Being the only tea house in the area, ThirsTea has capitalized on its market for sure. However, being from the west coast and frequenting Atlanta a lot where tea houses are a dime a dozen, there was much to be desired. They do have a large menu with plenty of customization option which is very nice. Along with that, there is also milk alternative for those who are vegan and/or lactose intolerant. The drinks are hit or miss though. Maybe this is dependent on who is making it? I also like that they offer pandan waffles here, but it's really inconsistent. Sometimes it's perfect, sometimes it's charred, and sometimes it's cold. Looking back, inconsistent really is the word that best describes why I'm giving my many experiences here a 3 stars rating. read more

ThirsTea Cafe - Taro milk tea. - Bubble Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I'm a huge boba fan, especially having tried places like Kung Fu Tea, Lollicup, Vivi, and Coco, in other cities. The one thing that is somewhat promising for boba tea here is the variety of drink options. However, overall, I wasn't impressed. Boba seemed like a mix of slimy and chewy, but at least not hard. The black milk tea didn't seem particularly fresh, but tasted pretty flat and sweet. There is no option to customize sweetness or ice in these drinks, which is becoming more commonplace in boba tea/ bubble tea shops. May come back for another try and different drink, but not counting down the days for it. read more

I've tried bubble tea from every possible location in Birmingham: Saigon, Red Pearl, Mr. Chen's This is the best for sure. There are so many flavor options, and the boba pearls are cooked perfectly. It's so easy to over or undercook them, but they know what they're doing at ThirsTEA. I highly recommend. I've only had bubble tea from here, but if everything else is as good as the bubble tea, then you're set! read more

ThirsTea Cafe - Thai Tea Boba Bubble Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Absolutely love this place. It's the only boba I've been able to find around here that can be compared to what I used to get in California. My girlfriend and I have to fight the urge to go a ridiculous amount of times per week. I don't know what they do to make the tapioca pearls so good, but the consistency is always perfect. I've seen a few reviews mentioning the staff wasn't super friendly, but I've had nothing but good experiences. read more

Always a hit. Love this place. Best boba in Birmingham. Support local business! I heart ThirsTea Cafe!

For Birmingham, this is probably the best boba you'll get. It definitely beats a lot of the asian restaurants that sell boba by a mile! It's always fun to grab a drink and play the numerous board games they have here. One thing that I will say is that some of their drink colors are weird. For example, combination strawberry drinks may not be the red color that you are used to seeing, however, the drink still tastes fine. Tip: If you want boba in your drink, they do charge for it. read more

ThirsTea isn't the best boba I've had but it's not the worse. Unfortunately we are still lacking a truly great Boba cafe in B'ham. Some of the bobas were undercooked. I think the teas could use more flavor and a bit more cream instead of milk which make the drinks on the watery side. The environment feels kind of strange and does not have an inviting ambiance since there are fluorescent lights, bad wall art, and no music playing. I would not come here to hang out. Staff was friendly and drink was tolerable. Most boba places I have just had to straight up throw my drink out. read more

Has anyone tried the Thirstea Cafe? I know for a fact that if you are looking for a nice little relaxing place to read books have a quiet meeting place this is the place to be. It also has some of the trendy tea's everyone likes. Also they are giving a chance to win a 25 gift card. Go and try this place out. First-time dates would be great place to start . Go check them out the atmospere is so relaxing . read more

I feel like this is the only actual "boba" shop/teahouse in Birmingham that isn't also a restaurant, which is a GOOD thing. It's definitely out of the way though, and unless you frequent the area, it's definitely a bit of a drive out. The boba is consistently good, but I've definitely been spoiled by teahouses in Texas and California that more consistently put out good tea. The Thai tea was really good one day and then borderline sour the next. Also, I asked if they had just regular milk tea, and was given a green tea that tasted a little bit like soap. They have a decent assortment of board games, and it is definitely be a neat place to hang out, but I'm just not in the area enough, and the inconsistent quality makes it difficult to justify a drive out that way. That being said. it is in fact "A-OK", and they definitely have my patronage, since they're sort of the only option for actual tea houses. I deeply miss Kung Fu Tea, ShareTea, Gong Cha, and the other boba shops that are a little more consistent, but all in all, this will have to suffice while in BHam. Staff is always friendly, and also helpful, so that's a huge plus, but the tea quality is lacking. read more

I order a regular latte. It was served to me iced and was so sweet it wasn't fit to drink. I threw it away. The bathrooms were disgusting. read more

