Tea On Piedmont — Restaurant in Oakland

Lovely Atmosphere I would definitely love to come in here and study. It’s extremely peaceful and well curated. It’s a cute spot full of natural lighting and fresh air. I would highly recommend getting a matcha and getting some work done here.

This spot also seemed very inclusive. I seen all different people sitting around drinking tea, chatting quietly, or getting work done, so I wouldn’t too much worry about standing out if you’re not a local.

Great Taste I usually like my boba tea on the sweeter side, but the flavor of the tea combined with the sweetness of the boba was extremely perfect. It wasn’t too sweet but it was just enough to not be over powering and well balanced. The boba was extremely chewy and bouncy like it was freshly made, and I enjoyed every sip.

Con’s I gave this place a 4/5 because I loved everything about my boba experience except one crucial part; the straw. I love being eco friendly especially living so close to the ocean, but it felt extremely counterproductive as you get this large plastic cup, but this worse than paper straw (was kind of like thin wooden straw) that didn’t hold up for longer than 10 min. I believe a straw is an important part of boba because it sits in the beverage and eventually you need a new straw creating more waste.

I see their eco friendly replacements like an app where you can borrow glass or ceramic cups, but it’s not easily accessible because there is a 10 dollar initiation fee, as well a 15 dollar fee if you loose the cup. I feel there should still be a fee (maybe 15 dollars) to begin borrowing a cup, and then when you return it they credit your account so you can barrow a new cup so on so forth. If you were to loose the cup or break the cup you don’t get credits towards your account. Rather than being eco-friendly this is more perceived as a cash grab.

Lastly, I feel if they are pushing to more eco sustainability they wouldn’t have large plastic cups. Paper like straws, plastic cups, and a cash grab cup trading platform don’t lend towards a better tomorrow, but rather fuller pockets. If you’re going to have a plastic cup just use a plastic straw as well.

For those that do visit, I recommend you don’t forget your metal straws or single use plastic straw that you’ve given multiple lives by...

Stoked to see a local tea shop that makes really yummy boba tea that ISN'T super sweet! I've been ordering the jasmine boba tea and it's quite tasty, and the subtle sweetness is perfect for such a delicate tea. I also like that they have a large collection of non-dairy milk options. I do wish the teas were a wee bit less watery—I think maybe the concentration of tea used in boba drinks is typically stronger than what you'd use for a regular cup of tea, so that might be where the issue is? As for the ambience, the space is really big and beautiful, but it is quite echoey because of all the hard surfaces and big open ceiling. It would be nice with some sound-dampening decor to help make the space feel more cozy. They also offer some nice locally produced sweets and treats, but the thing I'm most excited about is the asian pastry options. I hope they continue to carry these pastries—brunch boba and buns is a...

I will admit that I judged this place by its store front -- thinking that it would be mediocre Whitewashed milk teas. I was pleasantly surprised and kinda sad I've walked in a couple times previously before getting myself to try it.

They have a cute gift area, so if you a small gift idea! They also have cute boba accessories by the register for any other boba lovers.

I always get the iced chai latte. It has a lot of spiced chai flavor, not overly sweet and best yet- its made with OAT milk. Its hard to find good milk-alternative milk teas shops. They also have some pastries and they collaborate with local bakeries too. They try to be eco-friendly, so if you are a regular - you can leave your tumbler there (they'll tag your name on it and you can reuse it each...