Berkeley’s boba scene through the years has been a hit-or-miss, with some truly stellar gems (Asha, Mr. Green Bubble) amid the largely mediocre offerings close to campus. Recently, things have begun looking up with the introduction of even more milk tea places in the area – including Sheng Kee, and now Purple Kow.
Purple Kow’s arrival in Berkeley has been hyped for quite some time, with long-time fans (its original location is in SF) touting the amazingness that is their milk tea confections. I stopped by Berkeley for a few days, my first time back in the area since graduation, and I knew I had to try the place out.
The verdict? Great, high-quality milk tea, at standard (high-tier) prices, without the ridiculous two-hour lines that Half & Half in SoCal saw when they first opened several years ago. I ordered their almond milk tea with boba, my go-to at tea stations, and was met with a sweet, fresh, and ultimately tasty beverage with chewy, cooked-just-right tapioca pearls. My only (very minor) complaint is that I would’ve preferred a little more ice for a colder, slightly less-sweet beverage.
The cup is a spitting image of the fat cups used by Half & Half (and Sheng Kee for a while), a huge, possibly 32 oz-plus cup enough for two servings. Other than custom orders, there are also a bunch of pre-set combinations, including iced milk combos, a popular SoCal boba drink. Another bonus? They have some space upstairs with free wifi from Starbucks, which is practically next door.
Finally, the tea scene in Berkeley is picking up, and I for one am happy that I’m still close enough to have some great selections whenever I’m back in the area.
Proud boba addict since 2000 at www.TheFoodSpotlight.com.
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