No one can deny New York's uniqueness. There's something for everyone here, from cat cafes, to niche pop-ups, there are even ninja-themed restaurants! So, as an avid boba-lover myself, (that's right, it's called boba, not bubble tea), I thought I'd discover what's new with the boba scene in and around NYU.
I was hoping that while exploring some of the new stores I've been eyeing around campus, I would be able to branch out from my usual order of rose milk tea and try different specialities. Here's how it went:
Moge Tee
You usually know whether a boba shop's gonna be good based off of the amount of Chinese that's spoken the minute you enter. And believe me, there was literally a wave of Chinese that washed over me the minute I opened the door. Nancy, one of the co-owners, explained to me that Moge Tee strives for freshness and authenticity. Having originated in Guangdong, they know that consumers are becoming more conscious about the origin and quality of their food and drinks, so they make sure to create their drinks from scratch, using only the freshest ingredients bought the same day.
They have two other locations in New York: one in Flushing, and the other in Chinatown. But interestingly enough, their location in the East Village is the only one that's a sit-down. And, according to Nancy, it's so that the local students can sit down and enjoy their drinks.
Their drinks are definitely tasty as well. Their avocado tea is definitely something easy on the tastebuds and mind. Not only is it creamy, smooth, and refreshing, but it's also healthy! It's a definite must-try for anyone looking to satisfy their avocado cravings.
If you like milky drinks, their purple yam dirty milk shake is for you! Their whole dirty milk shake series has a full-bodied taste thanks to the use of black sugar in their drinks and boba, and the purple yam gives it some extra richness and texture. Last but not least, their matcha cheese foam peach oolong tea is also a force to be reckoned with. It's a handful to say, but the saltiness of the cheese foam surprisingly compliments the slight bitterness of the fruity tea.
They also have a dessert collaboration in the works, so stay tuned!
Mi Tea
If you're more into fruity flavors and different toppings, then Mi Tea is your spot. Everything is made fresh each day, including their unique toppings. Their taro balls are made per order, and they even set aside three hours every morning to prepare their mango pudding; a truly impressive amount of effort is put into maintaining the high quality of their products. Mi Tea was founded in Hangzhou, and opened an additional store in Flushing just last year. To ensure their signature and authentic taste, they import all their tea from China!
Now, onto their drinks. Their matcha cheese foam oolong tea has just the right amount of savory and sweet. If you don’t like too much sweetness in your drinks, then this is for you. I also love their green tea with mixed fruits, a refreshing and fragrant drink that I often use as a pick-me-up. Not pictured, and yet my favorite, is their milk with mango coconut pudding. Made with coconut milk and their signature mango pudding, this drink contains no caffeine at all, meaning you can enjoy it at any time of day.
They also have an extensive array of desserts like the pineapple mousse, pictured above. They only make a select number every day, so make sure to get one before they run out!
Interested in checking Mi Tea out? Show this article at check out to get 10% off drinks and 20% off desserts within the next two weeks!
Kung Fu Tea
If you have even a remote interest in boba, you've probably already heard of Kung Fu Tea. This brand has definitely made a big name for itself in the past few years, striving to be three things: fresh, innovative, and fearless. To uphold these values, they brew fresh tea leaves every three hours, and make fresh boba every two hours. As for their menu, Kung Fu Tea pretty much has everything, from milk teas, to fruity blends, to even slushies, so fulfilling your boba cravings is a non-issue.
My personal favorite, however, is the wintermelon tea with milk cap. Wintermelon tea is actually more of a traditional flavor and is one of those that you either like or don’t. It’s a light, sweet tea complimented with the creaminess of the milk cap.
Kung Fu Tea has been brewing something special at their new store on 23rd Street, between Park and Lex. The store marks the start of their partnership with TKK Chicken, a well-known Taiwanese fried chicken food chain, founded in 1974. Their goal, according to owner and co-founder Michael Wen, is to “introduce another international comfort food to America -starting with Manhattan, the heart of NYC.” This will be TKK Chicken’s first location in America and judging by the long lines for Kung Fu Tea’s new location, looks like they're here to stay.