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    Charuma Tea Bar

    4.6 (63 reviews)
    InexpensiveBubble Tea, Cafes
    Closed 11:30 am - 6:30 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    CHARUMA TEA BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Charuma Tea Bar

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    Tabitha H.

    Coming from California and being a lifelong boba tea lover, I was pleasantly surprised to find an authentic boba shop like Charuma in Rhode Island, especially since the state's Asian population is less than 4%. The store has a warm and cozy vibe, with a few seats available. It's also a great spot to get some work done, with fast WiFi and seats near outlets. I got a large smoky oolong milk tea with boba, a large black milk tea with boba, and their salt and pepper popcorn chicken. My favorite items were the black milk tea with boba and popcorn chicken with salt and pepper. The black milk tea's boba had the perfect chewiness and the balance between black tea, sugar, and milk was perfect. The popcorn chicken's exterior was crispy, while the inside was incredibly juicy. I also appreciated that they had eco-friendly bamboo straws. The only downside is that there is only paid street parking nearby If you're in Providence, I'd highly recommend checking out Charuma.

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    Jamie A.

    My bobba dream! I came to enjoy my third stomach wish for bobba tea, and I was blown away by the simple but fresh taste of this bobba tea. Interior was very stylish, and the design of the logo and cups scream like they belong to some good artist with a vision. Bathrooms are available and the space only has one table and first come first serve seating. Wifi is offered but to have a seat available might be a long shot for sit down sessions with friends or study session. I ordered the smoky oolong milk tea with oat milk, bobba which is house made, less ice, and 50% sugar. My partner got a drink and 100% sugar was wayyy too sweet. A 50-75% is a more safe bet. The tea flavors are so strong and tasty, you don't need too much sweet to overpower it. You definitely want to taste the tea and bobba themselves~ the bobba was the best thing about my drink because they were delicious and made my visit super worth it~ I did the combo of a large with a food, since a large has the price of $5 versus the the drink itself with no food would be $7. Worth the deal. My sweet potato fries were simple and good, coming in a paper bag ouch, for easy carry out snack. They are snack size, so not a full meal if that's what you're looking for. Parking was a hassle, especially if it's chilly, but I see myself coming back, dealing with a more pleasant walk to this location. This place was meant for college students since their dorm is nearby, but I still want to come back for sure!

    Smoky Oolong Milk Tea
    Diana C.

    I was really impressed with the boba here flavor wise! They had tons of options too which I appreciated and they allow you to adjust sugar and ice levels. I've not always had a lot of luck with places being this good outside of the west coast or major cities but this spot was very good. They were pretty busy at 5pm on a Tuesday though and it took a little while to get my drink, but the milk tea was very tasty and the boba was perfect! Not too many places to sit but I was taking it to go. Definitely would come back!

    Kyleigh D.

    Authentic Taiwanese bubble tea and snacks! The Formosa Beauty Milk Tea was amazing and unlike anything else you can get in the area. The fried chicken and fries have fun seasoning options and are delicious.

    Ravuth O.

    Great place. Pros Teas are wonderful and will keep me focused without a lot of caffeine Best part is I don't get coffee jitters. The only drink I know that will keep me focused and calm for the rest of the day. I love the addition of the fruit teas and how much sugar they asked you and also the different jellies like the grass jelly I would get with my strawberry fruit tea, light oolong tea, with 25% sugar . Cons new line Unfortunately they don't open till 11:30 a.m. so I cannot get any tea or any type of beverage in the morning because they don't open until so late . I recommend this place this is one of my favorite place to walk to from work on my lunch Please open Earlier!

    decor

    Got the roasted oolong tea at 0% sugar and 0% ice. The tea had a strong roasty hint and was perfect for a black coffee lover. It's mildly bitter then transitions into a bit of astringency. It's nice and brisk. This is similar to what I would get in Taiwan. Definitely give this a try if you like pure teas. 9.5/10 Also tried the Pu-Er milk tea with agar boba at 25% sugar. The agar boba had floral hints of honey and the tea was refreshing. However, the tea flavor was covered almost entirely by the milk. I wished the tea flavor was a bit more pronounced, but otherwise the milk tea is pretty decent. 6/10 We got the passion fruit green tea at 50% sugar but it turned out to be too sweet. Would rate it around 7/10. Better than the same drink from Gong Cha though. The inside of the store had good decor and a pretty modern look. The barista was really nice and let us try different flavors of the tea and different toppings. We were given a chart of all the different tea flavors. There's also a promo where if you get a food item you can add $5 to get a large drink with one topping. There's a 10% discount for Brown students as well!

