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    HOJI Tea Community

    4.3 (417 reviews)
    InexpensiveBubble Tea, Cafes, Tea Rooms
    Open 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    HOJI Tea Community Photos

    Business Info

    HOJI TEA COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - HOJI Tea Community

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    Karen T.

    Minimalist bubble tea shop in Pasadena that is known for their hojicha and matcha based drinks. It has a pretty quiet and calm atmosphere, making it a cozy spot to hang out. My husband and I both really enjoyed the drinks. I would recommend the following: The Onyx Hojicha Milk Tea is a mix of Taiwan onyx black tea with hojicha charcoal roasted tea and house milk. It had a roasted, nutty, smoky, and creamy flavor profile. I am a big fan of how it tasted - more elevated than your typical milk tea. Brown sugar boba paired perfectly with this drink. The Oreo Uji Matcha is made with ceremonial-grade matcha imported from Japan, house milk, house cream, and crushed oreos. It tasted sweet, rich, and slightly earthy. The flavor of the oreo cookies balanced out the matcha in a good way. It was also delicious with brown sugar boba.

    Alex J.

    sadly I was pretty disappointed with my drink The staff is very friendly and recommended the blended matcha. I figured I go for it since I'm always looking for new places to get matcha. It looks like a great drink and has great color, and the first few sips I really liked the rich smoothie like texture. But as I kept drinking all the ice chunks came out and it turned into an melting icy drink. The matcha also had good flavor but it wasn't blended well, there was a ton of unmixed matcha powder throughout the drink so every sip was dried out with the matcha powder. Overall, it just wasn't a great drink or something I would come back for

    Mango Cloud and Hoji Matcha Blend
    Sarah S.

    Was in the area and decided to stop by for some drinks since I haven't been here in a couple years. They have really cool interior decor and seating is comfortable for casual chatting with friends. I ordered the Mango Cloud this time less sweet (7.42), and also the Matcha Blend. The price has went up a bit since the last time I was here but the cup is still the same size. The drinks took around 5 minutes or so to be ready. The mango cloud is as good as other reviews said. There is mango chunks in the drink and it is blended very well so it is a smoothie consistency. It also has some cream but I couldn't really taste it. I got less sweet so the sweetness level was perfect for me. I enjoyed the drink and my only complaint is the price but all drinks are around this price especially for fruit blended ones. I would recommend it if you're not looking for a matcha drink, but their matcha blend was also good as well with authentic matcha.

    Hoji matcha cloud and mango cloud
    Selene S.

    I was in the area so stopped by for a drink. There was no wait to order and staff was patient when my card was having issues during payment. There's no public restroom but there's some seating inside. I got the hoji matcha cloud ($7.45) at less sweet. The price has gone up since the last time I've been here, which is expected. I think it's still decent for the price at the cup size. The matcha is pretty strong but still has some sweetness.

    Milk tea display
    Lyric C.

    This Japanese style tea house in Pasadena is pretty brilliant because it's adjacent to an ice cream corner shop and they share a parking lot, with outdoor patios. This is a very lovely indoor tea house, and it makes custom teas, milk teas and a variety of flavor and toppings, including boba, and my personal favorite, lychee, are available. The whole ambiance and decor are simple and clean. True Japanese feels. Also, the packaging of the teas is j'adorable! Check it out! I tried the refreshing grape juice with lychee drink. Fabulous!

    Oreo Uji Matcha
    Ky-Anh H.

    Came by HOJI Tea Community while I was up around Pasadena and found a nice little shop. I really like the super minimalist and industrial look that they're going for inside! Street parking is a little limited, at least from where I chose to be, but it's not that much of a walk so I didn't mind it. I got an Oreo Uji Matcha and I found it to be pretty good. I didn't mind that it tasted pretty similar to other Oreo matcha drinks, and it was what I was going for. It kind of reminds me of the Oreo Brulee from Omomo, so if you like that drink, I think you'd also enjoy this one. Overall recommend!!

    Oreo Uji Matcha Latte
    Cady N.

    I've ended up at Hoji more times than I planned, mostly because every other boba shop is already closed. I appreciate the late hours, and the drinks are pretty good too. Nothing extraordinary and certainly on the pricey end ($7+ per drink), but I'm willing to pay the premium for the hour.

    Amy L.

    The interior of this tea shop was such a vibe, it was clean, nicely decorated and picturesque. It would be a nice place to sip some tea and study or do remote work. The staff who took our order was nice too. My friends and I stopped by after lunch to get drinks, I only tried the Ice Hoji Matcha, but my friends enjoyed their drinks. The drink I've had was good, it had a nice balance of bitterness from the matcha and sweetness from the milk/cream mixture. I would come back and just hang out for a bit next time that I'm in the area.

    HOJI Matcha
    Klarissa P.

    I've tried the Hoji Matcha and the Jaded Petal Milk tea. So far the matcha is my favorite. I like that the menu is small as it's not overwhelming and I can easily try all the flavors over a period of time. Nice place to take your laptop and chill while you drink your tea and friendly service.

    Courtny D.

