Review: Winchester CUPP's new £10 sushi and tea meal deal

It all began back in 2009 when CUPP founders living in Taiwan spent their days sampling Taiwan’s huge variety of bubble tea shops, whether they be small vendors, bubble tea franchises or tea growers in the remotest areas.

As previously reported, Winchester’s CUPP branch in the high street recently began offering a new sushi meal deal to customers costing £12, but as an app member you can purchase it for £10.

READ MORE: Bubble tea store in city centre launches new Sushi range with £10 meal deal

The meal deal includes a regular-sized bubble tea, a range of snacks, most notably headlined by the new Dorayaki pancakes and a lunch-sized plate of either fish, meat or veggie sushi.

I was offered a meal deal to take back to the office and try out – and of course, I couldn't resist! I was excited to try the new deal, having spent time reading up on the brand and researching its most recent developments.

I opted for the ‘vege’ sushi, which delighted me with a variation of red pepper, carrot, cucumber and avocado with rice wrapped in nori seaweed, with the largest roll being encased in a subtle layer of sesame.

It was my first time trying sushi, so let’s say my expectations were high - I had nothing else to compare it to.

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I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of different flavours but there was a comforting consistency in how two rolls per filling were included. Despite looking fairly small and simple, I must say it was filling and definitely did not leave me walking to Tesco for an additional snack.

Speaking of snacks, I picked up the ‘strawberries and cream dorayaki pancake’, a type of food I have eaten actually in Japan, but CUPP’s pancake had filling options I have never come across before.

The fluffy pancake and sweet centre was perfectly balanced and light, and contrasted and ultimately complemented the aftertaste of the sushi very well indeed.

I was keen to take assistant manager TT Brett’s recommendation when it came to the bubble tea, which was a mango-flavoured ‘fruit tea’ with passion fruit popping bubbles, which blended so well together.

I was unsure upon approach to drinking this - what the bubbles would feel like? But I was pleasantly surprised when they were soft, not hard, easy to pop and the bubble options given with each flavour and type of drink were more than well-suited, my mango and passion fruit being the best signifier of that.

The customer service was exceptional, I felt welcomed and was thoroughly informed about the different products on offer.

For all the first-time bubble tea drinkers and sushi eaters out there who, until Friday were very much like me, I can promise you will return.

However, would I say that it would be worth £12? I’m not sure, honestly, if I would pay that.

Overall, I can see how it is a fun and yummy meal to enjoy as an alternative to your usual lunch and a treat to indulge in. After all, it’s right there on ancient Winchester’s gorgeous high street, open every day and always welcome for both new and returning customers.