Let me start this off by saying I've only been here once. Hence, the two stars because I'm holding out hope that maybe the next time the drinks could be better (I'll review my second visit as well). I'm a hopeful person - it's my toxic trait. Part of me knows though that if one visit to a "boba tea" place gives you crap boba on the first go around, a one-star crap review is totally warranted. Because if their whole business is built around serving boba tea, oh excuse me, FRESH boba tea, then I would expect good fresh boba tea.
What I ordered: Tiger Sugar Milk Tea
What I got: "Tiger Sugar Milk Tea"
How many times have I ordered a Tiger Sugar Milk Tea at other stores? An abundant of times. Too many times to count. But where did I go? Only at the milk tea capital of America - Orange County, California. So it is purely my fault that I am able to quickly sort out GOOD boba milk tea from CRAP boba milk tea. And this place? One sip already told me it goes into the crap category.
Readers and good-boba-milk-tea sojourners, boba milk tea is an art form that is so deeply imbedded in Asian culture. And we also love sharing our love of milk tea with others. That said, when I was first dating my now husband and I heard him order a "blueberry slushie with no boba" at an Asian-owned milk tea store, I cringed in embarrassment and made eyes at the cashier in silent apology that my white boyfriend chose such a basic drink. But he has matured and I eventually married him and he now knows without a doubt that good boba milk tea should have fresh warm boba with a sweet delicate balance of non-dairy milk and sweetener. Even he knows this! A non-Asian! I love when other cultures try other cuisines that are well-treasured in other communities. However, when you start trying to profit off of that prized cultural cuisine, you better do your honest to god research and GET. IT. RIGHT.
Here it goes. Tiger Sugar Milk Tea is commonly made with brown sugar syrup, black tea, and some type of milk. The good kinds have their boba soaked and bathed in this brown sugar syrup which the barista will typically pour and swirl around the inner sides of the cup before pouring ice and milk tea. The milk tea should be strong. It shouldn't taste old or like it's been left out too long. The tea itself needn't be too sweet as the brown sugar syrup will do the sweetening. And the boba? Oh, that's supposed to be warm and gooey. Not hard and old and barely edible.
It's a hard drink but also a basic drink. It you claim to be a boba milk tea place, this should be simple and easy. You should always get it right because it's pretty much a classic drink now amongst the Asian community. Just...do better people.
Yes, they serve "funky" drinks. If you claim other cultural drinks to be abnormal and therefore "funky"...whatever. Sure. But get it right. I see they also claim to make "traditional Vietnamese coffee" and I am itching to try that next because *hysterical laugh* it's traditional alright and very distinct. I'll see you next time and hope to not be disappointed by your, at best, very crappy drinks. read more