    Hojitea is so fun to get drinks at! It's located in the same lot as the outdoor Afters, with street parking most likely available. The decor and lighting inside is modern chic, with tables for both small and big groups. I immediately noticed how cozy the interior was, and the times I've been here, people often came here to study or hangout. Staff is kind and service has always been fast. There's a variety of tea I've gotten from here: -Oreo Uji Matcha -Hoji Iced Matcha -Japan Hojicha Blend -Jaded Petal Milk Tea -Taiwan Toffee Milk Tea -Jaded Petal Milk Tea I've loved them all and really appreciate the variety of tea base they have here compared to here tea spots. The tea is high quality, and I will definitely keep coming back for more! I gotta try the rest of the menu! :9

    Outside
    Megan L.

    I really wanted to like this spot and was looking forward to coming here, but I'm wondering if maybe I came during an off day. HOJI Tea is known to be one of the best boba shops in Pasadena, and periodically goes viral on social media for its minimalist wabi-sabi aesthetic and beautifully colorful drinks. I stopped by on a weekday afternoon, and there was one person working at the counter. He helped answer my questions about the drinks patiently and was able to get them out without too long of a wait. *Onyx Hojicha Milk Tea: This was my favorite of the three, but their recommended sweetness was too bitter for me, so overall, it's not a drink I fully enjoyed. I couldn't taste the hojicha much, and as someone who loves a good hojicha latte, I would go elsewhere for that craving. *Mango Fruit Jade Tea: I was surprised by how opaque this drink was and thought it would be more tea-forward. The texture was thicker than expected and had mango pieces at the bottom. We were told it would be sweet and refreshing, but it leaned very sour. Maybe mangoes weren't in season at the time? I would just be cautious with ordering this, especially if you have GERD or acid reflux with how sour it was. *Fresh Grape & Lychee Jade Tea: I was hoping this one would have a nice natural sweetness of the fruits complementing the tea, but overall it tasted like I was drinking a candle. It was almost bland, but like in a waxy, perfumey way. Maybe it was the thick texture, but I've had grape and lychee-based drinks before at other boba shops and they didn't taste like this. I feel terrible admitting that I really couldn't finish it, as it seems to be a popular choice with some. You'll need to do street parking to reach this spot. There's plenty of non-ergonomic seating inside, where I could be fine sitting and catching up with friends, but I wouldn't survive trying to work here. The biggest plus for me is that it really was beautiful when we came in, with how the sunset lit up the place and how the interior was designed. I wonder if we just came in on an off day or something for the drinks, and would stop by if I'm already in the area to give this place another shot.

    Catherine G.

    Was craving something sweet and hubby took me here for a drink. I was craving something fruity and got the fresh fruit cloud, mango. I actually really enjoyed it. Not too sweet and the mango chunks were pretty good, ripe enough and not bitter. My husband got the matcha latte, which was subpar. I do recall coming here a while ago and getting the Oreo matcha drink and was not impressed. Seems like the fruit teas are much better than the matcha drinks. The interior was super cuter and very aesthetically pleasing. It's pretty spacious inside. Kitchen is tucked away so there was no one there to greet us when we entered. It took some time but someone finally came out to take our order. She was very kind. The parking lot is very small but there is street parking.

    Fresh strawberry cloud
    Katherine S.

    We came here after dinner on a Sunday and surprisingly it was pretty packed! I really like the lighting and vibe at this place - very cozy! I got the fresh strawberry cloud with less sugar but it's a bit disappointing. I do like they use real strawberries but the overall taste is a bit bland. I barely taste any creaminess in this drink, which was what I was initially hoping for. Also, since they only have a few staff, you do have to wait a bit to get your orders in but staff are friendly! Easy street parking nearby!

    Iced Hoji Matcha

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    3 months ago

    Worst matcha I've ever tasted. Too much flower taste and more water than anything do not taste any matcha

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    Page 2 of 11

    HOJI Tea Community Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - HOJI Tea Community

    Do they accept cash?

    I searched the review for the keyword "cash" and one said no. Best to call or go to the store to find out if not sure

    Does this place have a bathroom for customers? Inquiring bladders want to know

    No, they don't have a restroom

    Is this open today? The schedule keeps on changing. 12? 2? 5pm?

    Hi there. We are soft opening at the moment. The hours listed will be current until further notice. We had to adjust our hours currently since everyday we have been selling out the weeks preparation in a day and didn’t expect this type of volume and… 

    View All 4 Questions

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    4.5(538 reviews)
    1.9 mi
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    Solid spot for creamy popcorn milk tea and plenty of decaf options! This is one of my go-to places…read morewhen I'm craving a more dessert- or latte-style boba drink. I usually get the popcorn milk tea, which is sweet and creamy and pairs really well with the boba jelly. The tea flavor is a little harder to pick out in this drink, but everything works well together. I also love that they have several decaf options, including the barley milk tea, which has nice roasty flavors, along with other milk tea and fruit tea choices. The interior is also really aesthetic and inviting. I know that whenever I bring a friend here, they'll enjoy it--it's a spot that seems to be a crowd-pleaser with everyone around me!

