U Cha Barley milk tea with boba: Continuing my bubble tea taste test across Berkeley, I found myself at a popular tea shop named U Cha on Bancroft. Their expansive menu has the fruit and milk tea flavors you expect from a Taiwanese-style chain. I ordered their barley tea with boba at 20% sweetness with little ice. The flavor was familiar but watered down and over-sweetened; the boba was too chewy. With better options, this one is a pass. 2.0/5.0
drinks berkeley bubbletea ucha barley milk tea boba 2.0
Late July Organic Mini Cheddar Cheese Crackers: This organic take on a classic snack suffers from the same flaws as Ritz: the crackers are over salted, and the serving size is too small. I don't see how it's possible to eat 13 mini crackers and not feel more hungry after the fact. Not recommended, especially considering the premium for an organic product. 2.0/5.0
cheese latejuly organic mini cheddar crackers 2.0
Alasehir Sarikz strawberry flavored sparking water: Purchased from the Turkish grocery store Sevan in Watertown, this brand of sparkling water comes in an assortment of fruit flavors. The stout green bottle provides just enough beverage to accompany a small meal. Flavorwise, the strawberry drink reminded me of fruit-flavored paste sometimes used in dental cleaning. Largely artificial, and not a drink I would purchase again. 2.0/5.0
drinks soda turkish alasehir sarikz strawberry flavored water 2.0 sparkling