Absolutely delicious tea. You can really tell the quality is on another level, and the flavor profiles are unique and creative. Ken made the experience truly stand out though. Super passionate, knowledgeable, and clearly really into tea in the best way possible He took the time to ask what I liked and recommended the Galle Ceylon, which was spot on. read more

Desouro has amazing tea! The owner Ken is vey attentive with guests and made sure we were satisfied with everything. Really cool design inside, reminds me a bit of a museum. It's a to go spot so no seating inside, but there were tables and chairs outside. Red Jade tea was amazing!! They have a great matcha as well. read more

The drinks are intentionally flavored and customizable, the staff are really kind and helpful, and the spot is stylish/clean with lots of customers. I've brought many friends here and it's a hit everytime. Highly recommend if you're looking for something new! read more

ive been wanting to visit ever since orobae closed and wanted to see if its just as good. i was in the area during the first month it opened but unfortunately they had leaking issues so i didnt get to try their drinks until over half a year later. we visited on a wednesday and there was a short line but it moved pretty quickly. there werent any seats or tables inside, more of a grab and go kinda place. the cashier was well trained and gave us some informational explanations about their teas. i got the oolong number 13 (9/10) and it was very smooth, rich, and creamy. the oolong is strong (in a good way) and my drink had a faint fruity flavor that was pleasantly surprising. i chose 4 as my sweetness and it was still decently sweet. the tea and milk balanced well with the perfectly cooked boba and i really enjoyed my drink! the only downside is that there was only one size. overall, a very positive experience and id def come more often if i lived in the area, but id be interested in coming back to try some of their other drinks! read more

Desouro - oolong number 13 - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Was eating next door at Kaju Tofu and saw no line at Desouro after dinner (which is rare!), so I seized the opportunity to grab me a lil nightcap tea. Still super bummed they never brought back my fav Orobae Gyokuro green tea, I decided to change things up tonight and try the Desouro Phoenix No. 2 Pure Oolong Tea. I paired it with the new Black Tea jelly and it was DEElish & refreshing! I got level 4 sweetness + half ice, which was just perfect for me. Desouro is always consistent when it comes to the quality of their teas and preparation of their drinks. That's what I've always loved about them. You can tell they really care about the tea, and I appreciate that consistency. I'm also glad they've fine-tuned the service to be more efficient since reopening. The line madness is definitely a lil more bearable now. Still holding out hope that my Gyokuro makes a comback someday, though! RxFoodie recommends if you're looking for good-quality teas & something new to try! read more

See all

Don't like the new cups, feel like they are a bit cheap looking and the lid is kind of hard to cap on. The owner is still in there with the staff and they're still trying to upkeep the branding of customer service, but I feel like maybe they were trying to expand options too fast rather than quality for value so unfortunately I don't think its worth the price. I remember the staff before being more well trained on their menu but thats probably attributing to a better quality of life haha. We got the osmanthus buckwheat tea which is similar to toroteas popcorn tea but a little more watery. I got the tea jelly but the toppings seem less and it cost a lot to add more toppings. The guava slush was on the sweeter side and has guava flavor, but missing body. The peach oolong tea was not anything special but 50% sweet was okay (probably recommend level 2). Maybe its because I didn't get the rising phoenix this time, but I do feel it taste more watery compared to before and doesn't offer the same ambiance. I think some research is needed into torotea or chichasanchen as they are similar competitors. I hope the owner is able to revamp and change directions to hone in on a specialty quality menu as I remember he was quite passionate and feel bad to see the drop. read more

Desouro - Bona - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

After giving it a second try, I've sadly come to the conclusion that there's just a lil somethin' somethin' missing from Desouro's oolong milk tea that just misses the mark Orobae left... but it's still a pretty solid tea option if you're grabbing a bite nearby in the plaza. They've continued the ritual of asking you to try your drink after it's been made to make sure you're truly satisfied with your order and the shop is actually open to customers now instead of the tent set-up that Orobae had (although theres still no seating available indoors, there is a bathroom). read more