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Great drinks, and the employees were very nice! I'd definitely come again. The thai milk tea was perfect, not too sweet, and the strawberry slush was delicious! Thanks!! read more

YASSSS!!! YESSSSSS! The best boba in the area!!! The boba is lip smacking. So is the grilled cheese. I'm constantly craving this place, they've gotta be putting stuff in the food or something. The grilled cheese isssss a bitttt greasy but I love it. Give them a go!! read more

My favorite drink place. My sister and I come here often, and we love the service, the speed, and the boba. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to hang out or get a drink with some buddies. read more

ThirsTea Cafe - Taro Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Bubble tea is probably one of my favorite pleasures in life. I dislike how sweet some places have such sweet bubble teas. Here, they allow you to have your teas "less sweetened" if you like! They l've even made my drinks "a quarter sweetened". I know.... how unfun to have a less sweetened drink but I love it. And I LOVE LOVE the bubbles! read more

Always loved ThirsTea, they never disappoint! Great bubble tea + Pokebowls !! Super cool place too, very updated and modern.

In Birmingham this place is solidly 4/5 stars. They offer customizable boba drinks (can add other toppings, less sugar, no sugar) and the drinks are pretty good. I would say back in CA this place would likely rate as low as 2/5 stars and likely 3/5 stars but as this place is in Birmingham, AL and there aren't exactly many or any boba places around this place provides consistently adequate bubble milk tea and can warrant 4 stars. read more

While I was a pretty big fan of the now-defunct bubble tea operation in the Galleria, it was mostly the clean and refreshing flavors that I admired. The boba there was sometimes hard and the options were limited. Fair enough, they had a small kiosk and that was all. But they're gone, and I had to try something new. In comes Thirstea. Thirstea goes above and beyond on all points. Their pricing is about what you expect, certainly, but they don't hold back on goodies and real ingredients. I had the avocado smoothie - my all-time favorite and something rare to find in this part of the states - at the suggestion of the manager. At first, the sheer punch of avocado surprised me. It was so creamy I honestly thought I had made a mistake in ordering something so rich. Then I got into the bobas, nestled at the bottom of my cup, and I was a changed person. They complimented and balanced to perfection the entire, luxurious concoction. What a win. What a dream. Me and my friends have been here a couple of times since. Pandan waffles? Hell yes. You want to mix something funky? Go for it! And if you're not sure what you want, the staff is pretty good about being able to make a suggestion that will impress. It's a shame I live so far away, honestly. I couldn't ask for a better tea. read more

The selection is on point but they put way too much ice in your drink so for the money you pay you should be able to get more. But that's when your brain has to kick in and get lite ice. I suggest the taro milk tea with tapioca. It's not too bold of a flavor it's a nice Saturday evening drink The lids are also super cute. The games add to the atmosphere so much and make the experience just so much better read more

My son and his friends frequent this place and have enjoyed it. I had to see what the hype was about and I was very pleased! Stopped in with a friend and we were clueless on what to pick/try! After several minutes and questions, we settle on the coconut milk tea with boba and the mango slushee with mango jellies. We both loved our drinks! We both tasted each others and loved them too! Definitely a repeat! read more

look. any true asian knows that the boba game is less than subpar in birmingham. however, if you get the right thing, thirstea can be a great experience! i got the taro smoothie, and it was great! the jasmine tea and milk tea can be a bit too sweet, I wish that they would ask you what sweetness level you want. either way, i had a great time playing board games with friends. we tried to do the blind boba straw challenge but spilled a drink, luckily the employee swiftly cleaned it up for us because she was used to it (haha, sorry). this is a great evening hang spot for good memories with good people. read more

First off...I apologize. I just have to be honest. I had such high hopes from all of the reviews... This is nothing compared to Cha Time, Sweet Hut, Kung Fu Tea, Lollicup, Quickly, and every other boba place I go to from East to West coast... (Yes, I love Milk Tea and will make a stop at several wherever I travel.) I ordered an original milk tea with boba. There was barely any tea flavor. Watered down. Not creamy. The only thing I liked were the pearls. My search for Boba Milk Tea in Bham continues...... read more

This smoothie was amazing! I have been looking for a good smoothie place since I moved to Birmingham 3 years ago. I just hate I'm moving a month after I finally found it. Strawberry banana smoothie add peanut butter and protein! read more

Great place to come and chill with friends. Every drink they have has been great. Two of them in the picture are Taro milk tea with pomegranate boba. Th other is a coconut milk tea with regular boba. The drinks are also very affordable for this kind of quality and would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, relaxing environment. read more

