Where can you find bubble tea in State College? There are more options than ever
Those looking for bubble tea and similar tea-based drinks in downtown State College are certainly not wanting for options. Thanks to several new openings over the last year, there are multiple spots to get your bubble tea fix.
Sandy Li opened Mr. Wish, a franchise of the bubble tea store originally founded in Taiwan, at 320 E. College Ave. in late 2021. Prior to opening the location, Li worked in mental health and psychology, but she says it’s a career leap she wouldn’t trade.
“I believe in my drink,” she said. “I know we provide a high-quality drink. Even though there are different boba shops opening up around us, I’m not even really scared about the competition. I know that when people try our drinks, they love us. I’d like to share that experience with more people.”
She chalks her success over the last year to the Mr. Wish brand’s commitment to fresh, healthful ingredients; excellent customer service; and the huge variety of options on the Mr. Wish menu. Though seasonal offerings are available, Li said one of her top sellers across the board is the black tiger milk tea, a sweet and smooth drink typically made with black tea, brown sugar and the quintessential chewy boba.
Down the street, Teadori opened at 454 E. College Ave. more recently, in October. According to manager Atlas Duong, the brand sets itself apart with high-quality ingredients that he says typically aren’t used at many boba shops.
“We take pride in holding ourselves to higher standards,” he said. “We carefully select our premium teas from China and our premium matcha from Japan. ... Some shops don’t even use 100% true matcha, but use a matcha mix. Some shops advertise all-natural, but they might use both fresh fruits and syrups in their drinks.”
Teadori offers a smaller menu than you might find elsewhere, but flavors are rotated often and seasonal drinks are available as well, like the new chocolate milk tea that’s made with Ghirardelli Dutch cocoa powder.
As to why the brand chose to open its new location in State College this season, Duong said they are hoping to fill a void in the area when it comes to boba shops.
“We are from California (and) we have really great boba shops over there. Most boba shops open late for young customers to come in to study or hang out in a safe place. College students are a great fit for boba and the State College community has been very friendly and awesome so far,” Duong said.
Moge Tee, which also opened in October, at 216 East Calder Way, likewise has found a warm welcome in Happy Valley. A representative for the brand, which was founded in mainland China in 2012, said, “We had been seeking a location in State College for quite some time. Finding good store locations involves a lot of hard work, some good timing and a little bit of luck. We are glad that we were able to find a good fit this year. State College is a diverse and inclusive community, and those qualities are important to us.”
Among some of Moge Tee’s favorited offerings are a selection of cheese foam-topped teas. The popular (and fit for social media sharing) topping is a popular addition to boba teas, usually made with a cream cheese base.
Even new restaurants that are not boba or tea-centric are getting in on the boba action, such is the case with Poke Fresh, which opened earlier in 2022 at 328 East Calder Way. The restaurant specializes in Hawaiian-inspired poke bowls, but also offers a selection of bubble milk teas on its menu.
Never tried boba and want to see what all the hype is about? Stop in to Mr. Wish, where Li says she’s always happy to introduce new customers to the long-standing trend. “For those who’ve never had boba before, you have to experience it! … We’ll always try to give out samples of the boba.”
