Inevitably, Bubble (Boba) Tea is a major part of East Asian Culture. Being Asian Americans ourselves, we wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the origins of our favorite bubble tea stores and their announced mission. We divided into groups going separate ways to give our insights on three different Bubble Tea stores that we habitually visit. Here is what we found.
ViVi Bubble Tea
Vivi was founded in New York City in 2007 and later became a franchise in 2012. With its rise to popularity in the U.S, many stores opened across the nation. The founders declared their purpose of spreading and showing appreciation for traditional bubble tea and Asian culture. All ingredients are carefully selected and transported from Taiwan to ensure the best experience for customers.
Vivi Milk Tea comes with three selections: medium, large, and hot. It comes with a price range of 3.25 to 4.25, which is affordable considering the price to collect the ingredients and pay the workers fairly. For the review, I purchased a medium Vivi Milk Tea, and the experience summed up in one word is comfort. From its accessible stores all over New York City to its carefully thought out price to its fast delivery to customers. Vivi lives up to its purpose of creating the best experience for customers who want to partake in bubble tea culture. Speaking of the Milk Tea's taste, the combination of the milk and the tea creates a lasting taste that keeps you coming back for more. The little bobas replaced the emptiness of just drinking with another job for our mouths to do, utilizing the full functionality of our mouths to create the best experience for ourselves, almost like we earned the privilege of enjoying the drink.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Cost: ★★★★★
Yaya Tea
Known for their popping jellies in day-long brewed tea, Yaya flourishes with over 5 chains across NYC. A hotspot for high school students, workers, and the elderly, Yaya provides freshly made onigiri, or rice balls, along with snacks imported from Japan. Specifically for the Chinatown location, the names and bubble tea drinks were created by the stores’ very first customers.
Walking into the store, I was met with the alluring scent of various teas: black, white, and green. On my left, I found a rack of various snacks from Japan: spicy shrimp chips, pocky, and various flavors of kit-kat. To the right, there were Yaya hoodies, shirts, and plushies, showing off the cute designs special to this bubble tea store. The menu holds drinks that range from $3.00 to $5.25. Ordering the black bubble tea with popping tapioca, I was pleasantly surprised by the design of the cup. After Drinking the first sip, I felt refreshed as the milk tea had the taste of authentically brewed tea. Right after, the popping bubbles brought a surprising addition to the drink. Holding many memories, Yaya has always been a place that I could go to with friends after a long test that didn’t go so well or a celebration of graduation. Not only does the bubble tea and snacks fill our stomachs, but a small sticker at the bottom sends a message that hits directly at our hearts. Every time I go to Yaya, I always check the bottom of the cups. And each time, the message magically pertains to the events that happened before I came to the store. A gathering spot for friends, a bubble tea store, and an aesthetic Instagram site, Yaya is many things and will continue to shine brightly in the bubble tea industry.
Rating: ★★★★★
Cost:★★★☆☆
Ten Ren Tea
As I walked in, the first thing that caught my attention was the plain white walls decorated with classic Asian tea containers to the left. On the right, there’s a large green tile wall with the store logo in Chinese characters, perfect for photos and Instagram postings. Right next to the wall is the cashier register counter and the large menu on the wall, all safety protocols for Covid-19 are followed and the service was great.
The taste was distinct, although it is bubble milk tea, the taste of tea is extra heavy and intense but still well balanced in sweetness. Knowing the background of the tea store, the distinct flavor was reasonable and easily remembered. Ten Ren’s Tea Time offers much more than just a normal milk tea. If you’re a tea lover, then make sure you check out their fruit tea menu! If you’re here for something new, then the Summer Milk series is definitely the way to go with the delicious Mango Milk Ice!
Overall, Ten Ren’s Tea Time is stronger and specialized in the art of tea making, bubble tea does not fully express the true potentials of the tea’s aura and taste. Try out their hot tea in winter and milk ice in summer for the ultimate experience!
Rating:★★★☆☆
Cost:★★★★☆
Thank you for reading, and until next time!
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