So I’ve had a lot of boba as an UW student and especially around the Udistrict… Just thought I’d share my thoughts about our wonderful boba scene (focusing on the Udistrict). Aiming to provide the best and tastiest overall boba experiences (in my opinion). take it all with a massive spoonful of salt because this was mostly for fun:) Criteria: flavor depth, fruit teas and milk teas quality, value for the price and experience, menu diversity. Please enjoy!!!
*S: Overall Consistent and high quality*
Basically almost every drink here is high quality and worth it!
- HEYTEA (SLU and Bellevue) 9.5/10
They started the “new style tea” trend which uses fresh milk and fruits over powders. High quality aromatic and fragrant milk teas, very fresh fruits, great year round menu, very customizable, avoid the matcha though it’s kinda low grade. Recommend the mango coconut boom, jasmine milk teas, longjing milk tea, brown sugar boba. Make sure to order ahead too the lines get long!
- MOLLY TEA (Bellevue and Southcenter) 9.9/10
Similar to heytea but even better quality teas and strong flavor notes. Doesn’t offer as much fruit tea though. It’s mainly for the jasmine and matcha milk tea lovers. Some of the drinks can feel very heavy and indulgent though especially the matcha or pistachio cold foam. Recommend the jasmine milk teas, matcha series, for something very fragrant try white champaca, almost everything on the menu is great!
*Honorable mentions: Inconsistent but sometimes great*
These places sometimes have issues with consistency and not everything is great on the menu, but still definitely worth a try!
- Mee Sum 7.5/10
Very classic 1st generation boba, nostalgic but also inconsistent depending on who’s making your drink. It’s sometimes great sometimes too watery. Recommend the OG milk tea with pearls, taro slush, etc…
- Cafe Happy 6.8/10
Very classic taste, open late, I would also get the OG milk teas, although the smoothies are also good but also expensive.
- Hi Tea (Capitol Hill) 8.5/10
A hidden gem and very classic. Their OG black milk tea with boba is a great value (<$5 with tax) and very yummy. Only downside is many things on their menu taste off or overly sweet/bitter. Avoid the matcha and many of the fruit syrups.
- Macu tea 7/10
They make the best MANGO drinks period. Try their li li fruit teas which use real fruit pulp. I would avoid their milk teas however and the boba can taste pasty on occasion. Also unfortunately not much customization and some drinks can be too sweet.
- Seattle best tea 7/10
Classic boba taste, very authentic and customizable. One downside is they’re sometimes inconsistent with tea strength. Recommend the heavy oolong and black milk teas. The fruit teas are just ok as they use artificial syrups with some fresh fruit which is pretty standard among boba shops. Lots of variety. But if you want fruit tea there are better options.
- YAN tea 8/10
Kinda the opposite of Seattle best tea, if you’re into fruit teas they make amazing fruit teas and use fresh fruits. Drinks are kinda sweet though and not as much customization. Recommend the mango sago, jasmine matcha, grape cheese smoothie. Avoid their milk teas.
- Chayan 7.2/10
A newcomer to Seattle, they try to mimic MOLLY or HEY TEA and have some great milk teas that are fragrant. Unfortunately some of their menu items just disappoint like the frappe which is just a latte with weak flavor. The staff are also less attentive than normal. Recommend the jasmine or gardenia milk teas however.
- Sunright tea studio 6/10
Have a huge selection, some of their drinks are pretty mid like the milk teas. The fruit teas are pretty great but also sweet. Kinda overpriced too.
*A: Consistently good*
Very great boba. That’s all.
- Don’t yell at me 8/10
Their menu is higher end and the drinks taste strongly of tea or fruit. It’s above average and shines in consistency. Recommend the lychee smoothie or regular milk teas.
- Xing fu tang (Downtown Seattle) 9/10
Very high end and fresh handmade boba. The signature boba milk is a one of a kind drink since they blowtorch the brown sugar on top to give the drink a roasty flavor. Other things on the menu are decent albeit slightly overpriced. Worth the experience however.
- Young tea (Wallingford and Bellevue) 8.5/10
A Seattle classic and they really prioritize tea and quality. Every drink is very fragrant and strong. Only downside is the price which is pretty high ~$9 for basic boba tea. Recommend the jasmine milk tea.
- TP Tea 7.8/10
A consistent place that makes good milk teas and fruit teas. It’s not the highest quality but it’s very consistent. Would avoid the strawberry milk tea though since it’s very sweet and sour and creamy.
- Taz matcha (downtown) 9.0/10: technically not boba but…VERY high quality matcha and best enjoyed quickly. Fun staff and aesthetic environment. You get to experience great ceremonial matcha at a relatively good value. Recommend the basic matcha latte. If you like matcha lemme know if we need a tier list for that as I’ve tried many places alr;)
*B: Average – Mid*
Could be getting a little controversial here…hehe… Everything here is pretty standard boba wise and not really mind blowing imo.
- UG tea Bellevue 6.8/10
Similar to Chayan or MOLLY TEA but the drinks are just not as strong in tea flavor more sugary. Recommend the jasmine milk tea or the next level matcha.
- Coco bubble tea 5.5/10
Milk teas are too creamy and overall they taste like artificial syrups.
- Bobalust 6/10
Just ok. Smoothies are good, everything is on the sweet side which masks the delicate flavors. Wish it could be less sweet.
- Boba up 6/10
It’s fun to build your own boba but it’s more a one and done. Quality is just average, but worth it for the experience!
- Ding tea 6/10
Average.
- Share tea 6/10
Average.
- Timeless tea 6/10
They have a ok mango sago, there are just better options.
- Happy lemon 6/10
Overpriced but average.
- YiFang fruit tea 7/10
They use some fresh fruits but it’s mostly just syrups. Taste wise fruit teas are kind of watery and overly sweet. Milk teas are average.
- Come buy tea Capitol Hill 6/10
They use tea espresso as a gimmick but it really doesn’t work and the tea flavor doesn’t get extracted as well as steeping.
- Chicha San Chen 5.5/10
Similar to come buy tea with tea espresso.
Disclaimer: I’ve been there twice and had to ask for remakes each time. The drinks still tasted mostly like creamer powder and sugar. Overhyped and expensive. Would only get the plain green tea if you are curious.
- Tiger sugar 6/10
A viral brown sugar boba place but xing fu tang is just better.
- The alley 6/10
Pretty standard boba and ube taro drinks.
- Tea addicts 5/10
Weaker tea flavors in general. Not the highest quality
- Jie Bakery 5/10
Pretty standard but lacks many flavors, also smoothies are kind of watery.
*C – D: Inconsistent – Bad*
nuff said.
- mochinut 4/10
Came here several times and the boba was served stale. Maybe order the drinks without toppings. The donuts are worth a try though.
- Rabbit rabbit tea 5/10
Pretty lackluster. Except the Buckwheat milk tea tastes like warm cereal milk but otherwise it’s not super great.
*F: Avoid*
- Oasis 2/10
Not worth it besides nostalgia?
- Slurp station arubasoba 1/10
Tastes funky like sewage slightly
- Chuan house 1/10
Avoid for boba, get food instead.
Haven’t tried: Gong cha, Feng cha, hyson boba cafe, Drip tea, choo tea, Tea ByDo others let me know and I’ll update:)))
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