Potion House is shaking up the bubble tea scene in Hong Kong.
We at Honeycombers are suckers for good bubble tea – with extra chewy pearls at that – and we might just have found our new favourite at Potion House! As the first jelly-based bubble tea concept in Hong Kong, Potion House is pushing the boundaries of creative beverages, creating high-quality and innovative drinks never seen before in the 852. From spiked bubble tea to protein-infused concoctions, what spells success for Potion House’s imaginative menu? We chat with the co-founder, Sapphire Kao, to get the scoop.
Psst – enjoy a buy-one-get-one-free bubble tea cocktail promo at Potion House simply by quoting Honeycombers! 😉
An interview with Sapphire Kao of Potion House
Thanks for speaking with us, Sapphire! What inspired the birth of Potion House?
It all happened around four years ago at a 7-Eleven in Taiwan. I went in to look for a quick snack and just decided to throw my leftover soybean pudding into my milk tea. And I just couldn’t forget about that magical combination ever since. It was the creamy taste, the layers through each sip, and that chewy yet light textures that instantly had me going for more. So, I decided to discover more tea and jelly concoctions – and that’s how Potion House came to life.
Why did you choose Hong Kong to be the base of your bubble tea brand?
Although I’ve spent an extended amount of time in Taiwan as well, I’ve always wanted to contribute to Hong Kong’s vibrant F&B scene. I believe this city’s diverse and transforming palate is exactly where Potion House’s innovative recipes belong. Hong Kong is also a very challenging crowd to please, and because of that, I’m all in for it.
How do you come up with your menu – with cocktails, wine, beer, and all – in addition to the variety of bubble tea flavours?
We focus not only on the traditional Taiwanese menus, but also aim to shape the concept of “bubble tea” through creative research and development. We take on new approaches based on culinary and lifestyle trends, consumer preferences, and even seeing what works for a specific demographic. For instance, what’s a better way to cater to Central other than spiked boba?
What makes Potion House stand out from the many other bubble tea shops in Hong Kong?
We’re not afraid to launch ideas and menus that have never been done before, even if it ends up not working too well. Bubble tea cocktails, bubble tea protein shakes… You name it, we’ll do it. At Potion House, tea is a lifestyle. We live it, breathe it in every aspect of our lives.
What were some of the biggest challenges in starting Potion House?
To be honest, the biggest challenge has been managing a young team. Everyone is different: Different personalities, values, opinions, motivations, and ambitions. Aligning people to work to a common purpose or vision is critically important, but also extremely difficult with the younger generation today.
What do you love most about running your own business?
Just the simple things: Seeing Potion House cups on the streets, seeing customers return for
more, seeing the brand grow each day. These are the moments that motivate me the most.
Potion House has locations in Wan Chai and Central.
This post is in partnership with Potion House.
