Editor’s Column
Aileen Janee is the REV CEO for Ethic News.
By AILEEN JANEE CORPUS
National boba day was recently celebrated April 30, 2023, and in honor of such a day, I have compiled all of the boba stores in Redlands.
- Hoji
Hoji’s salted thai and rose Hojicha drink with their handmade Kokuto boba. The salted thai wasn’t very salty and the rose Hojicha had a floral flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/Ethic News Photo) 
Hoji’s Hojicha drink with sea cream and Kokuto boba had just the right amount of cream, chew and smokiness, but not enough salt from the cream and not much flavor from the boba. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/Ethic News Photo) 
Hoji’s menu lists the teas they sell and their variations which including adding sea cream or their handmade kokuto boba. They have non dairy options and sweetness level can be changed, but there are no prices listed. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
The exterior of Hoji is cute and simple. A small stand shows the store’s hours and a neon sign inside the shop is illuminated when Hoji is ready for customers. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/Ethic News Photo) 
The interior of Hoji is small, cozy and gives off a warm feel. The small yellow TV on top of records to the left of the photo plays relaxing music. There is also a sign with the names of drinks and their prices. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/Ethic News Photo) 
Hoji’s kitchen is just the right size for their small shop. To the right of the cash register, Hoji also sells ceramics. There are also free matcha milk candies by the cash register. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/Ethic News Photo)
What started as a small stall during the Redlands Farmers Market has now grown into a building by a local gelato spot: Happy Camper Creamery. Taking a guess, the name of the tea shop came from roasted japanese matcha green tea: Hojicha.
The interior of the shop is very small with enough space for a few chairs and their kitchen. Alongside selling boba, Hoji also sells ceramics.
Hoji has handmade boba with Kokuto, Okinawan black sugar.
During my first visit my sister and I bought the Salted Thai with boba and Rose Hojicha with boba, and I bought the Hojicha with sea cream and boba for $5.50. The sweetness level of the drinks can be adjusted, and even though all of these drinks had 100% sweetness they were not too sweet. For those who don’t know, sea cream is simply a whipped cream with salt added.
When I first got my drink, I could not see the boba balls in the cup, but after a few sips, I realized that they simply made clear boba. Their boba is handmade and they call it Kokuto boba; although it didn’t have much flavor, it did have a great chew.
In my opinion, the sea cream was not salty enough and the Kokuto boba did not have much flavor, which is reasonable because the boba isn’t necessarily advertised as sweetened. On the upside the rose Hojicha had a nice floral flavor and the Hojicha with sea cream had an excellent smoky flavor. I had not previously tried Hojicha tea with boba before, but I’m glad to have my first experience with Hoji.
Hoji does not have a website, but they do have an instagram page and yelp. They are open Sundays and Wednesdays through Saturdays from 12 PM to 8 PM.
721 Nevada St #406, Redlands, CA 92373
- Chaca Tea Bar
The Monday Special when I visited was honeydew green tea. All of their Monday Specials are $1 for 16 ounce flavored green teas, so adding boba costs an extra 50 cents. The drink was not too sweet, so you could still taste the tea flavor, and their brown sugar boba was flavorful and had a good chew. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Chaca Tea Bar’s menu has many different drinks such as milk teas, flavored teas, drinks with sea salt creams, slushies, smoothies, shakes, coffees, iced yogurts and iced milks. Chaca also has a multitude of toppings including brown sugar boba, aloe vera, and strawberry chunks. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
By the cash register, Chaca compiled their top 10 drinks to help those who are new to the shop or milk tea. The top 10 include milk tea with boba, almond frappe, strawberry yogurt, mango green tea with lychee jelly, coffee frappe, sea salt caramel milk tea, honeydew smoothie, peach green tea with boba, strawberry slush and avocado frappe. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
For the season of spring, Chaca Tea Bar has three special drinks which are the strawberry fields milk tea with fresh strawberry and matcha, meadow milk tea with lavender milk tea and matcha and key lime yogurt with optional rainbow jelly. Get these drinks before summer rolls around. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Chaca Tea Bar truly connects with the community by offering fundraising opportunities and a coupon after showing a receipt with a purchase from their next door neighbor Naan Cafe. Chaca also has a Monday Special of $1 for flavored milk teas. The perfect gift for a Redlands boba lover would be Chaca’s $5 gift card which is worth a 24 ounce drink with one topping. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Chaca Tea Bar is located next door to Naan Cafe and near Albertson’s. There is a small sign in front of the shop which says the Monday Special and any other promotions for the shop. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Inside of Chaca Tea Bar, one can find plenty of seating for hanging out with friends or having a study session. There is also a restroom for customers to use. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo)
Chaca Tea Bar is a Redlands original boba shop and loved by many Redlands residents. Chaca Tea Bar is located near an Albertson’s and Indian food place called Naan Cafe. If one buys something from Naan Cafe, they can show their receipt to Chaca to get a 5% discount. Inside, Chaca has plenty of tables fit for working or hanging out inside of the shop; there is also a restroom available for customers.
Every Monday, the shop has a $1 drink that is a flavored green tea; the pricing does not include toppings, so one drink with boba would cost $1.50 for a 16 ounce drink. Chaca Tea Bar has their drinks in multiple sizes: 16 ounces which is regular and the only size for hot drinks, 24 ounces which is large and 32 ounces which is extra large.
I went to Chaca on a Monday so I ordered two Monday’s Specials, which was a honeydew green tea, for a total of $3.25.
The tea had just the right amount of sweetness, and the boba had a sweet honey flavor and I could still feel its warmth through the cup. For only $1.50 each, it was a most excellent cup of boba tea.