Desouro - Rising Buddha milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I liked the service and the flavor of the tea. We went there when there were trainees so it seemed like they weren't as familiar with the different types of teas at that point when we were asking for suggestions. Overall the quality of the drinks is good. read more

See all

One of the best Oolong Milk Teas I've had! DRINKS: 8/10 I ordered the No. 2 Oolong Milk Tea with Level 3 sweetness. The drink is very rich, smooth, silky, and creamy. One of the best milk tea's I've honestly had. I docked few points because personal preference, I wish it was colder and they added more ice. It tasted a bit luke warm. However, for taste, no notes! I thought the prices were great as well! SERVICE: 10/10 Wonderful service! The staff member that helped me was very nice. She made my drink as well and also asked me to try it first just in case it needs to be adjusted. Maybe that was my opportunity to possibly ask for more ice but I didn't think anything of it at the time haha. AMBIANCE: 10/10 I love now dainty, minimalistic, and simple the shop is. Their statement trimming on their wall pieces with their cream-bone white colored paint was very nice. It was giving Kim K vibes hahaha. read more

See all

Desouro matcha is gas. Great service, great matcha. Lines are very long but it's worth it

Waited in line and tried a matcha drink, it was creamy, smooth, with just a hint of bitterness. And the caffeine in the drink was super strong. This place is set up more like a take-out only shop as there are only a handful of seating available outside. Workers are knowledgeable of their drinks and work hard to serve up drinks as quickly as possible. read more

Desouro - Desouro Matcha Blend - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

No wait on a Wednesday around 6PM. Strong tea flavors, and the various types of Oolong actually taste different. Bitter but perfect at lvl 2 sweetness and half ice. Boba was OK - fresh, warm, but somehow still a bit hard for my taste and too chewy. Not worth for a $1 surcharge. The service here stands out - the cashier barista really took her time to recommend drinks according to our preferences (PURE Metal Goddess Oolong and Phoenix #2, $5.15 each), and upon pick up, they tear the straw packaging for us to grab. I would come back to try other drinks and the black tea jelly. read more

Desouro - Phoenix #2, medal Goddess #2 $5.15 each - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

One of my top boba spots now for sure! The modernness and the simplicity of the shop is such a good move. Great service too-- the cashier was able to explain the flavor notes to the milk teas and provide suggestions based off my preferences. Drinks also came out fairly quick and they're really great with having you try your drink to ensure the drink is up to your standards. The quality of the milk teas are like ChiCha San Chen, which makes sense cause they brew their teas a similar way with an espresso-like machine. I got the rising buddha oolong milk tea with boba and the oak fired oolong milk tea. I loved both of them cause oolong milk tea is my favorite tea and they were able to perfectly bring out the nutty, creamy, and roasted flavor profile! I honestly wish this boba spot was closer to me cause I would be a frequent customer, but I would literally make the trip to Irvine just for this boba spot! read more

See all

Really love the tea here, but the lids on these cups are unreliable. I ordered three drinks that were given to me in the carrier. When I got to my car and picked up one of the cups, the lid popped off and tea spilt all over the bag. Luckily it didn't get all over the car, but it was still a sticky mess. Then when I got home, one of the drinks in the bag wasn't even mine! They had bagged the wrong drink!! My husband had to drive all the way back to the store to get my drink. read more

Very creative tea, with expensive toppings. The shop was set up in a weird way, the right corridor is a dead end with dead space. The left corridor is narrow and long, which you line up to pick up your drinks. The saturday line wasnt too bad. Way less than expected. The service was good, the cashier was friendly and the tea baristas were quick with the artisan tea creations. The drinks were made in a timely manner. The taste was good but, nothing spectacular. Overall, its a 4.4 out of 5. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I've come back several times since my last review and am happy to see that they've done away with the "Yes, chef!" chant. Service is still friendly and efficient. Desouro remains my go-to spot in OC for a fragrant oolong milk tea. read more