ThirsTea Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

they have the absolute best grilled cheese i've ever had. i get the sourdough and pepper jack but they have lots of other things to choose from to put on your grilled cheese. and the taro milk tea is my fav ;) read more

No more driving all the way to Atlanta for bubble tea!! This cute little cafe has every flavor typical bubble tea shops have. I got the black milk tea and it was good, a bit on the sweet side, but good. Their coconut pandan waffle was the highlight of my visit. It's sweet and fluffy with a hint of coconut flavor. I can't wait to try other flavors! read more

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I love bubble tea and always trying to find the best bubble tea. I've probably tried almost all the bubble teas in the Birmingham area. This was the most disappointing bubble tea I probably drank in my life. I had the Green Milk Tea, and it just tasted like unsweetened water downed green tea. Not sure if it was because the person made it incorrectly. Service was great, but the bubble tea here was just sad. read more

Tried a new flavor today. The GEMINI! So good!!! I will 100% be coming back for more:)

This place is very cute. We ordered their taro and matcha milk tea with tapioca. Mmmmmm Service was fast and the lady working was really sweet. read more

Best Bubble Tea/ Boba Tea love in Birmingham hands down. Very affordable and a nice treat. You can take a date here and both get a grilled cheese and large teas for less than $20. read more

ThirsTea Cafe - Coconut Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I really want to give this 4.5 stars! darn the 5-star system and my review nitpickiness. This place was so fun and cute! I got a matcha - raspberry smoothie with grilled cheese (sharp cheddar + havarti + bacon). My husband got thai milk tea with havarti grilled cheese. 5 stars for menu options (I can't wait to come back and try more), store design with fun games to play and cleanliness. I took half a star off (that I had to round down to 4 stars) because my smoothie tasted kind of odd and the grilled cheese took a while to come out while we were the only customers. BUT! when I go back I'm sure I'll be able to give 5 stars and pick something different from the menu...i was mentally preparing for what I wanted to try next...lavendar milk tea? white chocolate PB smoothie? they all sound amazing. The smoothie was sorta powdery tasting (perhaps just a feature of matcha) and the raspberry was overpoweringly sweet-tartish tasting. I think some people would really like this though! Kind of candy tasting. I will go for a simpler milk tea next time I guess. The hostess was very nice and it made for a fun date-morning with my husband. I hope to come back soon! I really wish they would put one in Pelham at the valleydale/31 shopping center...it would be perfect! read more

This is the best Bubble/Boba/Milk tea/ Grilled Cheese (Yes place in the area!!!! I literally drive at least 35-40 min. to this place when I want something truly good and healthy but I only pay with cash here. I had a situation a few months ago where my debit card that was attached to there Stars Program was charged and I was very thorough in making sure it was not a fraud situation and so did my bank since this is a Military bank and when I spoke with the Owner he stated they would investigate the issue and contact me once a resolve had been reached but I never heard back from the owner so I decided to just not use anything but CASH!!!!! read more

One of the few bubble tea places in Birmingham! I had a craving for taro, and this place hit the spot. I did feel that my tea was on the sweet side and wished this was one of those places with the option to order a drink less sweet or with no added sugar, however, it was still delicious. They had the full range of options found at larger bubble tea stores. The service was friendly, albeit a little slow even though I was the only customer. There was only one employee working when I visited at around 1pm on a weekday, so I can imagine there being a little bit of a wait if multiple groups were there. I also thought it was interesting that they sold grilled cheeses just because it's a strange combo, but I ordered a prosciutto grilled cheese with Swiss and it was delicious! Perfectly crisp with lots of cheese and meat, cheap as well! read more

If you're looking for a chill place to grab boba, play board games, and hang with friends this is the place to go. The place is super clean at all times. The drinks come out super quick. I've never been disappointed with any of my choices. I really enjoy the fruit teas with either mango/lychee jelly. read more

My fav place for boba! They have the best Thai milk tea, vibe is chill & the employees are always quick & friendly:) Their selfie wall & decor are super cute too! read more

This place is fun and more importantly, delicious! I highly recommend the matcha bubble tea but I have never ordered a flavor I didn't love! The build-your-own grilled cheese is out of this world too. If you decide to stay in to enjoy your treats, there are a bunch of board games to play! read more

