Boba (Black Tapioca Pearls) Tea
Looking for your help with two Boba related questions:
#1. In the NE Phoenix vacinity, is there anywhere that uncooked Boba (Grade A XX Large Black Tapioca Pearls) and Boba tea all-in-one powders can be purchased? Online sources charge ridiculous shipping charges - looking to find where to purchase the ingredients locally.
#2. Where can good Boba Tea drinks be found in the valley? Tea Infusion in Tempe serves Boba (prepared very well!), however, they do not do the traditional blended Boba Teas. Tea Light Cafe in Scottsdale (Mayo Blvd.) serves the traditional blended tea Bobas, but the boba was LOUSY - MUSHY - either really really overcooked or just very old - yuck. Please share any locations you know of in the valley.
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A while back I stopped in for a simple boba drink at The Street, which is located in the mostly Asian-focused strip mall on the northwest corner of Dobson & Southern in Mesa. I was happy with it. As I recall they have a good number of choices on the menu too, including shaved ice desserts.
They also allow customers to write on the walls. Plenty of people have taken them up on it, and a recurring theme in the scrawlings seems to be (surprise!) boba.
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re: Davey J
ButterflyWest
Mar 7, 2009 11:06 AM
Thank you all for the suggestions and links! It's my goal to try them ALL!! I'll report back!
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re: ipsedixit
That place has terrible boba. I've had it there several times and they were hard and gross.
I still think the best boba in all of Phoenix is at Lollicup in Chandler. I know it's a chain but their product is still terrific. They also serve some pretty traditional Taiwanese plates.
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Lollicup Coffee & Tea
2050 N Alma School Rd, Chandler, AZ 85224-
re: aaronling
ipsedixit
Feb 27, 2009 09:14 PM
Uh, what place are you talking about?
I only mentioned Super L as a place to buy the uncooked boba balls. I suppose if you were ingesting the uncooked boba balls they would in fact be "hard and gross".
As for Lollicup, it's fine for what it is. Sort of like the Starbucks of boba. Nothing wrong, nor great about them.
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re: ipsedixit
Well there are those 2 food places on the right side of the store, not sure what they're called now after having changed hands a few times. One of them used to be a Taiwan deli-ish type and that's where I'm talking about.
If you don't think Lollicup is anything great, I would genuinely like to see what place you think is great so I could maybe give it a shot. It's only like Starbucks in that they have a lot of stores across the country but it's not really overpriced compared to other places in the area. I also just came back from Taiwan a couple weeks ago and didn't find any boba there that is significantly better than Lollicup. All in all, I think they make some very authentic boba tea.
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re: aaronling
ipsedixit
Mar 2, 2009 12:50 PM
If you ever head to SoCal, I would suggest the following places in the San Gabriel Valley
Tenju Tea House (Temple City); not cheap, but damn good. http://www.tenjuteahouse.com/index.htm
Half & Half Tea House (San Gabriel) http://halfandhalfteahouse.com/
Aloha Boba Tea House (Monrovia) 666 W Huntington Drive
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re: aaronling
ipsedixit
Mar 2, 2009 01:00 PM
Well, Half & Half is just up the street on Las Tunas (literally about 1/2 mile west of Tenju). That said, Tenju is by far the best boba that I've had ... not saying it's the best cuz I haven't tried all of them, but it's my goto spot.
By the way, I'm in Temple City alot. Whereabouts does your aunt live in Temple City?
Next time you're in Temple City you should head out to SinBaLa or Won Won Kitchen for some really good and cheap Taiwanese eats (and SinBaLa makes a pretty decent Boba as well, although their shaved ice is the dessert of choice there).
Cheers.
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re: ipsedixit
ButterflyWest
Jul 20, 2009 08:21 PM
I've tried most of the suggested ones on this thread now and have to agree with you...most of it was prettty pathetic. The best has been the kind I've made at home - great prices and options on Boba and Boba teas at Lee Lee Market. Since making my own, I doubt I'll ever be able to enjoy it as much out anymore!
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JK Grence the Cosmic Jester
Feb 26, 2009 01:49 AM
The first one that pops to mind is E!ba Cafe, on Broadway and Hardy. They used to be two doors down from Chuck Box, but then businesses got shuffled around when the development across the street got razed (except the lone holdout, Dave's Dog House) to put up a high-rise building. I remember the boba was consistently good. Haven't had a chance to go in years, but I think the fact that they're still open in such an oddball location for boba is a good testament to the quality.
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E-Ba Cafe
930 W Broadway Rd # 10, Tempe, AZ -
I can't really answer for NE Phoenix, but if you're ever in the West Valley, I would try Lee Lee's grocery store (at the corner of 75th Ave. & Cactus. It is huge and carries food from just about every Asian country (and other continents as well). Each aisle offers food from a specific country. I could spend hours in that place. The selection is overwhelming.
It looks like there is another location in Chandler too, which is probably much closer for you.
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Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket
2025 N Dobson Rd, Chandler, AZ 85224Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket
7575 W Cactus Road, Peoria, AZ 85381
