163 Vietnamese Sandwich milk tea with boba: When I end up in Chinatown, I always attempt to find a decent bubble tea shop. Did I find it in this highly rated spot? Alas, no. The tea was diluted, the sugar crystals not fully dissolved such that every few sips, I'd get a crunch. The boba was even worse, with a mushy texture that was far too soft. Which leaves me with the question: is there any decent bubble tea to be found in Boston's "Chinatown"? 1.5/5.0
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50 Tea Longan Red Date drink with grass jelly: On my last visit to Oakland, iTea was out of ice and only offering hot beverages. Given the beautiful weather, I decided to go across the street to a new tea shop instead. Named 50 Tea, the shop is iconic Chinatown – half of the storefront is for tea and ice cream while the other half is for purchasing various goods like DVDs and small trinkets and gifts. Their walls are covered in hand-written menu additions with distinctly Asian flavors like winter melon and sour plum. I opted for thei... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Abide Monarch black sesame and matcha bubble tea with boba: In the 9 years I spent in Cambridge, we never had a dependable bubble tea shop. The short-lived bubble tea shop in Kendall was just ok, but since it was close to lab, I’d sometimes find myself there for quick meetings. Upon returning to Cambridge for mystery hunt, I visited a pop up boba shop at the Middlesex lounge with a diverse menu of tea and fruit drinks incorporating ingredients like peppercorn and cloves and with names like Binary and The Monarch. I ordered the latter, a hot milk tea ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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Andy & Cindy Thai Cuisine's Thai Iced Tea: Available at Berkeley's Saturday farmers market, this refreshing beverage is mixed to order, transforming a decently strong cup of black tea into a familiarly Garfield shade of orange as soon as the dairy is mixed in. Very sweet, but a nice companion for strolling through the market on a beautiful day. 3.5/5.0
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Asha tea Blueberry green tea: Another great fruit tea from Asha tea in Berkeley. The drink is tea-first, with a mild herbal flavor that’s clean and refreshing. It pairs well with the fresh blueberry pulp, which turns the drink a deep shade of purple. 4.0/5.0
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Asha Tea Mango green tea with grass jelly: Asha tea is a winner when it comes to making bubble tea that actually tastes like tea. I've found their fruit teas more successful at striking the tea-sweet-flavoring balance than their milk teas, tasting like tea flavored with a bit of fruit rather than vice versa. The mango green tea has a bit of texture from mango pulp, and herbal jelly adds a delicate herbal texture. Lightly sweetened. 4.0/5.0
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