FINALLY!!! A GREAT BOBA PLACE IN ALABAMA! Just when I thought my nightly boba outings were put to a halt after leaving California, I'm absolutely elated to find this hidden gem. Summary: Drinks: 5 (Extremely high quality ingredients) Value: 4 (price per portion) Atmosphere: 5 (clean, spacious, games to play!) Service: 5 (Friendly and welcoming) Recommendations: - Almond milk tea with pudding and coffee jelly, Avocado smoothie, if you are new to Boba drinks then a safe bet is always Thai Ice Tea with Boba or Milk Tea with Boba. -Read the bottom if you are new to "boba" ____________________________ My background: I was born in Southern California inside the mecha of asian cuisine, which includes 100s of boba/tea establishments. When in California nightly boba outings were at least 2-3 times a week. This place is, hands down, one of the best boba places I have been to; at least within the top 3. Boba background: These drinks are actually called tea, however I call them boba. Boba are black tapioca balls that are sometimes flavored with honey, which have a chewy flavor. You can tell how good a boba place is, by the texture of their boba. Even popular places in California, can have boba that is too chewy, firm, too soft. The flavor balance is also important: boba can ever be over flavored and taste very "artificial" or synthetic. Likewise, it can be underflavored and too plain. This place has an amazing texture for their boba! It is no surprise, that after talking to the owner, he is from California, and no more than 30 minutes away from where I used to live or where my family now resides. Drinks: 5 - What typically comes of asian establishments, is the utilization of cheap ingredients to provide low cost products. Even at many places that are consistently packed in California this can be observed. THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE AT THIRSTEA!!!! - You can tell when boba places use packet mixes in their drinks, as you can usually feel the texture of the artificial mixes. So far, in the drinks I have had, the drinks taste extremely fresh and legit. - My favorite drink is the almond milk tea. Too my pleasant surprise, this drink tastes like the classic Chinese almond pudding dessert that you can buy at dim sum in a Chinese restaurant. Brings me back to childhood. Add pudding and coffee jelly (recommended by the owner). - Avocado smoothie- My fiance is keen on this drink. The drink here at Thirstea tastes extremely fresh and also legit, not a packet mix. She highly recommends it. - Their taro slush is also a solid choice. While this is not my personal favorite taro drink ever, I or you will not get a better one in Alabama. - If you are new to boba, go for the milk tea and add boba. Also, you can get Thai Iced Tea with Boba. These are probably the most common drinks purchased at any boba establishment. Value: 4 - The price of the drinks is high for a standard boba place. Probably a dollar more than what I'm used to. That being said, I have no problem paying for it, as I do believe the quality does suit the price. - The only problem is, since the quality is so high, I can drink one large drink and one small drink before I get full. This means I have to spend quite a bit of money to be as full as a turkey (which I'm used to). On average your looking at around 3.75-5.5 dollars for a drink depending on the type and additives. I recommend going for the large, as the price per portion increase is very well worth it: you get much more for adding a relatively small amount of money compared to the regular size. Atmosphere: 5 -Amazing! Clean, bright, cozy, great music, and lots of board games to keep you happy. - The only problem is this place is located out of view from the street. Service: 5 - Dear GOD service at asian establishments can be bad. HOWEVER, THIS PLACE HAS AMAZING SERVICE! The workers speak PERFECT english, they are also patient and willing to help with your drink, or even your board game choice. Very nice people. BEGINNER BOBA MANUAL: (If you are not familiar with this asian custom) Boba outings are how most young asians spend their days after school and much of their weekend time with friends. Instead of going to a bar (which we still do plenty of), it is very customary to get with a group of 3-10 friends together and say "let's get boba guys!" and stay at a boba place for hours. This is also commonly used as a study area. Perhaps its why asians do so well in school? I dunno. Here is a guide to a typical boba outing: 1. Find at least a friend to go with, best if you have a total of 4 people 2. Choose your boba from the menu on the wall 2. Choose your board game from the assortment they have (my favorite is battleship, where I absolutely WRECK the fiance) 3. Find a table 4. Play games and laugh with your friends while boba is delivered to you 5. Talk about life, sit for hours while you sip your drink, and discuss where you are going to eat food n read more

Absolutely obsessed with this place! Service is pretty good, I have no complaints. Their tea, slushie, and overall selection is made to impress. 10/10, but look out for the afternoon crowds! read more

This was my first time coming... And NOT my last!! Got the mango strawberry slushies with passion poppers and it was sooooo good!!! read more

ThirsTea Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I love this place. I always get the caramel milk till with tapioca boba. Sometimes it's a little busy here but the atmosphere is relaxing so I don't mind waiting. They also have lots of games to play so you can do that while you wait or just choose to stay there and enjoy your boba. read more

This is the cutest little place. I love the environment and the decor and the boba tea is wonderful.