Bursting Boba is being used to garnish G&T’s across South Africa ahead of the continued gin boom

Johannesburg, Gauteng: The Bubble Tea Shop Online (BTSO) today announced the launch of their Boba Gift Set, a collection of their 3 most popular flavours of Bursting Boba, Blueberry, Strawberry and Granadilla, which is set to hit major online retailers and liquor stores around South Africa in August 2019. Bursting Boba (also known as Popping Pearls or Juice Balls) are delicious balls of bright fruit juice covered in a thin gel like film that bursts on your tongue and come ready to serve for fast, easy preparation.

Bursting Boba originally gained popularity as a topping for Bubble Tea, a traditional Taiwanese tea-based drink but now these little balls of juice are being picked up by gin enthusiasts and being used to garnish their gins, cocktails and prosecco.

“We’re just giving gin some balls,” says Stuart Jenkins, director of sales at BTSO “we took our 3 most popular flavours, which our customers are using to give their gin and tonic a fresh new take, stacked them vertically and then wrapped them in gorgeous packaging, ready to be packed next to your favourite gin on the shelf”

Gin has seen tremendous growth over the past few years in South Africa and is expected to see a steady increase in sales for the year to come. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) released its end of year market report that showed Gin grew by 53% in sales last year in Great Britain alone, which may be a good indication of a future growth trend to come in South Africa. With the Craft Gin scene flourishing locally, people are looking for new ways to personalise their drinks, whether it be with an artisanal tonic or delicious garnishes.

BTSO noticed a surprising increase in customers visiting their online store to buy products for gin. “Since the beginning of 2019, about 40% of our sales for Bursting Boba are made by gin enthusiasts,” says Stuart. They have now since created a ‘Love Gin’ product category to cater for their new clientele.

Features of the Boba Gift Set:

• 3 popular flavours. Blueberry, Strawberry and Granadilla; perfect to pair with most gins and prosecco.
• They are ready made. Refining your G&T has never been easier.
• Each boba contains real fruit juice, is vegan friendly and gluten free.

The Boba Gift Set will be available starting 1 August 2019 at R240.00 For more information on the Boba Gift Set, visit www.bubbleteashoponline.co.za

About BTSO: Bubble Tea Shop Online is South Africa’s leading supplier of bubble tea ingredients and niche drink products. No matter what BTSO is creating, it always chooses the best ingredients possible to deliver the highest quality product for drinkers seeking more than the average.

Every Wednesday to Sunday from 4pm it is Gin O’Clock time at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa! Yet another special treat they have stirred and shaken up for their patrons where a professional Gin-ologist creates some magical infusions! Each week a selection of gins are selected from the wide range of local and international brands, with the exception of Monkey47, which is a favourite staple. There are hundreds of beautiful crafted gins, each with a signature taste infusion and interesting story and journey.

The making of gin cocktails is an art form with room for experimentation and creativity utilising the infused botanicals, primarily Juniper Berry and coaxing them out to intoxicate your senses.   The Fairlawns in-house creative Gin-Genius is passionate about his craft and specialises in Gin-based creations. He’ll ask you for your personal tastes and create a delicious cocktail just for you. You can choose your ingredients from a selection of fruits and herbs, and combine them with a choice of four gins and variety of tonics.

This ‘Gin Genie’ of the bottle has a knack for finding the right balance between sweet and bitter. Mint is a key ingredient to cut through the alcohol and brings together scent and taste in one sensation. Rosemary can also be used to delicately balance on the surface of the drink.   Gin is a versatile base for many creative cocktails and one can even try a shake with Elderflower tonic. The end result of each drink is as visually enticing as it is tasty on the tongue and fragrant on the nose.    At Gin O’Clock, all you have to do is sit back and relax on the peaceful terrace at Fairlawns and enjoy the sights and sounds of the luscious garden environment. It is a refreshing end to any day with every sense engaged.

PS – an insider secret, after 6pm – the gin bar moves to the Muse Champagne Room, where the sunset is the backdrop and the experimental elixirs continue!   A must for Gin Lovers!

Fairlawns continues to bring you unique spaces and enchanting experiences to suit your every need or preference. The venue keeps on delighting and surprising us with more!   To book call Fairlawns on 011-808 7300 or visit www.fairlawns.co.za.