Go healthier, go cashless with bubble tea at UTown

Students at UTown going cashless for their Gong Cha drinks. One-quarter of the bubble tea chain's menu has the Healthier Choice Symbol.
Students at UTown going cashless for their Gong Cha drinks. One-quarter of the bubble tea chain's menu has the Healthier Choice Symbol. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Healthier drinks and cashless kiosks. That is what bubble tea chain Gong Cha (Singapore) launched at NUS University Town (UTown) yesterday.

Thirteen drinks, or one-quarter of Gong Cha's menu, have been given the Healthier Choice Symbol.

Their sugar levels are based on Healthier Choice guidelines from the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and do not include any toppings.

Offerings include the medium-sized earl grey milk tea and plum green tea, both at 50 per cent sugar.

"The more products are less sweet or contain reduced sugar, the more consumers will respond by buying those, and the more manufacturers will find reason to push out more of such products," said Mr Zee Yoong Kang, HPB's chief executive officer.

Gong Cha also has four cashless payment kiosks in UTown. Three types of payment options - Nets, Nets FlashPay and ez-link card - are available.

Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport Lam Pin Min officiated at the launch.

The healthier drink options are available at all Gong Cha outlets since yesterday, while the cashless kiosks will be rolled out islandwide by the end of next month.

Cheryl Tee

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 26, 2018, with the headline Go healthier, go cashless with bubble tea at UTown. Subscribe