    Pu-Er Milk Tea
    Megan H.

    Charuma is one of my favorite places for boba in providence. Coming from California, I was pretty disappointed with the lack of good boba in Providence before Charuma. When it first opened, I was so excited and it is now my go-to! One of my favorite flavors to get is the Pu-er milk tea, which has a more floral, earthy taste. All of the teas here seem very authentic, and you can't go wrong. They do tend to run out of the house boba, so come earlier in the day if you're looking for that!

    Formosa Beauty Milk Tea
    Seo Youn C.

    I love their tea base - it really is so fragrant and subtle. I've tried a few of their tea varieties so far and everything is a hit. I think both the milk and fruit teas are really good, so it's mood dependent on what I end up ordering. My only constructive feedback is that the boba ball sizes are kinda small compared to the other shops so I accidentally swallowed a few more than usual. Anyway, I noticed there was some cute Christmas decor up recently and it really brightened up the space. I'll keep stopping by since I think Charuma is such a charming tea shop worth going out of the way for. Next time I'm excited to try the food as well.

    Pu-er tea, iced with house made boba. Taiwanese fried chicken with salt/pepper seasoning
    Theresa B.

    I read a review that this spot has dethroned KFT for the best boba in Providence, and after trying this place I definitely believe it! Some things I noticed that make Charuma super unique: - they have pu-er tea!! I've never seen this on any other boba menu (most places have the usual oolong, Jasmine green, and black teas and maaaybe high mountain if they're feeling fancy). I love that Charuma is bringing attention to other types of tea :) - house made boba - need I say more?? I always feel like house made boba is better, and this one is chewy (even after sitting for a few hours) and perfectly sweet (but not too sweet) - some of the crispiest Taiwanese fried chicken I've ever had in my life, and the inside is nice and moist. This is also a nice place to study! Interior is clean and minimal, and there's great food/drinks and wifi :)

    Sweet Potato Fries with seaweed salt and pepper
    Jennifer L.

    Atmosphere: 5 Beautifully designed café. Love the seating area and the wall of tea canisters along the wall. I want one! The menu had a few things blocked out as sold out, which was a bummer. However, they did have a sign saying that many of their ingredients are shipped from Taiwan and due to delays are currently unavailable. That's understandable. Portion: 5 I ordered their black milk tea and added their crystal boba. Their drink sizes are standard and my drink had a sufficient amount of boba. We also ordered their sweet potato fries in their seaweed salt and pepper flavor. We got a good sized serving tucked in a paper sleeve. It was definitely made fresh because it was so hot to the touch! Flavors: 5 Bubble tea tastes best with real milk. And that's what they use! I think the tea could be stronger, but it was still really good. The crystal boba is not chewy like normal boba. The texture is different. It breaks apart a little like jelly. The sweet potato fries were delicious. The seaweed salt and pepper was tasty! The outside of the sweet potato fries were tender and fluffy inside. Overall, I'd go there again. The fries are addicting!!

    Ryan B.

    Charuma is one of the coolest tea bars I have ever experienced! It combines classic tea favorites like boba tea with some fun snacks like popcorn chicken. Their Oolong black tea was alright, but their grapefruit tea slushie blew me away! It was a warm day and the slushie was the perfect escape with a strong citrus flavor. I also really enjoyed their popcorn chicken and sweet potato fries. They had great seasoning and had a crispy, umami flavor! The place was popular with a huge crowd of visitors, but the staff was very kind and prompt with our order. If you are in Providence, definitely stop by!

    Smokey Oolong
    Kristen C.

    Great ambiance. Right in downtown next to the arcade. The service is wonderful here. I purchased the smokey oolong with coconut lychee as recommended which was fantastic. Ordered the Taiwanese chicken and combined toppings with the pepper and seaweed. At first glance it appears small but it was very filling and I actually couldn't finish it as it is a bit heavy but overall great. They have covered seating outside which is nice as well.

    Queenie H.

