UMe Tea, a bubble tea chain founded in California, opened its newest location in downtown Menlo Park on July 4. Replacing Mr. Green Bubble, another Boba shop, UMe Tea has been bustling with customers since its opening. Inside, a multitude of rap and pop plays throughout the open interior. Although the location is new, its menu is large and provides plenty of options.
Coco Mango ($6.25): 8/10
The Coco Mango is a wonderful mix of fresh mango flavors and creamy coconut. The blend of fresh mango chunks and coconut cream meld together perfectly to create a crisp, delicious cold twist on traditional fruit and milk tea. The small popping boba also adds a satisfying pop to every sip. The slushy is definitely more mango-forward in flavor, yet still a very satisfying drink for anyone craving mango flavor.
Curly Fries ($5.99): 7/10
The Curly fries are an ideal complement to the drinks UMe Tea offers. The generously sprinkled paprika spice garlic seasoning blend across the fries supplies a wonderful kick to the curly fries. The portion is generous and strays from modern shrinkflation. These fries could use a hint of salt, but are still incredibly tasty, and for the price, the flavor makes them a great addition to any UMe Tea order.
Guava Strawberry Yogurt Slushie ($6.75): 6/10
The Guava Strawberry Yogurt Slushie is another self-proclaimed staple on the menu. Although the guava flavor is pleasant, it tastes artificial and not of the same quality as UMe Tea’s other fresh fruit drinks. That said, the yogurt does provide a creamy, coat-your-tongue texture, and the fresh strawberry is delectable. The popping boba, although pleasant flavor-wise, clashes with the rest of the drink texturally. The drink is still decent overall, and its size makes the price understandable.
Popcorn Chicken ($9.95): 8/10
The popcorn chicken is exploding with flavor. The umami-spiced blend is delicious and a perfect complement to the juicy fried chicken, but some pieces do have significantly more seasoning than others. While some of the larger pieces lack some crispiness, this is not the case for all of them, but given the amount of chicken in the order, the price is more than justifiable.
Brown Sugar Boba Premium Oolong Milk Tea ($5.95): 8/10
UMe Tea’s take on the classic milk tea is a successful and mouth-watering one. The base Smokey Oolong tea harmonizes with the creamy milk, and the flawless brown sugar boba completes the flavor palette. The overall sweetness complements the deep and umami flavor of the premium Oolong tea. For $5.95, the tea is small, but definitely worth trying for traditional boba milk tea lovers.
Passion Fruit Watermelon Green Tea ($6.45): 9/10
The Passion Fruit Watermelon Green tea is the dictionary definition of refreshing. The bold passion fruit comes through first, and the passion fruit seeds add a layered texture and an extra burst of flavor. The watermelon pieces also cool down the drink; it’s a wonderful palate cleanser to close off a meal. This drink is a must-order for anyone who enjoys fruit tea and fresh fruit flavors.
