It is hard to deny the impact of bubble tea on social media and culture around the world. The chewiness of the tapioca and distinct tea flavors help create a memorable experience for customers, while also prompting conversation on social media apps. However, with its popularity, prices for boba beverages have skyrocketed. So which tea shop upholds this costly value?
Since the pandemic, tourism rates in Chinatown have gone down in recent years. Bubble tea has helped Chinatown’s economy tremendously and is keeping shops open. Above all, I believe that it is of utmost importance that people support these local businesses and I encourage everyone to go to Chinatown to try these places out.
5) Tiger Sugar
Tiger Sugar is one of the more well known boba shops. A cool rarity is that they offer hot boba when normally bubble tea is served with ice. Sometimes the flavors can be overpowering, but you can also change the options like percentage of sweetness and amount of ice. This is based on personal preference, but it’s still great which is why it’s fifth. (photo: James Park)
4) Miss Du’s Tea Shop
A cute little bubble tea place on 33 Pell St. They offer a variety of flavors and toppings. Some you can get from other tea shops such as taro milk tea and mango sago—they have more items on the menu than just bubble tea though.
There is really friendly staff there who are thorough when taking your order. Some negatives is that drinks can be expensive—$4 to $8—and it can get busy during rush hour, especially in Chinatown since it’s near restaurants and tourist stores.
Miss Du’s specialty is making beverages—fruit and milk tea—with healthier ingredients which make them low in calories and sugar. It’s a great place to go to when you’re in the area. (photo: appeelingeats on instagram)
3) Alimama Tea
The service is great here! You can order at a kiosk and the order is normally done around 5-10 minutes.
Not only do they serve great boba tea, there are also mochi donuts, cream puffs and munchkins—they fill the cream puffs to the brim. Alimama Tea offers unique flavors for their specialty items such as Vietnamese coffee, yuzu, and brown sugar boba.
The only downside is that they only serve their drinks with whole milk and there is no option to choose a different kind. Despite this, it’s also a peaceful place to sit and drink your tea with a cream puff. It is next to Yu & Me Books which is the first book store in NYC owned by Asian-American women. (photo: Trip Advisor)
2) Chicha San Chen
Chicha San Chen is a Taiwanese-American boba shop that is famous for its originality. Customers are able to see the workers make their drinks—it’s like a factory line. During rush hour, there are long lines, but it is worth the wait, I promise.
It is no wonder why the tea is so flavorful because they prioritize fresh ingredients including their tea leaves from their own tea mountain in Taiwan. (photo: Jean Park)
Honorable Mention: Smoove Ice Cream
Smoove isn’t really known for their bubble tea which is why it’s an honorable mention; however, they do serve boba float drinks which are delicious and great for the summer. (photo: Smoove Ice Cream)
1) HEYTEA
HEYTEA offers their signature teas including milk teas, fruit teas, and cheese teas. Customers can choose their toppings, type of milk and whether or not they want cold or hot tea. Their tea is the right amount of sweetness and the tapioca melts in your mouth.
The only downside about this shop is that it can be expensive depending on what you buy. (Prices range from $6.99 to $13.99). Regardless, the distinct flavor is worth every penny. Similar to Chicha San Chen, HEYTEA serves fresh and healthy drinks. In fact, they are known for using a refractometer to maintain consistent fruit sugar that adds to the authenticity. (photo: HEYTEA)
However, no matter which bubble tea shop you choose to go to in Chinatown, know that you are supporting a local business. After all, boba is where the heart is.
