Finker Bubble owner Wen Chua was relieved to finally open her bubble tea shop on Keen Street a week ago. 

Wen arrived in Lismore about a year ago – and this It was her second attempt at trying to open the shop.

In February, she was only three days away from opening - when Lismore’s biggest flood arrived and destroyed the new business.

But, Wen knew she was not going to give up. Now, after months of renovations, she is now finally serving bubble tea to the Lismore community.

“I always knew I would try and open again, I put a lot of money into the shop – and I had friends who helped me,” Wen said.

“I love bubble tea – I know many people here haven’t had it before, and I want everyone to try it.”

So, what is bubble tea?

Bubble tea is a sweet drink, based on mixing milk with tea and adding toppings like coconut jelly, and popping balls – as well as fruit flavours such as strawberry, lychee and mango.

Bubble tea is often referred to as a ‘chunky’ drink – because of the chewy pearls of tapioca that sit in the bottom of the cup – and you suck them into your mouth through a thick straw.

It’s a drink that’s been popular with kids and adults all over Asia – and it’s a drink that Wen has grown up with.

“As a child in Malaysia, nearly every day after school I would gather with my friends to drink bubble tea,” Wen said.

“We would stand around in school uniform at the bubble tea stall on the street and drink bubble tea.”

Wen said her favourite bubble tea is the one made with matcha tea, but the most popular one that’s sold in the shop is the brown sugar with fresh milk, cheese foam and boba (bubbles, or pearls of tapioca).

“When you drink the cheese foam, you taste it first, then sip the tea, then combine it and the balance should be perfect,” Wen said.

Finker Bubble will be open six days a week, Monday to Saturday from 11am to 8.30pm.

This photo of the shop was taken by Wen just days before the flood arrived to destroy the shop.