See all

There are two registers to order from. After ordering, wait on the left if you got tea or milk tea, and on the right if you ordered something like matcha. The place felt a little "uppity" for a boba shop, but the staff were all friendly and upbeat. They also have a drink guarantee where they'll remake your drink if you're not satisfied, and if you still don't like it, it's on the house. I thought Desouro was mostly hype because of its ties to Orobae, but the tea really is high quality. As someone who prefers dark, roasty teas, I really enjoyed the Metal Buddha Oolong with its intense smoky notes. Level 2 sweetness and half ice were perfect for me, and the boba was fresh and chewy. The prices were surprisingly competitive for Irvine. I'd come back to try more of their teas, especially with the tea jelly topping. Overall, Desouro definitely delivers when it comes to tea. read more

See all

We had an amazing time at Desouro! We saw a very long line after we ate at a nearby restaurant and knew we had to check it out. The interior reminds me of the Getty Museum and we are greeted by one of the nicest people ever we learned that they had a "perfect drink" policy where if you don't like the drink, they will remake it for you. Not pictured is the guava slush that we absolutely finished before we got back home. We got the red jade milk tea home and it was incredible! I can't wait for my next visit! read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

I came to Desouro with my friend Melissa L. after we had lunch at Nep in the same plaza. Desouro is a tea connoisseur's dream. They have a lot of fancy equipment and they make your tea fresh by the order. Despite being busy, the staff here is quick and efficient and the orders come out in a reasonable amount of time considering how busy they are. My friend had the Red Jade Black Milk Tea ($5.75) and I had the Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea ($4.95) with Tapioca ($1.00). I could really taste the earthy notes in my milk tea and really enjoyed it. The tapioca were fresh and chewy. I think they're so busy you are guaranteed a fresh batch of tapioca. Really excited for this spot for when I'm in the mood for a quality cup of tea! Until next time! read more

See all

Tried the Buddha Milk Tea from Desouro and really enjoyed it! It's creamy, smooth, and has a nice balance of tea flavor without being overly sweet. The drink is simple but flavorful, and the texture is really satisfying. Definitely a refreshing choice when you're craving milk tea. Would definitely order it again! read more

Desouro - Desouro buddha milktea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Never disappoints. We recently visited the area again and made three visits. The staff is consistently friendly and welcoming. Drinks are consistently delicious and keeps us coming back for more. Our favs still are the Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea, their new white peach oolong milk tea (previously no milk tea option), and mango slush. read more

See all

Super classy and modern feel to getting milk tea! I finished eating at Sup Noodle Bar and my friends and I were craving a sweet treat. Desouro is a few stores next to it so it was perfect! The trainee that was helping us was so informative about the teas and gave us recommendations on what we like and what we don't like. I decided on trying the Hokkaido milk tea and before I was charged, she mentioned that this particular drink is a 50/50 between customers. I decided to take the gamble and try it with 70% sugar. When our drink was ready, the girl that served it to us made it feel like a whole experience. She presented us the drinks and opened our straws for us to try on the spot to see if we needed any adjustments on sugar or if we just liked it in general. She also offered to change our drinks if we didn't like it. While we were trying our drinks, she did also explain that all of the teas are made to order and not brewed ahead of time. Drink: Hokkaido Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea (7/10): Okay to be fair, they literally said that it was a 50/50 for their customers. At first, it was a complete miss for me but I wanted to ride it out to see if it would taste better later on. The issue for me is that milk teas are supposed to be icey cold when you get it. I know that they brew it to order and that the tea will melt the ice but it just wasn't cold enough for me when I first sipped on it. It did get better as I was walking out the door and to my car. It was getting colder as I was drinking it and it did taste pretty good. The flavor profiles are nutty and aromatic with a hint of sweetness per sip. The flavor profile that they list seem pretty sweet since they say there's caramel and toffee nut but it wasn't as sweet and intimidating as the menu states. I also got to try a sip of the Desouro Phoenix No. 2 and No. 13 Oolong Milk Tea and a regular No. 2 (no milk) and they were all pretty good too! I like how aromatic the teas all are but still wish that it was colder when you receive them. read more

