Bubble tea is the greatest thing ever, right?
Colorful, cold, sweet and so much fun to slurp out of those giant, multi-colored straws. My six-year-old calls bubble tea a “combo drink and snack” and she’s not wrong. Because everyone knows that if there’s nothing to chew in your cup, is it even bubble tea?
Luckily for us, Columbus has some fantastic spots to grab a cup of the good stuff. Check out these 7 spots that every bubble tea fan in Columbus needs to try!
Bubbles Tea and Juice Company
Bubbles Tea and Juice Company opened up shop in 2005 in the iconic North Market and Columbus immediately fell in love. The original location is still there and it’s my personal favorite, but many others have now joined it. In fact, you can now find a Bubbles Tea and Juice stand in the Columbus Convention Center, Dublin, Worthington, Polaris Fashion Place, Tuttle Crossing Mall, and even at the Easton Town Center!
In addition to yummy bubble tea, they also have cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and protein bars.
What to get: Their fruit teas are awesome! I’m partial to the peach and green apple flavors, myself.
Little Moon Cafe
Little Moon is a cute tea shop located in Clintonville. Not only can you sip on something yummy, but you can also sign up for Saturday night Karaoke. Now’s your chance to break out that tried and true song and wow your fellow tea-lovers.
The ambiance at Little Moon is adorable, with lots of cozy seating options perfect for sipping and munching on your bubble tea.
What to get: You can’t go wrong with Little Moon Black Tea.
Zen Cha Tea Salon
Located in the Short North, Zen Cha Tea Salon was the first place I remember getting bubble tea. Back in the good ol’ college days, the boy and I would head there to drink tea and study. The atmosphere and vibe are awesome – true to its name, it’s very “zen”. And man oh man, do they know their tea! If you’re the kind of person who takes great pleasure in learning all about the food and drink you sample, this is the spot for you. They don’t have “employees” at Zen Cha Tea Salon.
Oh no, not here.
Instead, their “professionally trained tea ambassadors” love to impart their knowledge of all the excellent teas they have on hand. And they have a LOT of teas on hand. Plus, they are locally owned!
In addition to bubble tea, you can sample tea from around the world – arranged by country, as well as yummy food and they even feature a weekend brunch with yummy choices like Earl Grey’s Pancakes or Masala Chai waffles.
What to get: Sample a cup of Pearl Milk Black tea or Pudding tea.
The Brewed Leaf
This cute shop is located in the Olentangy Plaza shopping center off of Bethel road, and they just recently opened their second location in University District. The first time I walked into The Brewed Leaf, it was because a friend dragged me there in complete shock that I had yet to try it out.
My friend was right – it was shocking that I hadn’t heard of this spot before! It was totally my jam, and I went three times in three days. Their bubble tea is really THAT good and it reminded me of the time my husband and I quit our jobs, sold off all our crap, and bought one-way tickets to Hong Kong because we wanted to aimlessly wander the streets eating and drinking every delicious thing we could find. The Brewed Leaf is by far the most authentic bubble tea that I’ve found in Columbus, and if you want to sample a beverage that will transport you directly to the streets of Hong Kong, this is where you need to go. Plus, it’s locally owned!
In addition to bubble tea, they also have smoothies and my personal favorite – a whole LIST of fun toppings for your bubble tea. You can choose from things like wild rice, grass jelly, red bean, sweet cream, pudding, or even CHEESE.
What to get: I highly recommend the Passionfruit Green tea with pudding or the Black Milk tea with boba.
Kung Fu Tea
What to get: Oolong Milk tea or Taro Milk tea
Vivi Bubble Tea
No seriously, how cute are these skulls?
What to get: 3Q Milk tea or a Tiramisu tea
Cha Time
What to get: Taro Milk tea or the Thai Milk tea
It’s tea time, people!
Featured image via Bubbles Tea & Juice Facebook.
