TLDR does it taste the same as Orobae? No. But is it still pretty good compared to what's out there? Yes. As a huge fan of Orobae, I was sad to hear it closed down and all the speculations of what caused its downfall. Even with all the dupes, no one could do Orobae like Orobae. So with that said, I was excited to try Desouro (Orobae 2.0) and see if it was the exact drinks I previously enjoyed. The wait was about 40 minutes even with some light rain. Unfortunately this place still thrives on long lines and they refuse to do an online ordering system. The ordering system is about the same, except now you can actually walk in to the store to order and pick up your drink. The interior was highly surveillanced with a lot of cameras and looked pretty sterile. The drink I got was Rising Buddha. The initial sip was a bit disappointing: more watery, not as smooth, and left an odd aftertaste. Not the exact same as Orobae. But, the more I drank it, the more I liked it. It's honestly a pretty good drink with a roasted flavor, if you don't compare the two. So overall, I would come back to try the other drinks. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

If you're reading this, you're probably concerned about the line. Well, if the line is to the end of the bagel shop, the line will take about 45 minutes. If you knew about orobae, this is orobae rebranded. Almost the same menu with some new names. They have new black cups, basically the same price, but the cups are so much smaller. Cup-flation. The inside decor is pretty minimal. There are a lot of tea making machines (pretty impressive). And the staff are super friendly and helpful. At the end when you get your drink they have the same practice in which they ask you to taste it right in front of them so they can address any concerns if you don't love your drink. read more

Desouro - Inside tea/coffee machines - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

this place always have a long line, even when they were previously known as orobae. the drinks are the exact same and the concept is the same as before so you can expect it to be alright. they let you try the drinks you ordered and ask if you need any adjustments before you leave so that's nice. the interior is pretty and now you can actually walk into the store instead of just waiting in front. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

The tea itself was incredible, with notable aroma and depth to it--and the price point of their drinks were on the lower end for boba tea shops in today's market given the quality of their tea. There was a line out the door when we were parking but it wasn't there by the time we entered, so they work relatively fast. It's a really minimalist setup inside, with the focus being on the tea production (I don't recall there being seating, so it is mostly to go?). The person working the cashier was really knowledgeable, as was the person who made our drinks and completed our order. Just from two separate and short interactions I could tell a lot of time and intention went into training so that the employees could deliver a high level of skill + knowledge + service to anyone who walks in. I'm already thinking of returning. Drink: Phoenix No 2 Oolong with boba, 10/10 read more

Loveeeee the tea! Glad they are back. Nobody does a phoenix or Buddha like they do. Love the clean look and the fact that I can order inside. With the old place I always ordered outside which was weird, and all I can see in the window was stuff in the windows, like storage? Not a good look. So this is an upgrade. There aren't any seating inside, but I'm not mad at it. They make up for it with their amazing tea. Also their staff were very very nice and patiently explained all the differences between the teas I asked about. Highly recommend. Definitely coming back. read more

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Visited this new boba spot in Irvine twice already this past month since I heard it was a spin off of the previously closed Orobae. This place is definitely very hyper right now so the wait is about 1.5 hr at opening and 30 min closer to closing time on a week night. Their hours are quite limited currently as well. This plaza is also very busy in general so parking is tough. The storefront itself is quite small and there's just a counter to order and a side area to stand to wait for your drink. Service is currently quite slow so expect to wait even 15 min+ after ordering your drink. They continue to maintain the same customer service as Orobae where they will remake your drink if you are not satisfied. However, the customer service is a bit robotic and over the top and I felt the cashiers were very difficult to converse with as they don't seem to be able to go off script. I have tried the phoenix no. 2 (most similar to orobae's rising Phoenix), and Phoenix no. 13, metal Buddha, and white peach oolong tea. The metal Buddha and white peach oolong were pretty good. The Phoenix no 2 was a bit too floral for my liking and I wasn't a fan of no 13. It definitely fell short of my expectations but I would still enjoy it if the wait weren't so ridiculous. read more

