After HEYTEA closed its Rowland Heights location last summer, I was excited to learn about its grand opening at the Brea Mall. After months of anticipation, it finally opened on Feb. 13 this year. When I visited HEYTEA on a quiet Wednesday afternoon, the mall was pretty empty, but the store was packed and bustling with energy.
With a dozen customers in front of me, the store had an online ordering system, but it wasn’t working on the day I went. However, the line was moving at a decent speed, and before I finished scrolling on my phone, it was already my turn. I couldn’t wait to order its signature Cheese Brown Sugar Bobo milk ($7.99), only to learn that the store was out of boba. Boba milk without boba just didn’t feel right, but I ordered it anyway as it is HEYTEA’s signature.
For my second drink, I ordered the Matcha Cloud Coconut Blue ($7.99) because of its unique coloring and flavor. I also wanted to try something from their fresh fruit series. There were 10 fruit tea options out of a total of 28 drinks on the menu, but at the time I ordered, most fruit teas were sold out except the two grape ones. At first, I hesitated, as grape-flavored drinks always remind me of the cough medicine I had to take when I was a child. But with limited options, I ordered the Crisp Grape Boom with sago ($7.99).
The store has a modern minimalist design with silver-toned finishes. A simple seating area runs along the wall, with a round table in the middle and a few tea-themed decorations, including glass wall lights displaying tea leaves and a hanging metal teapot. Because of the long lines, it took over thirty minutes for my drinks to be prepared, but the drinks were worth the wait. I first tried the Cheese Brown Sugar Bobo Milk without the boba. Although the drink had a rich milk flavor, without boba, it simply tasted like sweetened milk.
Next, I tried the Matcha Cloud Coconut Blue. Though I was wary of the combination, the drink exceeded my expectations, and I strongly recommend it to coconut lovers. Mixed with coconut water, coconut milk and coconut milk jelly, the blue spirulina, a natural blue pigment extracted from a type of edible algae that is known for its rich nutrients and antioxidant properties, gives the drink its rich blue color. On top of this, the matcha balanced well with the coconut flavor without overwhelming it.
Lastly, I tried the Crisp Grape Boom with sago, which had fresh grapes paired with jasmine tea. Although the taste of the jasmine tea was subtle, I found this drink sweet and refreshing, especially after tasting the two milk-based beverages beforehand. I was pleasantly surprised to find no trace of the artificial grape that I’d been expecting.
Overall, HEYTEA’s price is on the higher end, with a limited menu and long wait time. However, its flavor and presentation live up to the hype, giving it a solid 4.5/5.
