If you’re like me, you’ve been dying to expand your boba repertoire. The hottest trend from Asia has finally caught hold in the South, and especially around Georgia Tech. Haven’t been able to experience the chewy surprise of boba? Or craving the refreshing tea flavors like taro or Thai iced tea? Here are a few places to definitely stop by, and a couple that are worth skipping:
1. Sweet Hut Bakery and Café: Looking for the perfect place to start your love affair with boba? Sweet Hut offers a hip environment with tons of options from which to choose. Taro milk tea and passion fruit green tea are the shining stars of the menu. Add boba to the tea, and you’re in for quite a treat. If you aren’t feeling brave, there’s coffee, tea and smoothies. In addition to the great drink selection, Sweet Hut’s cases are filled with delicious sweet and savory buns. The red bean mochi bun makes an excellent snack.
2. Kung-Fu Tea: Known for their boba, Kung Fu soaks each tapioca in honey, making them extra tender and sweet. When ordering, you can choose your sugar level depending on what you like. The half sugar Kung Fu Milk Tea with boba is my personal favorite, but with flavors like Fig Jelly Ice Tea and Red Bean Slush, you’re sure to find a winner.
3. Honey Bubble: Close to the Beltline, Honey Bubble is an unavoidable stop on a hot Atlanta day. A cool modern space, HB is usually packed with Beltline walkers or students catching a break from their studies. While their boba is not as tasty as the others (in my opinion), their tea flavors are pretty exotic. Honeydew and Lavender Milk Tea are always a crowd pleaser, while Hibiscus and Lychee polarize those who taste them. Don’t forget to ask about their ayurvedic tea, an interesting hot tea supposed to have medicinal effects.
4. The Bubble Tea Truck: One to skip, the Bubble Tea Truck’s boba does not taste fresh. A big fan of food trucks, I don’t think this one makes the cut. While the tea is good, the tapioca was harder than normal. In my opinion, the Bubble Tea Truck should rethink their preparation and storage of the boba to keep them soft and chewy.
5. Umma’s House: The proximity to Georgia Tech’s campus does not excuse Umma’s House’s boba. Located in Tech Square, Umma’s House provides a wide variety of Japanese and Korean foods. While the food is quite tasty, the boba is not. Unfortunately, the tea is made from a powder, leaving a sandy taste in your mouth. This really ruins the experience, as the only texture should be the delightful boba at the bottom of the tea. If ever stopping in for a bite, pass on the boba at Umma’s House.
Coming soon: The Bubble Café on Northside near Tech’s campus!
(Disclaimer: All opinions in this article are my own and based on my own taste buds.)