Desouro - 10.2025 Phoenix No. 2 (more floral than expected), metal buddha, and white peach oolong tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I'm not picky with my boba drinks but my husband is. He is a tea aficionado- he used to work at a specialty tea supplier and he's very picky with his teas. He sipped his phoenix and said, "oh wow. One of the cleanest milk teas I have had in a while." The teas are fragrant and perfectly sweetened. Definitely will be back! read more

Desouro - To go drink carrier - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I came back a second time to try out their rising buddha oolong milk tea as I enjoyed the flavor of the metal goddess oolong milk tea. The rich flavor is very enjoyable and their boba satisfactorily chewy. Although the cups are on the smaller side for the pricing, I think the quality makes up for it. Desouro's service has been great and the staff helped give recommendations and offered to alter the drink if necessary both times I've gone. Would recommend! read more

Desouro - Rising buddha oolong blend milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I need to preface this that I came on a soft opening. Came here because the outside and inside looked so chic and super clean and minimalistic. The workers all wore black chef like jackets. The signage said coffee and tea so I was excited to see what this was all about. When I went to order they stated that their "coffee program" is not in place, I was totally disappointed. I stopped my sniveling and decided to try their match tea since that seemed to be the other item they specialized in. The worker made it sound so amazing and knowledgeable till I asked where the matcha was from and she looked at me and said Japan. I think if you are presenting as high end you should know these things. The tea took awhile, but I was pleased to see the worker making the matcha correctly with the whisk. The matcha did taste strong and had a slight nutty flavor as I was told 7/10. They do have an extensive boba tea menu. read more

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They were out of the gyokuro green tea for a while, and they found a new supplier so I went back to try. Unfortunately this new green tea supplier does not compare. It has a bitter taste like it was over steeped or just poor quality tea leaves. I thought it was just a one time occurrence so came back again to try this new batch and it was the same. Sad this doesn't compare to the previous as gyokuro was my go to drink! They did extend their hours so wait isn't nearly as long! The staff are all still very friendly too! read more

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Decent drinks, love that the tea is brewed individually, but the drink itself tastes slightly watered down. The cups themselves aren't also the best, if you carry a few drinks in the box they give you, there's a very strong chance to spill. Had my classic Gyokuro Green Milk Tea, & & Red Jade, which were both fine, but definitely didn't hit home. Their soft opening has a large line that goes to Ralph's, and these days other places I feel do it better. read more

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The trick is to come here at an off hour. I went to Desouro within the last hour before closing on Sunday evening. We waited like 10-15 minutes in total! If the line was over 20-30 minutes, I probably would've skipped. Service was really friendly and we made some small talk. Design-wise, the overall look is very unique. The black cups, the drink holder packaging, and the setup are all very different than a typical boba shop. It's very stylish! Their drinks are just how I remembered them to be. I think they have a taste that people either love or hate, but the flavor is very similar Orobae. I tried their Phoenix No 2, Phoenix No 13, and the Metal Goddess, and they were all really good. No complaints on the boba texture, but they sweeten their boba quite a bit, so I recommend choosing a lower sweetness level to balance it out. I'll definitely be back (only when the line is short)! read more

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Orobae used to be my absolute favorite boba shop, so I was super excited to try this out. the shop itself looks pretty neat. you line up to order, and then you line up again against the wall to get your order. they will ask you whether you have tried it before, and if you haven't, they will make sure you try it before you go, in case you need the drink adjusted. the service is great! what we got: honey gyokuro green milk tea (9/10 yums): this is similar to a jasmine tea. we got this one at a level 4 sweetness with full ice and added tapioca. I highly recommend getting full ice, as they don't put a lot of it. i would say that level 3-4 is my ideal sweetness, but definitely go less if you don't like sweet drinks. this used to be my go-to drink at orobae, but for some reason, i felt like the tea was a little more bitter than I remembered. it might just be that i've started to like red teas more now. honey red jade black tea (10/10 yums): ended up enjoying this one ALOT. this one had a really nice flavor and wasn't too bitter. it reminds me of a red oolong tea. read more