Desouro - Hokkaido Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

The line was a bit long when we got to the front I realized why. Possibly the best customer service I've ever had at a boba shop. The cashier took her time to explain different milk tea options and what they taste like and was also super friendly! I got the honey red jade black milk tea 50% sweet with black tea jelly and it was really yummy! Not too sweet, not too milky, and had a nice tea flavor too. Definitely would come again. No seating inside so also a to go place. read more

Desouro - honey red jade black milk tea with black tea jelly (right) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Plenty of parking spaces. They don't have any indoor seating, but they do have some tables set outside. I ordered the Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea, and it was strong in tea and had a 'nutty' flavor. You can try the drink, and if you don't like it, you can always let them know, and they'll remake it for you. Recommendation(s): - Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Plenty of parking spaces - Accept Apple Pay - No indoor seating, but outdoor seating is available read more

Haven't been here since Orobae closed down, but this is very much like Orobae! I was surprised there was still decently long line for this since I thought the hype has died down, but the line goes by pretty quickly at least. I got to order the No. 13 Oolong Milk Tea at level 3 sweetness (I should have gotten level 2). It was pretty nice! It's definitely very milky, but the flavors were pretty good. It's not as roasty as I liked it to be, but definitely heavier on the milk side. The interior reminds me like we're ordering at a hotel haha. There's no seating inside, but only enough for you to standby and wait for drinks. I would say everything is pretty similar to Orobae. read more

Desouro - No. 13 Oolong Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Liked the mild golden buckwheat flavor; noisy. Excellent experience except for the noise. I wanted to have a good convo about the new flavor. Too noisy, though. The server and I had to repeat what we said to each other. Consider switching off the air door that provides a continuous noise. Instead, use more powerful HVAC to get the same airflow with less noise read more

Desouro - Golden buckwheat - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

My friend introduced me to Desouro while I visited her for the weekend. She told me Desouro replaced Orobae, which closed a while back. She loved Orobae for its somewhat bitter aromatic tea, but I honestly was not a fan, so I was curious to try its replacement. We were greeted soon after entering by an enthusiastic bobarista. Since we weren't quite ready to order, she turned to help someone else. Very soon after, another bobarista came to the front to take our orders instead. I decided to get the tropical sunset green tea at a level 3 sweetness and half ice. We waited just a few minutes until our drinks were ready. Everyone I interacted with in-store was made aware it was my first visit. The bobarista who called my name and handed me my drink told me to let her know if it was not to my liking, and she'd make me something else instead if it were the case. This was the same policy Orobae had, so it was nice to see it carried over. I'll be honest that the tea was not exactly what I expected. It was more floral than tropical. If I had to name it, I'd call it something like morning dew or sunrise nectar, as it had a very light tea flavor like something refreshing you'd drink early in the day. I asked if it could be made stronger but was informed only the sugar level could be adjusted, not the strength of the tea. I decided to keep it since I really didn't want to waste it, and it was pretty good for what it was. read more

Desouro - fruit tea menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

i've been wanting to try out desouro since the rebrand, so i decided to come here on a friday evening for a sweet treat. it was pretty crowded with the line out the door, but it moved relatively fast! i am not the biggest fan of the layout tho where you go down a cramped side in order to pick up your drink. as someone with a broken foot who had to use a scooter to get around, this was not convenient at all, and i would have liked it if the pick up counter was more accessible. moving onto the drinks, i got the red jade black milk tea with sweetness level 4 and boba. i should have gotten less sweet bc this was definitely on the too sweet side for me where i couldnt taste the tea as much. i tried out my friends' drinks where they got one of the many oolong options and less sweet, and i enjoyed it a lot more! if i come back again, i'd definitely get one of the oolong milk teas with a sweetness of 3 or less. read more

