A glimmering, aesthetic white room adorned with T-shirts and bags welcomed me as I walked into Ming Cha tea shop in the plaza near Vons. I did not expect to walk out dutifully disappointed.
Ming Cha opened on Feb. 1 at 376 N Lemon Ave Walnut to a line of customers. I entered the store with high expectations. I got some of the most popular drinks: the Mango Matcha Latte for $6.95, Hoji-Chata for $6.50 and the Mango Jasmine Lassi for $6.75.
I first tried the Mango Matcha Latte and was surprised by the sharp, acidic mango puree working with the earthy undertones of matcha. However, I felt that after my first sip, it eventually stood out to me that even though there was a mix of flavors, they eventually blurred together into a very one-tone drink. In many cases, drinks such as this are separated into two different aspects in the same drink so that the flavors are distinct. I was tired of it after getting a few more sips in.
I then tried the Hoji-Chata, and I again found the drink to be mediocre. It was presented as a nice, warm and nutty beverage, but after taking more than one sip, it began to taste like a regular milk tea. Hojicha is a green tea that is known for being roasted over charcoal, so I expected more of those flavors to come through. The flavor gradually began fading away until I felt like I was drinking just milk.
Finally, I tried the Mango Jasmine Lassi, which excited me the most. A mango lassi is an Indian yogurt-based drink. I really enjoy drinks similar to mango lassis and a lot of the same flavor notes were present in this drink. It was sweet and creamy, but, like the Hoji-Chata and Mango Matcha Latte, the flavor was very one-note and lacked the nuance in acidity and sweetness that a mango lassi traditionally has.
Compared to other tea shops in the area, I would say that this is definitely middle of the road but, if you’re in the area, it’s a reasonable option. However, I think that it definitely was not all that it was made out to be.
Overall, Ming Cha doesn’t charge exorbitant prices, but the price matches the product. I would not come again, but it is a local, quaint shop that does offer decent drinks at a reasonable price. I rate it 2.5/5 stars.
