Bubble tea may be an acquired taste for anyone not from South East Asia. But give yourself a treat: acquire it. On the lower level of the Wheaton Mall, not far from the entrance to Target, is a dynamic young Asian couple who whiz around like dervishes making all manner of cold or frozen drinks, from fruit smoothies to milk shakes.

But their Bubble Teas are where the fun is. A plastic cup is passed across the counter with the largest straw you've ever seen. It's to hoover up the big tapioca beads that slump to the bottom of your drink. Bubble Tea comes in any number of flavors but my favorite is Thai Milk Tea, a familiar flavor but sweet. You suck, you chew. A good Bubble Tea maker won't keep the tapioca overnight. This little vending area is so busy, its lines are often so long it probably wouldn't be able to, even if they supported the suggestion - which seems unlikely.

Bubble Tea Cafe, lower level near Target, Wheaton Plaza Regional Shopping Center, 1160 Veirs Mill Rd, Wheaton, MD