Chaca Tea Bar does not have a website, but they do have an instagram page and are on yelp. Their hours are 11 AM to 9:30 PM on Sundays to Saturdays.
700 E Redlands Blvd R-1, Redlands, CA 92373
- Sharetea
ShareTea’s brewed green tea with boba, regular sweetness and regular ice levels had the just right amount of flavor. ShareTea has multiple locations around California and many locations around the world. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
The cost for a brewed green tea was $4.55 and adding boba added 75 cents. For a drink that was around 22 ounces, ShareTea is a solid shop to get a cup of boba tea. After texting ten different codes from ten different receipts from ShareTea to the number 73752, you can get a free drink. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo)
Located in the heart of Mountain Grove and next to the Meek House, Share Tea is a great spot if you are craving a sweet or tea drink. Share Tea is a branch, so it has multiple locations all across the world.
There are a few tables inside which are ideal for studying and a few tables outside which are ideal for chilling. The store also has a restroom for customers.
I bought the brewed green tea for $4.55 with boba, which added 75 cents. The sweetness and ice levels can be adjusted, so I got 100% sweetness and regular ice level.
After texting the code at the bottom of your receipt to the number 73752, you can earn points to get a free drink.
The tea and boba are great if you are simply looking for a quick drink. All in all, Sharetea is your average boba shop for a cup of good tea and boba. Their hours are 11 AM to 9:30 PM from Sundays to Thursdays but are 11 AM to 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
27471 San Bernardino Ave Suite 100, Redlands, CA 92374
- Teaport
Teapot’s Brown Tiger is simply milk, boba, and brown sugar syrup. The drink was too sweet for me, but that might have been because I did not mix the brown sugar syrup well enough. Their boba did have a great chew and flavor and the drink was creamy. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Teaport has toppings like honey boba and rainbow jelly and milk substitutes like almond milk and oat milk for 68 cents, and various add-ins including whey protein and whipped cream for different prices depending on the add-in. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Teaport has blended drinks, slushies, and iced lattes on their menu. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Teaport has organic iced drinks and organic teas that can be hot or iced. I have tried the organic, iced jasmine green tea with boba and it had just the right amount of sweetness. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Teaport offers specialty drinks for all the same price of $5.68. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Teaport is sandwiched between Byrd’s Hot Chicken and Corner Bakery Cafe. There are posters of some of the drinks Teaport offers on their windows. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Inside of Teaport, there are a few tables while you wait for your drink, hang out with friends, or do homework, and there is a restroom available for customers. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Teaport is also a boba shop that opened in the past year. The name of the store is a play on the word airport. According to their website, their only other location besides Redlands is in San Dimas.
There are a few tables inside the store where one can study or chill while waiting for their order, and the shop has a restroom for customers to use.
I have tried multiple drinks from Teaport: White Tiger, White Jasmine, Brown Tiger, and a jasmine tea. All of their drinks are 24 ounces.
In my opinion, their tea is too sweet, but their boba has a good flavor and chew; although, the organic, iced jasmine green tea had just the right amount of sweetness.
Teaport has a website, but their prices are not accurate to what the drinks are charged in-store. Teaport’s hours are from 11 AM to 7 PM from Mondays to Saturdays but are 11 AM to 6 PM on Sundays.
410 Orange St, Redlands, CA 92374
- Kung Fu Tea
Kung Fu Tea’s medium sized, milk green tea with boba, 50% sweetness and less ice. The drink was not too sweet and their boba was chewy and had a sweet flavor. I have been to Kung Fu Tea’s shops in Las Vegas and Riverside and they are consistent in flavor and quality. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Kung Fu Tea in Redlands is next to a Domino’s and a walk away from a Stater Brother’s. The boba shop is also close to the 10 freeway if you’re looking for a drink before you hit the road. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Kung Fu Tea’s menu is right by the cash register and includes drinks like their milk strike which is milk tea and milk cap which is a drink with a cream on top. You can also customize the size, sweetness level and ice level of your drink. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
The interior of Kung Fu Tea gives off a modern yet casual feel with its bright lighting. You can buy boba themed snacks which are lined up by the register. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo) 
Located next to Stater Brothers’ and Domino’s and just a walk away from the 10, Kung Fu Tea recently opened in Redlands. Kung Fu Tea is also a chain boba shop so you can find their shop in the US, Canada, Cambodia, Taiwan and Japan.
Inside of the boba shop, there are plenty of tables and a restroom available for customers to use.
When I went to Kung Fu Tea, I got a medium Kung Fu milk green tea with boba, 50% sweetness, and less ice. The boba had a great chew and sweet flavor, and having the 50% sweetness enabled me to have a subtle sweet flavor while still being able to taste the tea which was creamy and flavorful.
Kung Fu Tea has an instagram page specifically for Redlands and a website. Their hours are Sunday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM.
107 E Colton Ave Suite 200, Redlands, CA 92374
- Viva La Boba
In order to advertise their coming, Viva La Boba already has a banner on top of the closed Banned skate shop. The banner includes Viva La Boba’s instagram. Viva La Boba has another location in San Bernardino which mixes Mexican and Taiwanese flavors for their drinks. (AILEEN JANEE CORPUS/ Ethic News Photo)
Viva La Boba is a shop that is beginning construction in the closed down skateshop across the street from Trader Joe’s and Teaport.
They have fresh, milk and hot teas, coffees, slushies, smoothies, specialty lattes, specialty drinks and hot chocolates. As for toppings, Viva La Boba offers a variety including boba, sea foam slated cream, tajin and chamoy.
Viva La Boba’s other location is in San Bernardino, and they do have an instagram page and website. Their San Bernardino location’s hours are Monday through Sunday, 11 AM to 10 PM.
455 W 4th St, San Bernardino, CA 9240
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