With a sweet tooth in mind and a whopping $8 in the pocket, Harvard Square has never been a better spot to treat yourself to boba tea. The addition of Ten One Tea House in March of 2024 means Harvard Square is now home to four boba shops, alongside Bon Me which also lists the treat on its menu.
For CRLS Students, Kung Fu Tea is often the first store that comes to mind. CRLS freshman Oyane Ondius-Souna explained to the Register Forum, “I just always go to Kung Fu Tea. I think it’s better than Gong Cha, and I’ve never been to Tiger Sugar. I personally just like Kung Fu Tea the best, and it’s the closest to the school.”
Founded in 2010 in Queens, New York, Kung Fu Tea earned the award for America’s largest bubble tea brand. The chain has 350+ locations around the U.S., with the Harvard Square location a mere 8-minute walk from CRLS. Furthermore, the store provides deals every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday such as “buy two get one free” or a large for the price of a medium.
Venturing 10 minutes from Kung Fu Tea, straight into the heart of Harvard Square, the next boba store, Gong Cha, is located on Church Street. Gong Cha is an international chain founded in Taiwan. The store spread rapidly around the globe, with over 1800 locations in more than 20 countries. The name directly translates to “tribute tea for the emperor,” illustrating the company’s goal of high-quality and authentic boba tea.
Just a block away, Tiger Sugar opened its door to Harvard Square customers in November 2022. Another international chain, much like Gong Cha, Tiger Sugar was founded in Taiwan and eventually spread to the U.S. With only 3 locations in Massachusetts, the area is lucky enough to be able to enjoy the results of the 8-hour tapioca ball cooking method that goes into making their tea.
Finally, the most recent addition to the array of stores is Ten One Tea House, which has only been open for a couple of months so far. Despite the new name on the door, a boba shop is not a new occurrence for the building. Once housing Boston Tea Stop, and more recently Moge Tea, 54 J.F.K. Street has long been a boba hub, no matter the logo it displays.
Ten One Tea House already has many locations spread throughout Massachusetts, as well as two locations in Taiwan. According to their website, they focus on providing “health-conscious” beverages that still exhibit the iconic boba taste.
Whether looking for the healthiest, most authentic, or simply the sweetest boba, Harvard Square is the place to be with a variety of options that fit anyone’s taste buds.
This article also appears in our June 2024 print edition.
