Featured above is the Strawberry Hibiscus Tea, which was lackluster compared to the Mung Bean Milk Tea, which exceeded expectations.
By: Jonathan Tran
The teashop 7Leaves has recently opened a new location on Berryessa Road in San Jose. Situated in a quiet plaza, the shop has some noticeable Vietnamese vibes running through its menu, which is definitely a first for me. It’s important to note that 7Leaves is not a milk tea shop but rather a tea shop. Most of its menu features traditional teas or Vietnamese coffees, not milk tea. With that out of the way, let’s dive in!
I went two different times. The first time, I ordered their Strawberry Hibiscus tea, which their menu description lists as “sweet and tangy.” Maybe it just didn’t sit right with me, but the drink looked better than it tasted. It was sweet and tangy, but the flavor combination of apple, strawberry, and hibiscus frankly made me a little sick.
Equally off-putting were the odd little apple cubes tossed into the drink. The dark cubes staining the otherwise beautiful pink of the drink interfered with both its aesthetic and mouthfeel experience. If I’m drinking a tea, I’m not expecting to have to crunch on some small little bits of fruit while I do so. (I just want the drink to go down smoothly, not have to awkwardly munch away at these tricky, miniscule chunks of apple). I tend to favor fruit drinks, but I have to admit I was let down by this one.
My second experience couldn’t have been more different. I went in, more than a little embittered by my middling experience the last time I visited, but left pleasantly surprised by my drink. I’m really not a person in tune with his culture. I’m also not the biggest fan of milk tea. So when I ordered 7Leaves’s Mung Bean Milk Tea, which my enthused friend described to me as chè in a cup (chè is a traditional Vietnamese dessert containing mung bean), I was not expecting great things. But it somehow worked for me. That drink is probably one of the tastiest things I’ve ever ordered from an Asian drink shop.
The only thing I’d knock it down for is the gritty, sand-like texture I experienced as I sipped it. That’s apparently one of the drink’s draws, but I wasn’t so convinced. But the Jasmine tea base combined with mung bean and pandan created a wondrous blend of chè and green waffle (another traditional Vietnamese dessert that can be found in many Asian stores) in my mouth, one I would be eager to consume again.
I’ve definitely had some interesting encounters at 7Leaves. I would recommend it to any interested consumers, but I’d advise any potential customers to bring a coat! Waiting in line took more than 30 minutes each time I went, so that line goes right out the door and wraps around the building. Once you do get to the register, the workers are very friendly, and your drink is out in less than 5 minutes, so that’s a plus from me. In conclusion, 7Leaves is a solid tea shop to visit if you’re in the area.