Quali-Tea Boba Can Be Found Locally Around CSUDH

By Jasmine Nguyen, Co-Lifestyle Editor

Those who follow me on Instagram know there’s rarely a weekend where I’m not posting a picture of me drinking some boba. The sweet Taiwanese drink is something that’s been an obsession of mine since elementary school. 

Back then there were probably only two different boba shops and they weren’t particularly fancy, it was just milk tea or Thai tea with tapioca balls. But that’s not the case now. I have about five stamp cards from different boba shops in my wallet at this exact moment. So with my almost two decades worth of experience, I’d like to think I know something about boba, so here is a list of some of the best close to our campus.

7 Leaves Cafe, 18547 S. Western Ave., Torrance. This quickly growing franchise recently opened a new location 15 minutes from CSUDH. It gets the top ranking because, well, there’s a reason there are 23 locations in three states. There’s a small menu, so it’s not overwhelming for newcomers, and the drinks are great. The House Coffee gets praise from anyone I talk to and my personal favorite, the Mung Bean Milk Tea ($3.25), brings something other boba places don’t. 5/5/

Ding Tea, 15400 S. Western Ave., Gardena. Another franchise, Ding Tea offers an array of drinks, from the usual milk teas to yogurt drinks, and lattes. The cafe is known for its golden boba, but also offers an array of toppings, such as star jellies or egg pudding. Ding Tea also gives customers the option to customize the sugar and ice level of their drinks. 4.5/5

Tan-Cha. 1610 W Redondo Beach Blvd Unit 12B, Gardena. I’ve only been to Tan-Cha once e, but it was a bit of a different experience when it comes to boba. It’s a bit more expensive than other boba places, with drinks around $5.50 to $5.75 compared to the normal $4 range. But it has a range of flavors that you can’t find anywhere else, such as Brulee Milk Tea with Boba. Tan-Cha is known for its cheese foam topping in their drinks and their particular way of having to tip their beverages at a 45-degree angle. While the drinks are good, it can be a bit overwhelming for new boba drinkers and pricier than other places. 4.5/5

Tea Station 1610 W Redondo Beach Blvd #3, Gardena.  Along with boba, Tea Station offers food and snacks. Then drinks are average, but if you to eat snacks like popcorn chicken and fried tofu, desserts like shaved ice, or tofu or traditional meals like beef stew, this is your place. 3.5/5

Honeyboba, 1550 Artesia Blvd., Gardena. So far, these ratings have really been down to personal preference and price range. Honyboba’s a different story. It has a huge selection of drinks but only takes card payments so be aware of that if you drop by. There’s also no air conditioning, which hinders the experience altogether. The boba itself is OK, but not worth going to this particular stop for. There are better cafes with tastier boba and air conditioning. 2.5/5.