New drinks seem fun but they used AI for the posters, not cute or sustainable :( Drinks were okay but used to be better. read more

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I hesitate to say this, because I don't want the lines getting longer, but this place does their coffee AND tea the best. Most places excel in one or the other but this place does both extremely well, and I'm picky. They literally grind their coffee beans made-to-order! I could tell the owner and the workers care a lot about their product. Galle Ceylon milk tea, sweetness level 4 out of 5: 5/5 Matcha w/Cream Top, sweetness as is: 5/5 Formosan Coffee Classic, sweetness 2 out of 3: 5/5 Formosan Coffee w/Sea Salt Cream, sweetness 2 out of 3: 5/5 Formosan Coffee w/Black Sesame Cream, sweetness 2 out of 3: 5/5 (for me it was 4.5/5, but the hubs rated 5/5, I'm not a huge black sesame fan so 4.5 is great!) *just note that their full ice level is less than other places, but I like ordering multiple drinks with no ice to drink later ;) read more

Would the weird vibe feel that comes off be best described as being in a cult? Came here during their soft opening prior to open (they're currently open 5-10p Thurs-Sun I believe) and the line did not really move all too much. I did wonder why that was until I got inside. They currently only have one of two cashier stands in use. Introverted me (I think I ended up reaching the cashier 80 mins after store opening) was not a fan lol. First off, they introduce themselves and then ask for my name. Interesting way to get a name for the order, but this is weird because I feel the cashiers put the name for the order at the end. How do I know? I got asked my name at the beginning of the interaction, and twice more after I gave my order (yes, it's also loud here). They do give a small spiel about their teas and their guarantee of making sure you like your drink or they will remake it. After getting my order, I stood off to the left to await for my drink. This part (ordering and then getting the drink) only took 10 minutes. They do have you try to see if your drink is acceptable, and if it's not to your liking, they can remake it. This part was similar to what Orobae had. I ended up choosing Phoenix 13 Oolong Milk Tea (medium dark roast, deep oxidation, bold nutty-earthy tones) half sugar, less ice for $5.95, and added boba in it. The boba had a just-a-bit overdone hard center with a chewy exterior. The tea? I did taste a bit of the heavy cream (at least that's what I think it is) that I remembered at Orobae, but for some reason the drink didn't taste as good. It felt -dare I say- watered down. Or like the heavy cream and the tea base didn't mix well and felt like they were two separate parts. I do want to try their other drinks to see if it's a one off, but maybe during a time where the line is shorter. The vibes are definitely off, and (this probably won't happen), but a kiosk where you can place your order would alleviate some of the line issues that they have. Parking situation - shares a lot with other stores, sometimes hard to get through but you should fine some parking. Store ambience? Looks nice and elegant. No space inside to drink or chat after you get your tea, so look elsewhere. read more

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My husband and I loved Orobae and have been trying to find another good oolong place for our boba needs. We came to Desouro with no expectations since we wanted to keep an open mind. Let's just say we LOVE IT!!! I got the rising phoenix #13 and the rising Buddha. It is sooo good!!! I will crave this, which means I'll be coming back. We came on a Wednesday at 5pm so there was no line and our drinks came pretty quickly. The new interior seems more "up-scale" and the workers are nice, but talk really fast. It seems Deouro focuses on baristas and brewing every cup, so that's different in a good way. They did say that because they brew every cup, it'll take longer. I don't have any complaints about the size of the drink as the quality of the tea itself is very good, I enjoyed savoring the drink! There is no seats inside but everybody takes the boba to-go so that's not a problem. The only thing that kinda threw me off is the 6 security cameras lined up around the barista bar, felt a bit excessive but that's just a comment and doesn't take from the overall experience. I like this place a lot and would come here again (only during off-peak hours). read more

Desouro - Rising Phoenix #13 Rising Buddha - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