    Came here for an after meal drink. The menu was simple--nothing too lengthy or with crazy combinations. You get to choose your base tea and either go with a fruity option or a milky one. I had the smokey oolong milk tea with their house made boba. The tea was pretty sweet but i didn't mind it. The house made boba was the star of the show. They came clearish yellow, different from the traditional black tapioca. Cooked to absolute perfection! Great chew without being mushy or too hard. Would come back just for that boba! Overall, great experience and the staff was friendly to answer our questions about flavor profile.. maybe next time i'll try the Pu-Er if I'm feeling adventurous.

    nice decor

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    3 years ago

    delicious chicken and boba and incredibly kind staff! had a wonderful time and will definitely be back

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    delicious wheel cake! crunchy and warm outside with cool chocolate filling! also friendly and helpful staff :)

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    4 years ago

    Definitely the best bubble tea in Providence! It's great, try the brown sugar bubbles!

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    5 years ago

    Best bubble tea in Providence. Tea was high quality and the place was very clean and modern. Also, very nice and friendly owners!

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    Charuma Tea Bar Reviews in Other Languages

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    Ellie's

    Ellie's

    4.3
    (606 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    I came here as part of Providence Coffee Crawls. I had been here before and loved my experience, so…read moreI was looking forward to visiting again. The first time I came, it was a rainy weekday and this time it was a sunny weekend, so I was expecting an even larger crowd; and my prediction was correct. The line was just out the door but because of their awesome staff, the line was moving very quickly. While we waited in line, we could watch them making pastries through the glass, a couple feet in front of us. I admired that level of transparency. When we were third in line, the kindest lady asked us whether we'd be eating in or taking out and she took down our name to help us find a table when it came time. She did the same for the rest of the people in line. She also gave us some recommendations, including the cinnamon bun - apparently they're so good kids cry when they sell out. I didn't intend to order anything with my drink, but I couldn't get the cinnamon bun out of my head so I ordered it along with my iced spiced chai latte. The hen (I think it's their logo) on the aprons of the employees are super cute. We did secure a table. The tables are close together to maximize the number of people who can sit down but I didn't mind. I love their art all around, mostly of birds which I am obsessed with. I love that they have a lot of natural lighting coming through their tall windows. I also like the navy blue and white theme they have going on. The chai latte was perfect. It was the right color (a dark tan), meaning the ratio of tea and milk was good and I could taste a lot of the spices. The cinnamon bun blew my expectations away. The second my teeth made. contact with the icing, it was a magical feeling. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it tasted like, but the closest I got was dulce de leche. It is truly unlike any other cinnamon bun I have ever had. The dough is soft and there is a good amount of cinnamon. It's also $4 which is not bad. I had a bite of their canelé, which apparently requires a lot of work to make. It was very moist, with a great caramelized finish. I am super excited to try their new weekend dinner menu, but also more of their all day menu items.

    Ellie's is dangerous. I walked in thinking coffee and one pastry. That lasted about 30 seconds…read more The owner (adorable, by the way) was walking around checking on tables and making sure everyone was happy. It feels like her place in the best way -- warm, proud, hands-on. Pastries are legit. Super buttery, flaky enough to make a mess, clearly baked that morning. No sad, sitting-around-all-day vibes. Ordered the breakfast sandwich and that tomato jam needs to be illegal. Sweet, savory, slightly tangy -- it completely makes the sandwich. I kept trying to figure out how to recreate it at home. Not happening. Crispy chicken sandwich was properly seasoned and not dried out (why is that so hard for some places?). Fries were solid too -- crispy, not limp. And the kale salad with roasted chickpeas and chicken made me feel like I had my life together. Fresh, simple, and actually satisfying. It's one of those places you stumble into while traveling and then immediately start googling whether you can justify going back the next day.

    Photos
    Pastry display case with all the amazing house made pasties!
    Pastry display case with all the amazing house made pasties!
    Ellie's Signature Breakfast Sandwich
    Ellie's Signature Breakfast Sandwich
    Entrance to Ellie's located on union st

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    Entrance to Ellie's located on union st
    Zinneken's Belgian Waffles and Café

    Zinneken's Belgian Waffles and Café

    4.4
    (68 reviews)
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    This continues to be my favorite waffle place in the country. They are constantly releasing…read moredifferent flavors to stay on top of trends and they never fail. For this visit, some people in my group ordered the matcha waffle: matcha silky cream, chocolate drizzle, topped with fresh strawberries, while others including myself got the ube waffle: ube silky cream, drizzled condensed milk, and topped with fresh blueberries, bananas, raspberries, and coconut shavings. By default, these were on the liege waffle which is personally my favorite since it has a crispy and caramel like consistency. The ube cream was very creamy and smooth. The condensed milk was a great touch, as it acted like a syrup. The fresh fruits helped balance out the sweetness. The matcha one was also good. It reminded me a little of the dubai chocolate combination, mostly because of the colors. I've been seeing them add more and more drinks to the menu - mostly ones that resemble the waffle flavors. The prices have not changed much and they're still reasonable for the quality and quantity. There is plenty of seating in the lower area of their store. It is off of Thayer street so depending on the day, parking can be tough.