Desouro - red jade black milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

5 stars for having caffeine free options that aren't just brown sugar milk! They now offer a buckwheat rooibos milk tea and a osmanthus buckwheat milk tea. It's so good and still satisfies the milk tea craving without the caffeine side effects I now get because I'm old... Service was good and quick but it was a Tuesday night at 6. read more

White peach oolong milk tea (non floral tea, non dairy creamer) with 4 swt and half ice. So good! First experience here and can't wait to come back and try other items! The staff are knowledgeable and friendly here! Hopefully they will have the coffee bar portion available next time I visit. Also, I hope they will have other alt milk options like oat milk available because even their non-dairy creamer affects me. read more

Desouro - White peach oolong milk tea (non floral tea, non dairy creamer) with 4 swt and half ice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

We went to Desouro on a weekend afternoon and we just beat the rush. The cashier/barista was there at the front to greet you and take your order. Unlike other tea places, Desouro asks you if you need help picking an item to try! She asked us what type of tea we like, do we like it fruitier, stronger etc. There are also a lot of customizations to be had and with each drink choice they make sure you know what the flavor notes will be! The line after we ordered was quite quick it was maybe less than 5 minutes to receive our drinks. They had us try the drinks before we left to make sure we liked it which was a nice touch! I tried the Hokkaido Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea ($5.95) with boba added (+$1). Their boba is some of the best I've had in awhile! It was perfectly chewy. The flavor of the tea was great and what they noted. Definitely very sweet, feels like a dessert and you get strong notes of caramel. We also tried the Galle Ceylon Black Milk Tea ($5.75) + boba ($1). It was great and had a nice floral tea taste. I don't think it was too strong that it would turn anyone off and definitely a good one to try! Overall, I can't wait to go back again! The service was great, inside was clean and felt like a nice "tea lab", and the drinks were delicious! read more

Desouro - Inside! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

I was excited when I saw Taiwanese guava on the menu but the flavor was disappointing. I ordered the guava slush with lychee jelly and the syrupy artificial flavor of lychee was overpowering. The guava flavor was on the fainter side to start with, I would not have ordered a topping if I knew this. read more

I got the mango alisan oolong and really liked it! I feel like Desouro isn't really known for their fruit teas, but I thought this was very refreshing and flavorful. I don't usually like teas, but I felt like the tea flavor on this one wasn't too strong and the mango flavor really came through. I originally was interested in the tropical sunset green tea, but when I asked the worker what it tasted like/what fruit flavors were included, she wasn't really able to give me an answer. Usually, I get the fruit slushes here. I remember Orobae having more slush flavors that I wish Desouro had. I've had the guava, mango, and grapefruit slushes. The guava is pretty floral, and the grapefruit has a more bitter grapefruit flavor. Very fresh and natural. I prefer the mango as it's the sweetest of those three. The boba texture here is always good. The service here is interesting and slightly uncomfy, but that's just part of their thing. Not a reason I wouldn't come. There is a lot of parking in this plaza; you just might not be able to get a spot right in front if it's during a busy time. Line can be long but typically moves pretty quickly. Overall, great value for quality. read more

Desouro - Mango alisan oolong - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

THE ELUSIVE COFFEE IS WORTH THE WAIT! I was very impressed with the coffee they served (only on the weekends and the times are short). I got one with sea salt cream and my fiancé had a Formosan latte with a touch of sweetness. I rarely drink coffee and instantly became obsessed. It's so rich and robust, and has the best aftertaste. My fiancé does drink coffee every day, and he said it was the best coffee he has ever had "or pretty close. For sure this year!" I must come back to try their boba and milk tea. read more