My friend and I decided to try Desouro after dinner. We waited about 20 minutes on a Friday night. We were both huge fans of Orobae, but unfortunately, Desouro did not live up to our expectations. We ordered 6 different drinks. They only gave 3 straws when we ordered 6 drinks. Additionally, I felt something was not right when my pants felt extremely cold while I was in the car. The drink carrier was leaking since the drinks inside were spilling. The drink carrier is aesthetic, but definitely not efficient. I ordered the Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea, sweetness level 3, half ice with tapioca. The tapioca was extremely hard and not chewy. Even with sweetness level 3, I thought that it tasted way too sweet for me and I could barely taste any tea flavor. We wanted to order their Gyokuro Green Milk Tea, but were told that it had been removed from the menu since the harvest didn't meet their standards. There is definitely room for improvement. I probably would not wait in line again, but will be willing to give it another try once they become more established. read more

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I stumbled upon Desouro while waiting for a takeout order from a nearby restaurant, and I'm so glad I finally checked it out. I'd heard about this spot from a coworker and saw people calling it Orobae 2.0--and honestly, that feels spot on. I loved Orobae and was sad when it closed. The service here is very attentive--almost more than needed. The staff member helping me was super nice: she introduced herself, asked for my name, and gave me a full overview of the menu. Normally that would be helpful, but I had already read the menu thoroughly while waiting, so I knew what I wanted. Still, I understand they probably do it to help pace orders so the drink-making line doesn't get backed up or at least that's what I think. I ordered the Hokkaido Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea, and it was fantastic. You can immediately taste the quality and the clear tea notes--just like what I loved about Orobae. After handing me my drink, the worker had me taste it to make sure I was satisfied before leaving, which I appreciated. Overall, Desouro really does live up to the Orobae comparisons, and I'll be back, but I really wish I don't have to wait too long in line. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Interesting experience. The employees were super attentive and described each drink well. It was cool to see each cup of tea being freshly brewed. The tea itself was fragrant read more

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

We came on a Friday evening and there was no line when we got there. The shop is very clean and has a modern feel to it. However, there are no tables to sit. Nonetheless, the service was spectacular. The manager Elise recommended us with drinks and walked us through the entire menu. She was so friendly and asked us our names. The drinks were ready quickly and they encouraged us to try it before we left to ensure we liked it. The Phoenix 2 was creamy and had a great earthy tea flavor. Level 4 sweetness and half ice was great for my liking. I will for sure be putting this place in my boba rotation spot! read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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What a stellar cup of tea. I got one of their oolong teas with half sweet, they use these crazy cool "tea espresso machines" that extract the tea leaves out of a wand just like coffee! Never seen that before. The baristas are so nice and help you find a tea youd love, explain their extraction processes, and you can customize ice, sweet, and boba levels. Really just gotta try it to get that unique flavor the tea gives when extracted this way. read more

Desouro - Oolong half sweet (one size) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Welcome to Desouro's soft opening! This is a very lively atmosphere where staff provides a very high level of service and attention to detail, including a guarantee that you will love your drink. They said they would remake anything until you love it. We were asked about what we typically like, and then provided helpful recommendations. We ended up with: Charcoal Roasted Oolong Milk Tea: very creamy and smooth, with some toasty and toasty notes White Peach Honey Oolong Tea with Tapioca: very fragrant and refreshing, with lovely texture boba that's been bathed in honey. Would definitely come back and try more of their extensive menu. Thank you for a very welcoming first visit! read more

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This place has the best boba and milk tea I've ever had. When you first arrive, the long line may look intimidating, but they're incredibly fast in making your drink and each staff member is so kind in helping you order. There are also some tables outside, but right now it functions more as a grab and go kind of boba place. One thing that really stands out are their non-caffeinated tea options - the golden buckwheat rooibos tea is a REVELATION. The boba is also perfectly springy, and never chunks together like some other places. I've gone around 3 times already, and the quality of both the tea and the boba has never wavered either. If you enjoy Desouro, the owner also has a gelato place nearby called Papi's Gelateria with several tea-flavored gelatos! read more

