Snowdays Creamsicle shaved ice with coconut ash condensed milk: A collaboration between Korean fast-casual chain Korilla and Taiwanese shaved ice shop Snowdays, this dessert combines orange creamsicle shaved ice with a drizzle of black charcoal-colored condensed milk, giving it the appearance of Korilla's tiger mascot. Available exclusively at the Korilla stand at Madison Square Eats, a single-size container costs around $7, which is quite expensive but can also easily be shared among a small family. Overall, the dessert is not bad; the milky coconut p... (read more) 3.0/5.0
desserts shavedice taiwanese nyc korilla collab snowdays creamsicle shaved ice coconut ash condensed milk 3.0
Sweet Belly Desserts Rosie Milk Tea Soft Serve: Sweet Belly Desserts is a small shop around the corner from the 19th Street Oakland BART station. They have a rotating menu of seasonal soft serve flavors as well as mini donuts with housemade glazes and dips. I ordered just the softserve, without any toppings, which cost a little more than $5. This particular flavor is an excellent tribute to floral milk teas, capturing the herbal yet creamy essence of black milk tea along with an aromatic rose flavor. And it wasn't too sweet! Textuall... (read more) 4.0/5.0
oakland softserve icecream sweetbellydesserts rosie milk tea soft serve 4.0 recommended
Sweetheart Cafe Taiwan Style Milk Tea with Boba: This hole-in-the-wall on Durant in Berkeley features a small counter overflowing with asian snacks and walls plastered with laminated drink menus (items listed in Chinese followed by English). The first time I stopped by shortly after it opened its doors for the day, I was informed that the boba had not yet been delivered from Oakland, where they have a sister cafe. Returning several weeks later on an impulse at around 11pm (they are open past midnight on the weekends), I opted for their T... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks bubbletea boba sweetheartcafe taiwan style milk tea 4.0
Sweetheart Cafe Jasmine milk tea with boba: Sweetheart Cafe is a small bubble tea shop on Durant right on the south edge of UC Berkeley's main campus. The main draw to this inexpensive mom and pop shop is their boba, which as far as I'm concerned is unrivaled in the Bay Area for its chewiness and overall consistency. The Jasmine milk tea that I purchased alongside the boba had an identifiable Jasmine tea flavor but was more milk than tea. Would not be surprised at all if it was powder-based. 4.5 for the boba, 3.0 for the tea. Overall... (read more) 3.5/5.0
drinks boba bobatea milktea berkeley bubbletea sweetheartcafe jasmine milk tea 3.5
Sweetheart Cafe Almond milk tea with boba: Every few months, I stop by Sweetheart Cafe for their preternaturally chewy boba, despite the fact that I’ve never had a particularly good drink here. This time, I waited patiently in line after a group of Cal students arrived for their bubble tea fix at 10pm (the busiest I’ve seen the place, though now that I think about it, I’ve only ever gone there at night). The almond milk tea had a sweet and predictable flavor (even at half sweetness), but the boba was very good. I wonder if they would... (read more) 3.0/5.0
berkeley bubbletea milktea sweetheartcafe almond milk tea boba 3.0
Tea Addicts Oolong milk tea with grass jelly: I love the herbal flavor and slippery texture of grass jelly, so I'm especially excited when I find a bubble tea shop that makes it just right (not too firm or sweet). Tea Addict's grass jelly is excellent and generous, and their oolong milk tea (which I purchased at 25% sweetness) was well balanced, tasting first of oolong tea with a creamy, milky finish. Easily one of the best bubble tea shops I've had here in Seattle. 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks seattle teaaddicts oolong milk tea grass jelly 4.0