Fourth quarterly reports: Bubble Tea Group (BTG), a privately manage group of companies shows strong earnings. All network distributors and licensed distributors did very well this year. A total of 27 affiliates have contributed to a network gross sale of $6.8 millions U.S. High profit margins are due to several key acquisitions to streamline the group's distribution network. The 2006 year will be interesting because new competitors are coming into the market place sources say.

We would like to acknowledge ALL our participating consumers and Shop Merchants across the U.S. that has contributed generously to the Tsunami relief fund. Our hearts and prayers are to the ones who had so little and lost so much. Here are more links to donate: www.usafreedomcorps.gov

A local Canadian Base, Bubble Tea distributor has bought out a large Tapioca distributor in Tokyo (Japan). Tapioca balls is also used to make the popular Pearl Tea drink.

Inside sources have put the take-over figure to be around $1.2 million (U.S.) The take-over is a clear business decision that will put CBT group in a better competitive position and more revenue for 2005 ending year.

Manufactures in Asia (Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore) is ecstatic about CBT group take-over. This would mean that their product can reach a bigger consumer market and stay competitive worldwide.

With an average of 1.2 million hits a month, Bubble Tea Media is proud to announce more media exposer to our advertisers. With local media across U.S.A., Canada, and other parts of Asia. This Industry network will continue to grow. Clearly we could not do this on our own. Many thanks to all the Bubble Tea shop owners, Manufactures around the world, and media outlets (radio, T.V., magazines etc) that have a tremendous impact in our name branding.

A local survey of 378 local stores proves that Bubble Tea business is still strong and profitable in Japan. Most consumers love the health benefits of Tea and the tasty fruit flavorings this drink has to offer.

Many International distributors and manufacturers are bringing in large profits due to the flexibility of the drink. This drink is great for all ages ..... .young and the old.

It's summertime once again... and what better way to cool off than to indulge in something icy ... something filling... something new... pearl shakes!

Pearl shakes originated in Vancouver, Canada. A young entrepreneur by the name of Genevieve Lim introduced them in the Philippines in April 1999 via Zagu Foods Corp. The venture has been so well received that many others followed suit. Today, almost every street corner and mall has a pearl shake stand.

Giving new meaning to the phrase "shaken, not stirred," teahouses like Saint's Alp and Tapioca Express, located all over the country, are serving the frothy, creamy, and/or fruity "bubble" or "pearl" iced tea blends that are giving frappuccinos a run for their money. Bubble and Pearl teas originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s and have since spread to U.S. metropolitan areas from coast to coast. Typically, a pear tea server uses a cocktail shaker to blend green or black tea with ice, milk, or cream, and a sweetener like sugar or syrup, then pours the concoction over a scoop of sweet, chewy tapioca pearls made of cassava root from tapioca starch. Bubble tea is any black, green, or flavored tea shaken with ice and a variety of fruit juices and syrups, producing little frothy bubbles at the top of the glass. Popular flavors at Saint's Alp on the NYU campus, says manager Steven Chin, include Kumquat Lime tea and frothy tapioca Taro Green tea.

A pearl shake is actually an innovation over the traditional sago. It is an ice-blended flavored drink with soft, chewy balls made from tapioca and yam, otherwise called as pearl, or sago. The sago, however, is black in color and quite big. Thus, the drink is not only thirst-quenching but also filling. In addition, the product is also packaged differently - usually in transparent plastic glass with big straw.

The product appeals to a broad base of consumers, both young and old. Ingredients - The ingredients include fruit powder, pearls (or sago), water, sugar, and crushed ice.

The fruit flavors are imported from Canada while the pearl shakes from Taiwan. They are locally available in Divisoria and Binondo, Manila. Sugar and crushed ice can be bought locally.

Flavors. There are more than 30 flavors of pearl shakes available in the market although not all are suited to the Filipino taste. The more common ones include buko pandan, chocolate, lychee, mocha, strawberry, ube and vanilla.

This is not just your average cup of tea. It's travelled all the way from Taiwa n. And now bubble tea is one of the trendiest new drinks in town. Hannah Da Silva dropped by one of Ottawa's new bubble tea shops to drink in the buzz about the bubbles.

Evo is the only Internet cafe on campus, but students don't go there for the Internet. It's t he tea.

Tapioca tea is milk and fruit juice mixed in with tapioca pearls; the menu lists it as "bubble tea" because of the round tapioca, which looks like bubbles, at the bottom. Drinks like this have made the cafe, located at 711 S. Sixth St., a popular hangout, especially among Asian students, senior in engineering Jamie Choi said.