Desouro - Black milk tea w/ boba and lychee slush w/ lychee jelly - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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I had been wanting to try this place for a while after hearing it's like the Orobae 2.0, but my first disappointment came when I found out they no longer sell the Honey Gyokuro Milk Tea. I was told their green tea base "wasn't up to their standards," so they decided to remove it from the menu. I ordered the Hokkaido Metal Goddess Oolong Milk Tea with boba. The cashier mentioned about a 10 minute wait for boba, which was fine, but we ordered around 6 p.m. on a weekend, so I was surprised they had already run out when they still had several hours left before closing. They didn't charge us for the boba and told us to let the person handing out drinks know when we picked it up, which seemed odd since the drink could get diluted while waiting for the boba to be ready. When our drinks were done, we mentioned the boba again, but the drink maker seemed confused since they were out. After checking, they said it would now be about 15 minutes. They even offered to use the last bits of old boba for one of our drinks, but I didn't want old boba, so I declined and decided to wait for the new batch since my cousin was also waiting for her scoop of boba. After 15 minutes, we checked back, but the drink maker wasn't sure how much longer it would be. Turns out, it still wasn't ready and would be a few more minutes. I wish they had overestimated the wait time rather than underestimated it twice, since continuously waiting longer than expected doesn't make for a great experience. By the time we finally got our drinks, we had been there for about an hour. The staff did ask if we liked them, which I appreciated since they want to make sure the customer is satisfied with their drink. The drink itself was creamy with a noticeable Hokkaido flavor, and the boba had a nice chew, but it was a bit too sweet for my taste. I didn't ask them to adjust it since I didn't really want to wait any longer. For the overall taste and experience, I'd rather get boba somewhere else. read more

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

I gave this place a try as its predecessor store was a family favorite. I ordered the Rising Buddah and Phoenix 13 as a pure tea. The milk tea has powder non-dairy creamer, which is not our favorite. Anyways, the tea flavor was very light. Good to try but didn't live up to our expectations. Easy parking. Outdoor seating area. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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Okay, I'm honestly impressed. I heard mixed reviews about this place and people made it sound pretty meh compared to Orobae so maybe my expectations were low. FAVORITE ITEMS: - Phoenix No. 13 Milk Tea: very strong flavor. I got it level 2 sweet and thought it was perfect. The milkiness was really amazing with the milk tea. I find myself craving it even after a few days. PARKING: in a big plaza, typically pretty crowded SERVICE: the ladies in the front were pretty nice, greeted us with a smile, and the drinks came out quickly. They wanted us to try the drinks to make sure we liked them before leaving. PRICE: actually very reasonable. My boba drink was less than $6 which is unheard of at boba shops. Overall, I definitely find myself coming back here. I know there's of course some comparison with Orobae but objectively I think this spot really does hit. read more

I just ordered 3 milk tea drinks, which the server gave me in one of their paper carrier bags. I placed it securely on the passenger seat. After I stared driving, a couple of the lids must have been loose because all the liquid (minus the boba) spilled out into the bag and all over my seat, floor mats in the front and back as well as the rug part of the car. I took photos to show how bad the damage was. I didn't want my car reeking of rotten milk tea smell in this summer heat so I went directly to the car wash to get the interior detailed. This cost me $240, including tip, plus the time and energy; way more than I wanted to spend for 3 milk tea drinks!! Sadly, I am not the only one who has experienced their flimsy cups and lids Multiple friends have also had similar issues; I've also had this issue when they used to own Orobae. If they truly felt bad or empathy for the trauma their cups/lids caused me, I would hope they offer to cover the cost of my car cleaning. read more

