Boba shops have taken over Sunnyvale, but which one is the best? Out of the four places we tried, UME ranks first. However, it is not just a matter of opinion — we are factoring in taste, price, aesthetic (for your Instagram story) and distance from FHS. For each drink, we rated them from 0-10, zero being the worst and 10 being the best. After going to every shop, we also decided to rate them out of 25, 25 being the best and zero the worst, taking into account how nice it was, the seating, price and taste.
First, we went to Fantasia in Cupertino Village. Cupertino Village is an eight-minute drive from FHS. Fantasia is a very underrated boba shop; not many people know it exists. Inside, there is a quiet and dim aesthetic — the perfect place to study. We ordered a Mango Green Tea. Sadly, the sample we got had the syrup stuck at the bottom, so we only got a sip of the tea. The tea was very strong, which made it enjoyable. They had also included tapioca pearls and lychee jelly. However, overall, we would rate it a 20/25.
Happy Lemon, an eight-minute drive from FHS, had an overall rating of 15/25. Located in the Cupertino Village, this boba shop offers cute, yellow-themed decor. Happy Lemon also offers the popular Taiwanese street snack Bubble Waffles, which scores them some points. However, compared to the other stores we had tried, it was more basic. There was limited seating; however, the yellow aesthetic was enjoyable. When we asked for the signature drink, the server handed us a frozen strawberry cheesecake drink. The drink itself was a 5/10. The drink we received came from behind the counter itself, and when we drank it, it was completely melted. If you enjoy strawberry milk, the drink is for you! For us, it was boring.
Ume, also located in Cupertino Village and an eight-minute drive from FHS, was an overall 21/25. When we asked for a sample, the server gave us a free regular-sized drink. The drink was part of their summer menu, the Mango Pomelo Sago Smoothie, which was delicious. It came with a mango smoothie at the top with a coconut pudding at the bottom. The toppings also included sago, which is similar to tapioca pearls. Overall, the drink was a solid 10/10 in our opinion. The mango taste was fresh and cooling, the pudding at the bottom added a little chew and coconut flavor and the sago pearls’ small size may be more enjoyable to those who dislike the size of tapioca pearls. The location itself is far from FHS and is a small shop located in the back of the Cupertino Village, but Ume still offers a super cute aesthetic, with pink walls and cute decor. Inside, they offer kiosks so that it is easy and efficient to order your drink.
7 Leaves, also located in the same complex, has a bit more popularity, possibly due to its much larger space. There were plenty of tables within the store, and contained many students studying. It was a simple, clean store with some plants for decoration. As for the actual drinks, we were not impressed. We sampled the Green Thai Tea, which tastes good at first, but transitioned to an odd, artificial aftertaste. As for food, the only offerings were macarons that did not look baked in-house. Ultimately, 7 Leaves would be a good place to sit down and get some work done, but do not expect too much for the drinks, at least for the Green Thai Tea, so 15/25 is their final score.
Mollytea is only a six-minute drive from FHS, located across the street from In-N-Out. They are renowned for their milk teas, with a focus on the distinct flavor profile of jasmine tea, oolong and more. The menu itself is considerably small, and there are no traditional boba toppings like honey boba or lychee jelly. We sampled the Mango Jasmine Smoothie, which comes with sago and fresh mango. Overall, it was fresh and sweet, but not better than the Ume Tea version. So, we give it a 7/10 for the taste. The interior is filled with pink decor and is known for being Instagram-worthy; however, actually getting into the store is no easy feat. The parking lot is tiny, and the store has only a few tables, despite the large amount of customers they receive daily. Mollytea receives a 20/25 as an ideal location for high-quality drinks and a good time if you can find a table and parking.
Overall, these boba shops were unique in their own aspects. But if we were to choose one out of all the different options, we would definitely go for Ume Tea.
