwan and really takes me back. I also appreciate how they showcase the fresh fruit used in their drinks and have a stovetop up front for cooking their black sugar pearls! That’s a clear sign they are dedicated to making their drinks as fresh as possible.

By now, you’ve probably noticed the bubble tea stations that are appearing all over the lower mainland. Let’s discuss the store that launched the trend of brown sugar milk tea in Vancouver: Yi Fang. They brand themselves as a Taiwanese Fruit Tea shop, using real fruit and tea leaves sourced from various regions. The difference in flavor is quite noticeable. When they first opened, Vancouver was still primarily enjoying tea made from the same green or black tea base with just added flavors. Yi Fang’s arrival truly caught the attention of Vancouverites and changed the local tea scene.

We had an hour to kill before a concert so after dinner, we were wandering down Robson when I spotted a bubble tea spot, Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea. They have a couple other locations (Richmond, Burnaby, Kerrisdale and South Cambie). We dropped in on a Thursday evening (around 8:00pm) and the place was busy. Pretty much all Asian clientele.