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Flea Market Vendor Tea and Milk to Open Shop in Astoria

 Bubble tea vendor Tea and Milk will be opening a store in Astoria.
Bubble tea vendor Tea and Milk will be opening a store in Astoria.
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ASTORIA — A bubble tea vendor known for peddling its beverages at local flea markets will soon be opening a permanent spot in the neighborhood.

Tea and Milk, which sells teas and bubble tea drinks with an emphasis on fresh preparation and ingredients, is set to open a shop in Astoria, according to co-partner Mathew Wong, 26.

He started Tea and Milk last year with friends Wilson Ng, 25, and Kendy Ng, 26, first selling their drinks at the LIC Flea and Food in Long Island City and later joining the list of vendors at the flea market at Kaufman Astoria Studios.

"In a way we built our reputation there," said Wong. 

The trio wanted to serve drinks that "maximize the health benefits of tea," serving up more natural versions of bubble teas. Theirs differ from other purveyors in that they use freshly brewed teas instead of relying on a powder mix, which Wong said "just doesn't taste good."

"We brew each cup fresh on the spot for each cup of tea," he said, adding that the made-to-order drinks also taste better than teas made in large batches ahead of time.

"If you're using that same batch, the health benefits are all gone, all the antioxidants. Literally the taste will disappear," he said.

Tea and Milk's most popular drinks include its taro bubble tea, which is made with black tea and real tarot root puree. Another is the "Signature Milk," a tea without milk on the bottom with a layer of their special cream, which sits on top.

The company's storefront shop will be located on 34th Avenue in the Kaufman Arts District. They're keeping the exact address under wraps for now, but will be dropping clues about their future location on their social media pages in the coming weeks.

Wong said the store will sell their teas, as well as coffee and pastries. They plan to have a soft opening in mid to late January, and will have a bigger grand opening in the spring once the weather gets warmer, when they'll also expand their menu offerings, he said.