    I recently tried this coffee spot and thought it was just okay overall. The drinks didn't have as…read moremuch flavor as I was expecting. I ordered the crème brûlée coffee, and while it wasn't bad, it mostly just tasted like regular coffee without that rich, dessert like flavor you'd hope for. On the other hand, the tiramisu latte was actually really delicious. Honestly, I wish I could order a whole cake of just the tiramisu, it was the highlight for me. You definitely get more cake than the coffee, but it worked in its favor and tasted much better than the crème brûlée drink. It was nice to try, especially since everything looks so aesthetically pleasing, but it feels more like a place you visit for the vibe rather than a go to coffee run.

    Photos
    Stairs to downstairs area
    Stairs to downstairs area
    #3 The Sin
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    Madrid European Bakery & Patisserie

    Madrid European Bakery & Patisserie

    4.7
    (218 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Oh my! This was my first visit to this lovely cafe and I can't wait to go back. My friend and I…read morevisited for dessert after having dinner nearby, and the pastry case was full of delctable treats, even though it was the end of the day. It was hard to make a decision, but I went with a croissant stuffed with chocolate, fresh strawberries and whipped cream, while my friend went with the Chocolate Mousse Santiago tart. Let me just say, that both were rich, high quality, perfectly prepared, and amazing. I really don't think you could go wrong with anything you order here. I wasn't in the mood for coffee, but my friend enjoyed a nice cup of hot tea. At first I thought the prices were a little high, but after I considered the high quality of the ingredients anad the generous sizing, I think their prices are right on target. The cafe eating area is spacious and is perfect for conversations or quiet work. The entire cafe is super clean and the employees were friendly and helpful. I will definitely be back!

    Love the vibe here. I've been to Europe a few times and this has an exact feel as a patisserie in…read moreEurope. However, prices are not even close. I ordered an apple tart and a small piece was $7.50! Yes, it was good, and the cream was wonderful, but paying about $2 per bite is outrageous. The value of their drinks might be a little better. I ordered a Cortado and it was delicious. The volume of liquid wasn't too low. $4.25 I would give it 3 stars, but I know not everyone is good with money and many are willing to pay these prices on the east side Providence. The staff was nice, but nothing over the top.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    View of the counter
    View of the counter
    Chocolate croissant.

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    Chocolate croissant.
    Brown Bee Coffee

    Brown Bee Coffee

    4.4
    (81 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Brown Bee is truly a hidden gem tucked away on Benefit Street in Providence. If you're a croissant…read morelover, this place is a must-visit! They offer both sweet and savory croissants, and every one I've tried has been incredible. The pistachio croissant is perfectly flaky with just the right amount of sweetness, while the spinach and goat cheese croissant is packed with flavor and makes for a delicious savory treat. The quality of the pastries is outstanding, and you can tell they're made with care. On top of that, the service is always fast and friendly, making the entire experience even better. Whether you're grabbing a coffee and pastry on the go or looking for a new favorite breakfast spot, Brown Bee is definitely worth checking out!

    I've only been once so far but I was very impressed by the quality of the pastries. I tried a cafe…read morelatte croissant and really enjoyed it! Super flaky and a lot of delicious flavor from the filling and garnishes. It was very busy when I stopped by midday. They were out of some items already (I missed out on trying the French onion croissant before they replaced it with another menu item). I did find a spot to sit outside but I can see it being even harder to find a seat during peak times. It's a bit off the beaten path yet it's known and popular for a reason. I'm looking forward to visiting again and trying more items and of course the coffee!

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    Spanish latte
    Spanish latte
    Coffee area
    Coffee area
    Inside the cafe

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    Inside the cafe

    Charuma Tea Bar - bubbletea - Updated June 2026

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