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Don't know if it's just the hype from being recently opened and Orobae 2.0, but the wait time is SO LONG :'( I got there slightly before they opened on a Friday and we waited an hour just to order, and quite a while linger just to get our drinks. I'm personally not a fan of the atmosphere inside the store; the customer service seemed really stiff and rehearsed (similar to Orobae's), but paired with the sterile interior just wasn't my vibe. Overall it seemed to be very uptight once we got inside the actual building. The drinks itself, though, were absolutely amazing. The tea flavor was strong and they offer a lot more variety in the menu than Orobae did. I got the Phoenix 2.0 at a level 4 sweetness and it was so good! My boyfriend got the Honey Jade at the same level sweetness and it was way too sweet for me though, so keep that in mind. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Energy and passion unmatched - the owner, I'm assuming, took mine and my husband's order. Great recommendations. We loved what we ordered. It gets busy but the line moves QUICK. They redo your drink if you don't like it. Clean space, seating outside. I recommend checking it out! read more

nice and quick service, i got the metal goddess milk tea and it was quite good! nothing too special crazy but very good compared to a lot of other places. the inside of the store layout was interesting, very clean tho read more

Went to try this on a weekday and there was no wait. We tried a variety of slushies, milk teas and teas. They were all pretty good and I love that the baristas really explain or help you choose which tea would suit your liking. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Me and my gang came at 8:45pm, waited in line, and got to the register by 9:17ish. The girl at the register was helpful answering our questions. Before leaving, the guy recommended we taste it to see if it is to our liking. We liked our drinks so no changes needed. I got the Aged Crescent Black Milk Tea and the Charcoal Roasted Oolong Milk Tea. I loved the Aged Crescent because it was quite smooth, milky, and chocolate-y. My partner's Charcoal Roast has flavor tones of popcorn which the flavor notes on the menu was on point (caramely, toasty). Boba was warm, firm yet chewy. The lids felt a bit cheap though? Anywho, decent spot next to Kitakata. Will come back to get new drinks over time. read more

Desouro - Charcoal roasted oolong milk tea and aged crescent milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Ambiance was nice and it felt luxurious. I would rate the service 2/5 because I did feel like the interaction was forced, rushed, and unnatural. This wasn't because of the cashier but more on everything they had to say and it feeling like a stretched out script. I would feel more comfortable if they simplified it and be more focused on active listening. The tea was great and had good flavor but the boba ruined it for me. The boba lacked a good texture and the sweetness wasn't there for me. 3/5 for a rating. Would not wait in the hour line again unless they improved their overall quality. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

We went to check out Desouro on a Friday night, and the line was long -- it stretched past the ramen restaurant next door and took more than half an hour before we got inside. The staff was friendly and talkative, but we tried to order quickly to help keep the line moving. We decided on the Phoenix No. 2 Oolong Milk Tea and the Rising Buddha Oolong Milk Tea. After ordering, we waited by the left wall, and our drinks came out in about 5 minutes. Both drinks were good! I'd recommend lowering the sweetness to around a 3 or 4 and keeping the ice level at full. They do offer adjustments, but note it will take another 5-7 minutes. Overall, it's solid, but I'll only get it if I'm in the area. read more

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within a couple sips i knew this was going to be my new favorite place for boba :') easily S tier. it's everything i'd want done super well tea is brewed fresh to order, espresso style and the tea to milk ratio is perfect. it's super smooth and perfectly sweet at 3/5 as someone who drinks 25-50% sweetness at most boba shops. half ice really was just one layer of ice, just enough! boba itself was super brown sugary (as it should be) and was cooked really well! was also the perfect amount, i didn't feel like i had to ration it or had too much at the end. we got the red jade milk tea and the rising buddha milk tea both at 3/5 sweetness with half ice and pearls. both were super tea forward and genuine 10/10s (menu descriptions are pretty accurate) cashier was also really nice and gave good recommendations! staff are all super enthusiastic and knowledgable about the menus. they will make you try it before you leave in classic orobae fashion and make any adjustments you want! came on a saturday afternoon and probably waited no more than 5 min to order and 5 min to get my drink! i think they've gotten the hang of everything by now so :D you will be seeing me again read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Desouro is easily my favorite drink place simply due to the depth of flavor in each tea. Each blend is nuanced, and I can tell that the selection was thoughtfully curated. The teas that I have tried before include their Red Jade Black, Desouro Matcha Blend, Phoenix No. 2 and No. 13, and probably many more. Every tea is extremely smooth with notes that are perfectly balanced. I'd definitely call myself a regular customer. All the staff were so incredibly attentive and thoughtful. They ensure that each drink is to your liking, a mindset that helps maintain their impeccable quality. They make knowledgeable recommendations and are always helpful. Will always be getting Desouro! read more

