An Ode to Stuyvesant’s Boba Addiction

Bubble tea: the sweet, refreshing beverage many of us crave randomly throughout the day. Who can blame us? From the chewy, soft texture of the bubbles to the sweet, thirst-quenching tea, bubble tea is addicting. From fruit teas to slushies to yogurt drinks to cheese teas, bubble tea is for everyone.

For this review, we chose to judge the quintessential bubble tea: the black milk tea. We made our reviews holistic, evaluating on the store’s drink, bubbles, ambiance, price, and menu. We hope this review will help you on your journey to satisfy your bubble tea addiction.

1. Vivi Bubble Tea

Address: 325 Broadway, New York, NY 10007 (13 minutes from Stuyvesant)

Ratings:

Tea: 3/5

Bubbles: 4/5

Menu & Originality: 5/5

Price: $3.75-$6

Review:

One of the closest options, Vivi’s is a hidden gem.

Though the seating space seems small, the secluded atmosphere and pink floral decor add to Vivi’s cozy and memorable charm. Vivi’s is a convenient place for a study session, hangout, or a quick pit stop during a free period. It has the most creative menu out of the stores we’ve reviewed. They serve not only the typical bubble tea drinks, but also many specialty beverages like their Blue Galaxy drink, the Flaming Brown Sugar Milk, and the Flora Tea. They also serve small eats such as popcorn chicken and sushi, making their menu more diverse than that of other stores. The prices are more reasonable and cheaper than some boba chains; about $5 (after tax) for a large bubble milk tea of average quality, Vivi’s is a reasonable choice for students who wish to enjoy boba on a budget.

The tea is quite mild and complements the milk well, but it doesn’t have much flavor on its own. On the other hand, the bubbles have a sweet taste and a nice chewy texture. What surprised us most is that the ice is actually strained from the tea (though you can request for it not to be), which means more tea to enjoy!

2. Coco Fresh Tea & Juice

Address: 12 John St, New York, NY 10038 (12 minutes from Stuyvesant)

Ratings:

Tea: 4/5

Bubbles: 4/5

Menu & Originality: 5/5

Price: $4.79-$6

Review:

Though less well-known, Coco exceeds standards and delivers higher quality milk tea with good taste and subtle flavor. Its milk teas include less milk than most bubble tea stores do, so the drink is more tea-based. Though we reviewed the store’s milk teas, its fruit teas and slushies are definitely the best items on the menu. The fruity drinks are on the sweeter side but can be adjusted to the customer’s preference. They also offer a few toppings, the best of which are the bubbles and the nata jelly (a solid, chewy jelly made with coconut). Though the store has barely any decor, with only white subway tiles lining the walls, it has enough seating to accommodate a few people at a time. All in all, Coco is definitely a place worth trying.

3. Gong Cha

Address: Fulton Center 200, Broadway, New York, 10038 (12 minutes from Stuyvesant)

Ratings:

Tea: 5/5

Bubbles: 5/5

Menu & Originality: 5/5

Price: $5-$6.29

Review:

Gong Cha is by far the best of the spots we reviewed. The tea isn’t too strong or pungent, and the flavors don’t get lost in the midst of the milk. The balance of milk and tea is satisfactory, with a subtle sweetness enhancing the flavor. The bubbles are chewy and mildly sweet, matching the drink well. In addition to its milk teas, Gong Cha has an extensive menu, with items ranging from coffee-based drinks, herbal teas, and yogurt drinks, as well as several toppings such as pudding, red bean, oreo crumbs, basil seeds, and aloe vera jelly. Though Gong Cha has the best tea, it is the most minimal store of them all. The store is part of a larger shopping complex and more of a kiosk, so it offers no seating and isn’t ideal if you’re looking to sit down for a while. If you are simply looking for a quality drink, however, Gong Cha is definitely a spot to check out.

4. Kung Fu Tea

Address: 234 Canal St #107, New York, NY 10013 (18 minutes from Stuyvesant)

Ratings:

Tea: 3/5

Bubbles: 3/5

Menu & Originality: 5/5

Price: $3-$6.75

Review:

Kung Fu Tea is widely regarded as one of the most common and greatest bubble tea chains. Sadly, the closest one to Stuyvesant begs to differ. Located across from the Canal Street station, the convenience is compelling, but don’t let it fool you. This small store has barely any standing space and can get cramped if many people were to order. While the servers are polite, they unfortunately do not make up for the low quality of tea. At the bottom of the drink, there were layers of honey, a signal that the drink wasn’t mixed properly. Additionally, the drink was overwhelmingly sweet, tasting more like a milkshake than an actual milk tea. The large amount of ice and milk alludes that you’re not getting the amount of tea you paid for. Unfortunately, the quality of Kung Fu Tea’s milk tea and boba was disappointing and not worth the high price of $4.75.

5. U Tea

Address: 139 Fulton St Ste 101, New York, NY 10038 (14 minutes from Stuyvesant)

Ratings:

Tea: 2/5

Bubbles: 2/5

Menu & Originality: 5/5

Price: $5.50-$7.25

Review:

Have you ever heard the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, it certainly applies to U Tea. Out of all the bubble tea stores, U Tea is by far the most aesthetically pleasing. The meticulous attention to detail with the cup logos, the small heart on the lid, and the design of the straw wrapper make U Tea the best store in terms of ambiance. The drink, however, has a very dull flavor and simply tastes like slightly bitter milk. The bubbles are subpar in terms of texture and taste, as they are inconsistently cooked: either mushy and overcooked or quite tough and raw. The bubbles are extremely sweet, so we would recommend getting less sugar if you choose to go to U Tea. The store has some redeeming qualities, one of them being its original menu. They have unique flavors like Bossy Cheng Cheng (Orange), Brulee Uji Matcha, and Sakura Oolong. Comprehensively, the unique menu does not make up for the low-quality tea, and U Tea is not worth the overpriced $6.48.