    Stopped by here for some milk tea. There's several parking spots located right in front of the…read morestore including some 20 minute parking spots that made it easy for to go. The interior is very clean and aesthetic, love the vibe. There's plenty of seating to wait for your drink. Not really a place to sit and study as no tables. Service was good. I was pleasantly surprised at the popcorn milk tea! It was pretty good although a bit sweet for my liking with the perfect sugar level 70%. I liked the ember milk tea at 50% sugar more, although wish it was more tea forward as I prefer less milky milk teas but still very good and refreshing! I absolutely love their tapiochi jelly's!!!

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    Bopomofo Cafe

    Bopomofo Cafe

    4.3(2.4k reviews)
    3.0 mi
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    Tasty drinks, great service, even better popcorn chicken! We got the original flavor dark meat, I…read morewish it can be a mix/match with breast and dark for the popcorn but all good. The chicken is well seasoned and the dipping sauce was yum. We got the hot coffee milk, latte and a roasted oolong tea. Nice to know they use lactose free milk and you have the option to choose oat milk as an alternative, for a fee. EDIT: oat milk as an alternative, for free! My mistake - I must have misheard. Thanks owners!! The space and the restroom were clean but you do need a code to use their restroom. Glad to visit a Taiwanese business while in town. Tasty beverages and food!

    Order online ahead of time!! Saves you time to wait, especially on weekends. We did not do that…read morewhen we visited and ended up waiting 30+ minutes for boba because they were so busy. Probably not as needed on weekdays, but the weekends, I would just in case. Service is always very kind. I love the creativity in food and drinks with rotating menus too! Drinks we ordered: + Strawberry Corn Milk - sweeter side, but the corn definitely shines through + Carrot Matcha Latte - another unique combo that I was a little 50/50 on. Matcha is smooth and menu states it's ceremonial. + Matcha Latte - had to compare with a regular latte and again smooth matcha taste, but not super strong (at least to me) Food: Mapo tots - Crispy tots and slight szechuan flavor. The melty cheese on top goes with loaded tots but not sure if fits this flavor profile? On the more savory side since I think the tots are seasoned too. Spicy Taiwanese Chicken Sandwich - sandwiched with a bolo bun! Big chicken patty and mildly spicy. Overall, very solid and a fun twist on a classic.

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    Formosa Aroma - Buy one get one free 買一送一 8/31 - 9/6

    Formosa Aroma

    4.3(228 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$
    Free WiFi
    Free parking

    Soooooo good! Where do I even begin?! I was in the area craving my usual boba fix and I am SO…read morethankful I stumbled upon this place. The Hojicha Pudding in the Iron Buddha Oolong Milk Tea is a solid standard. But the Ube Taro Mochi Green Milk Tea?! HELLOOOO. Hella yum! I got both at 30% sweet and 50% ice, and I'm so glad I did because it balanced the pudding and that rich ube taro mochi paste perfectly. I fear full sweetness might be a little much, but I'm an old Asian who believes desserts should be "not too sweet." Lololol Service was friendly, the shop is cute, and I loved the cute lighting and tea wall. I live about an hour away and I would genuinely consider making the drive back JUST for this tea!

    This is usually my go-to for boba when I seek it out on a quarterly basis, but recently I noticed…read morethat both locations (Alhambra/ Temple City) keep their temperatures quite high on a hot day so even when it's 6pm (and 90s outside), you still won't feel that comfortable there. FYI- There are some charging ports at Formosa but not all tables have an outlet. (+)- there are weekly BOGO deals (tip- check Instagram as it varies from store to store) I also visited Summerfield near Rosemead/Valley that same weekend and felt that it was more comfortable / had more seating albeit they do not have a BOGO deal like Formosa does.

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    Chicha San Chen - Taro Paste and Ball with Fresh Milk

    Chicha San Chen

    4.0(1.4k reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $

    Yesh yesh & yesh!…read more Quality tea right here!!! The first time I visited this place was when they were fairly new. At that time, I left with a not so good impression. The tea was pretty bland lol I m glad I returned. The most recent visit made me realized that Chicha prob has one of the best teas in SGV. The drink I got had a very nice strong tea flavor. It was quenching! The AC was great here. It made the experience so satisfying! Pricey ? Yesh!! Will I return? Yesh!! Love the AC and the drinks! Seriously...these other hot hot tea shops or restaurants need to follow...

    My buddy called this place the Michelin of tea. I told him to slow down with that proclamation. No,…read morehe was right. This place hits! Arguably the best tea place I've had. And probably the busiest store in the already crazy busy plaza. I see why the line goes out the door. Flavor was excellent. Well balanced. Nothing overpowering. Staff were polite, well dressed, and friendly despite the crowd. Ordering was easy. Ingredients measured which tells me they're consistent. Super consistent. I'm sure others rave about the drink sleeve with the trusty rope handle. Which is surprisingly sturdy. I mean, don't go swinging around your highly crafted drink you paid good money for. But you could. Great vibe, limited seating. Shared plaza bathroom that you have to request a key. And parking is nuts. Bring a friend and drop them off to get in this line while you park. Pro tip. Enjoy and cheers.

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