Desouro - Desouro Matcha Blend with Cream Ribbon - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

3/5 - Good drinks, weird vibe The oolong drinks are great. I had a honey green tea which taste good but ordinary. My friends who got oolong based teas were all unique and fair prices. hard to replicate But the vibe? Strange. The staff tries so hard to be friendly that it feels forced and uncomfortable. There's a lot of conversation happening at the register, I feel like they didn't have a good gauge of who wanted to talk and who just wanted to get the drink and move along. That's also why the wait is ~40 mins (Sunday evening). When I finally got my drink, the whole process felt robotic. It was giving "robot trapped in customer service mode" until I said the magic word "this drink is perfect". My friends got the same feeling. I get what they're aiming for, but it's too much. The staff didn't look like they were having fun, but stressed, with shaky hands and forced smiles. I preferred Orabae, same good drinks, way more chill. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

My friends invited me to try Desouro, hearing that it was basically Orobae 2.0. Although I did hear and see some controversy about the shop I wanted to try it anyways just to see if the quality was the same, and if it was worth the hype. My friends waited for 45 minutes and got to order without me since I was still at work. By the time I got there, they had just gotten their drinks and I met them outside, not getting to experience any part of ordering. I got the Phoenix Oolong No. 13, level 5 sweet, since I remember that the Phoenix Oolong at Orobae was one of my fav drinks. I also decided to get it (in comparison to their No.2) with the expectation of a prominent "medium-dark roasted oolong tea" (which was in the menu description). Unfortunately it was not to my liking. It was very milky and creamy, and the oolong tea did not come through that milk. The tea did not seem to be of a medium-dark roast and actually came out quite light. My friend who got the same drink but at a level 3 sweetness also said her drink was very bland. Out of curiosity I tried it. It was very much just milk.. (or maybe even nondairy creamer because it has that familiar texture and after taste..). From experience working at a boba shop, and frequently going out for drinks with friends, usually the sweetness level shouldn't change the amount of tea inside the drink. Understandably the enhancement of certain flavors might change, but in no way would anyone expect for there to be more of a milk flavor. Luckily the owner was nearby greeting a lot of his customers. He came up to us, unknowing we had just talked about the drinks, and asked us about our experience. Just being honest I let him know about the flavor discrepancy. He kindly listened but was very quick to move on and suggest us an entirely different drink, the Charcoal Oolong. He took my friends half finished drink and went to make her a new one inside. We tried it in front of him and it was def more tea tasting and of a darker roast than the previous, which were our initial complaints. After he left and a bit more drinking, we all came to the conclusion that the drink was still not that great.. it was just very nutty, thick, and milky, not really resembling a milk tea. Overall okay experience. The service was nice and the wait wasn't as bad as expected. The owner being outside and talking one on one to customers is great. I just wish the drinks were a bit better, with high quality teas and leaves I would've hoped that the flavors can come through even in a milk drink. read more

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

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finally got to try desouro and it did not disappoint. when you enter the front of the store, the smell of the fresh tea is so strong and refreshing! i was excited to try the gyukoru milk tea but when i asked to order it, the cashier told me they don't serve that drink anymore :( the cashier asked if i like floral notes and recommended the galle ceylon medley black milk tea instead for the berry and floral notes. and oh my goodness, the first flavor of berry hits exactly like what he said and the strong tea flavor comes after. it is the most unique tea flavor that i've tried so i'm really glad he recommended it. next time i'm back in the area, i would like to come back and try one of their oolong milk teas! sunday 4pm total wait time to order and get my drink was 15-20 min read more

Desouro - galle ceylon medley black milk tea, 4 sweet, half ice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California