By Christina Myles

Troy welcomes a new and unique beverage shop on George Wallace Drive.

Bubble Tea, owned by Henry Nguyen, is a new take on classic soft drinks, smoothies and yogurt.

The store’s namesake specialty product is bubble tea, an Asian-inspired drink that contains black tea and tapioca beads known as bubbles.

“The bubbles in our drink are like little juice balls,” Nguyen said. “They come in several different flavors.”

The drink is offered two different ways, milk or blended, which is the similar to having a regular drink or a frozen one.

Both variations are offered in majority of the flavors they have including strawberry, coconut, green tea, and chocolate.

Nguyen said that he feels their variety of flavors is what will set Bubble Tea apart from other drink businesses in Troy.

“We have more flavors than most places that offer drinks and smoothies and I think people will enjoy the variety,” Nguyen said.

A main goal for Bubble Tea is to introduce the product to more Americans.

“When you drink bubble tea it’s really a fun drink,” said Elaine Nguyen, an avid drinker of bubble tea. “The bubbles and the jelly you can add to your drink are like a gummy bear type treat. Those things make the drink something good to enjoy to curve your hunger.”

Henry Nguyen owns several other businesses but Bubble Tea is the first one he’s owned of its kind.

Although Bubble Tea has not joined the Pike County Chamber of Commerce yet, Chamber president Kathy Sauer says she is always excited for new businesses to open in Troy.

“It is good having them so close to the university as it will hopefully enhance the other businesses around it and provide another drink establishment in a convenient place,” Sauer said.

Sauer wants to congratulate the owners of Bubble Tea on opening and is happy they chose Troy for their business.

“We hope they will be another anchor for the area,” Saucer said.

The idea to open Bubble Tea came to Nguyen about three years ago but he said he never had the time to do so until now.

“If business goes well in this location we hope to expand,” Nguyen said.

Bubble Tea is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.