隨著冬天過去，現在已經是春天了，而天氣也即將越來越熱了，可能是這個原因，家附近的傳統市場內，開了一家飲料店，居然是北投紅茶這個品牌，之前我是在北投看到這個品牌，本來以為是本地品牌，只有北投地區才有，沒想到，這品牌加盟布局迅速，我之前在某些夜市也看到過北投紅茶，沒想到居然連我家附近的小市場，也能看到這品牌。
我對於北投紅茶的印象，就是價格親民，我特別中意它的快樂茶，以綠茶及烏龍茶按特定比例調製，茶味還算濃，夏天喝很清涼解渴，至於它的招牌，北投紅茶的口感我覺得和快樂茶差不多，所以我都點快樂茶，假如我想多些變化，我會點黑糖粉圓紅茶，口感就像是沒加奶的珍珠奶茶，以四十元台幣的價錢來說，我可以接受。
對於曾經是學生的我而言，冷飲店是放學後的小聚點，常常放學後，和幾個要好的同學站在店門口討論要喝什麼，有人喜歡嘗鮮，所以只喝新品，有人只喝熟悉的口味，最後大家拿著不同顏色的飲料，一邊聊天一邊慢慢走向下一個目的地，長大後我就比較少喝飲料了，一方面是飲料變貴了，另一方面是常喝不太健康，不過，飲料店競爭激烈、更迭迅速，常常看到新品牌突然出現，又飛快地消失，不過，家附近多了一家飲料店總是好事，讓我多了更多的選擇。
Now that winter is over, it’s officially spring, and the weather is about to get hotter and hotter. Maybe because of that, a new drink shop has opened inside the traditional market near my home. What surprised me is that it’s the 北投紅茶 brand. I used to see this brand in Beitou, so I originally thought it was just a local brand that only existed in that area. Later, I started noticing it at some night markets, and now I’m surprised that even the small market near my home has one too. It seems their franchise expansion has been pretty fast.
My impression of Beitou Black Tea is that the prices are quite affordable. My favorite drink there is Happy Tea, which is made by mixing green tea and oolong tea in a certain ratio. The tea flavor is fairly strong, and it feels especially refreshing and thirst-quenching in summer. As for their signature Beitou black tea, I think the taste is pretty similar to Happy Tea, so I usually just order Happy Tea instead. If I want something different, I’ll go for brown sugar pearl black tea. It tastes like bubble tea without milk, and for NT$40, I think that’s a reasonable price.
Back when I was a student, drink shops were a common hangout spot after school. My friends and I would often stand in front of the shop discussing what to order. Some people liked trying new drinks and only ordered seasonal specials, while others always stuck with familiar flavors. In the end, everyone would walk away holding different-colored drinks, chatting as we slowly headed to our next destination.
Now that I’m older, I drink less often. One reason is that drinks have become more expensive, and another is that drinking them too often isn’t very healthy. Still, the drink shop business is highly competitive, and brands change quickly — new ones appear suddenly, then disappear just as fast. So having one more drink shop near my home still feels like a good thing, because at least it gives me another option when I want something cold to drink.