By: Emily Osher
Boba refers to tapioca pearls that are added to drinks to create a chewy texture when taking a sip. It originated in East Asia. Boba tea shops have been around for awhile in larger cities, but Visalia has joined in the trend. We have six boba shops in town: Gong Cha Visalia, The Little Boba Shop, Mochido’s, ShareTea, Teaspoon, and RareTea. The following is a rating guide for those of you who can’t get enough of boba teas and drinks.
Mochido’s Yelp Rating: 3.8
Mochido’s, located in the shopping center of Target South, is more on the expensive side of boba. Kneiamya Espindola, a student at El Diamante, says “Mochido’s drinks are always refreshing and hold the softest boba.” Not only does Mochido’s sell boba, they sell a variety of Asian treats such as mochi donuts and Korean corn dogs, and Vietnamese coffee. The menu holds a variety of different drinks and is a favorite all around.
Teaspoon Yelp Rating: 4.2
Teaspoon is on Mooney, and not as expensive as Mochido’s. They have an active Instagram account, always advertising deals for customers. Teaspoon has a smaller menu compared to other shops, with not as much variety. On Yelp, the Teaspoon has mixed reviews. One customer was commenting that the “tea didn’t taste right” and has poor customer service while others stated the tea had a “refreshing taste” and the hosts were “quick and friendly” service.
The Little Boba Shop Yelp Rating: 3.9
The Little Boba Shop, neighbors to Crumbl Cookie on Mooney, is the boba shop for those who love a good aesthetic. It is decently priced and not as expensive as some of the other shops. One thing that is special about The Little Boba Shop, is they sell acai on their menu. Not only does this create more revenue for them, but it allows customers to personalize any their drinks.
GongCha Yelp Rating: 4.4
GongCha, is also on Mooney and is one of the least expensive shops in Visalia. GongCha holds the ability to personalize any drinks that a customer orders: like the sweetness and ice within a drink. A customer favorite is the Creme Brule Foam. This shop also sells waffle type desserts. GongCha is the boba shop to explore and try new things.
ShareTea Yelp Rating: 4.6
ShareTea is next to Dunkin Donuts on Mooney; they only serve drinks, but this means that they focus only on the drinks, so they are very good. They are known for their variety and quality of their drinks. Although ShareTea is more expensive than others, customers can customize their drinks making it a more personal experience.
RareTea Yelp Rating: 4.4
RareTea on Dinuba, north of Visalia on is decently priced. This is the only tea shop in town not located on Mooney. RareTea is known for serving the softest boba in Visalia. They only sell boba, but it has good quality. A customer favorite is Brown Sugar Boba Shake. RareTea is fan favorite here at El Diamante, student’s rave about their boba drinks. Senior, Morgan Phillipe says “Nothing compares to RareTea’s boba.” Students are willing to drive to the other side of town for it.