Desouro - Sea salt cream ribbon classic blend ICED COFFEE with a touch of sweetness - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

it's not hyperbole to say I was in mourning after Orobae permanently closed :(( Although I've heard one of the co-owners opened a new shop, I haven't drop for fear of being disappointed. Well I finally made the trek last week. So happy to say, it's (98%) back!!! With milk tea, my preference is for the tea flavor and the richness of the cream to be balanced. When one overpowers the other, I don't find it very enjoyable. I've tried the ceylon and phoenix 13, and both are perfectly balanced. I can taste the distinct difference between the aromatic ceylon and the roasted oolong of no. 13. So good. I can't wait to take my time to eventually try out all the flavors. Love the fact that the drinks are still brewed to order. The staff were friendly, helpful, and efficient. I like this space better because there are now tables (for standing) in front of the store should you choose to enjoy your drink there. ...So why the 98% and not 100%? The boba is good, but I feel that it could be excellent. They weren't powdery or hard at the center or mushy on the outside; they were perfectly cooked. However, I find the texture of these boba a little...plasticky, if that makes sense. My preference would be for the boba to have a bit more mochi consistency. Now that would make it a 100% perfect! That said, Desouro is now my de facto #1 boba tea shop :) read more

I have been noticing the long lines outside Desouro Tea Shop the past few weeks. Thinking to myself, it must be the newest boba place to hit Irvine? How boring is new boba place. However, today when I was at the market in the middle of the day and thought: now might be a good time to try this new boba place? I walkied in thinking is this a coffee place, no? I was greeted by the cashier who was way more knowledgeable on a tea than coffee. Correction, this is not a coffee place but a tea place instead. The friendly young lady explained the menu to me and help describe the complexity of the flavor of their teas. I could smell the sweet aroma of brewed tea in the air. I told her to give me the best! What are you most famous for? I want that. She did. She gave me the Buddha something --I can't remember the specific name. I ventured to the back and watched them brew my tea in an expresso type pressurized steam machine. I'm now skeptical. For real? Expresso tea? The staff was very friendly and explained the process. She handed me the tea and asked if I would first try it. If I don't like it, they would change it. Good policy. It was good. I mean it. I was really good. It was so good, I'm giving this place five stars and wondering how am I going to avoid becoming addicted to my milk tea? The flavor blows away any tea spot around. It's fresh, it's full of flavor. This really works!! This is better than I can imagine. This is a whole new level of milk tea. Now I am hooked on Desouro Tea. My next review will include a lot of pictures. I am speechless. This place is magical. The only wish I could make to even make this place better: make your cups larger and with your logo on them. I'm thinking of Hey Tea and others. Offer a larger cup for a dollar more. I would love the pay for more. read more

Desouro was so good. There was a very long line but I didn't have to wait at all when I went. We got the No. 13 Phoenix Oolong and the Rising Buddha with Oolong Milk Tea. The rising Buddha was so good and highly recommend. Phoenix was good too but I prefer it a bit sweeter. I would totally go here again if I'm in the area. So glad I finally got to try. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Unfortunately found out they got rid of the honey gyokuro milk tea which I really liked Phoenix no. 2 (level 4 sweetness): 4/5 I liked this and would get it again White peach slush: 5/5 I usually don't drink a lot of slushes but I liked this a lot read more

This is a cool and unique boba shop in Irvine. They serve great drinks. Food: I really enjoy the taste of the milk tea here. My favorite is the Rising Vuddha. Service: The employees are friendly but wait times can get long. My long wish is that the drink cup sizes were bigger. read more

100/100 Everything, Everything Except the long line and wait but it's worth it all Love the customer service! I love how they ask to try it to see if you are happy with the taste of your drink, if not they are more then pleasant to change your drink and perfect it to your liking! The people are extremely nice and sweet honestly this is a gem of a place !!! Super happy read more

Desouro - Best matcha - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California