It's been nice and Hella hot in SF since the weekend. I wanted to get something sweet and refreshing from @qualitealife is in the Castro which is adjacent to Dolores park. Order online so you don't have wait. I ordered the Taro, Mango, Thai Tea If you want something refreshing get the mango and Thai tea, they are just sweetened right and not hella sweet. And super refreshing, you can taste the actual fruit and Thai tea. Not hella milky either. Just right. You won't regret it. The taro was initially okay, because they used the sweet candy taro. And not just the fruit taro which is usually not sweet. But the more you drink it the worse it gets and is powdery. I'd avoid it. I wish I got this exchanged. I rate this spot 4 Earls out of 5. $ around 20 bucks for three, nice locale, and 2/3 drinks were good. Stick to the mango and Thai tea. read more

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This was my first time at Qualitea and overall it was a positive one. First of all, the aesthetics were definitely on point, especially with the Matcha Blossom. To be honest, I partially ordered it just for that. Because of that though, it wasn't the best drink for me since matcha isn't my favorite. I definitely need to go back and try another drink. I didn't get to try the House Milk Tea, so I can't comment on how it tasted. I really like that the Matcha Blossom also included strawberry puree. It gave it an extra sweet and fruity flavor that went well with the less sweet matcha. As far as the boba, it was good but not as soft as I like it. However, it wasn't clumped together which was good. Clumpy boba is a pet peeve of mine. As far as the shop itself, it's about average size for a San Francisco shop, which is to say it's a little small, but there is still enough room for a few tables. It has wood seating and walls which I really liked. It's also nice that it's only a couple blocks from Mission Dolores Park so that you can walk there and enjoy a warm day with a cold milk tea. read more

QualiTea - Matcha Blossom with boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wow this place is amazing! The service is top notch. Qualitea is a tea shop specializing in boba tea. They have some amazing speciality drinks like the Deluxe Punch and Matcha Blossom. My favorite is the grapefruit drink that features fresh grapefruit and flavoring. They recently launched new cups that look smaller. read more

QualiTea - WiFi password - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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In a cute area and conveniently located, but doesn't feel like a destination spot. We went because it was hot outside and we were waiting for food from the Rooster Rice place close by. People were walking in and out of this place, so thought we'd check it out and support. It's hard to tell which drink has blended ice and which has ice added. I hate ice, it dilutes my drink. Maybe I missed it, but didn't know I could remove the ice. The matcha with strawberry was simlar to Boba Guys. There wasn't a ton of strawberry compote at the bottom, so definitely wish there was more of that. Two drinks for $11 seemed more on the expensive side as compared to some of my other favorite brands (which most DEFINITELY does not include Boba Guys). read more

Was here about 3 years ago I still dream about the boba sometimes I live in San Diego so this was a quick stop while visiting SF will try and come back sometime soon! read more

QualiTea is one of my favorite, underrated boba places in the city! They have a plethora of flavors to select from which is hard to find in SF I think and also have quality drinks. I have tried quite a few drinks from here before: house milk tea, jasmine green milk tea, oolong milk tea, peach oolong tea, strawberry matcha tea, and the honeydew milk tea. They were all-stars! The boba is good and chewy and their tea has a lot of flavor. I also really like the cups they use with the rounded bottom. One of my favorite things to do is order and then peruse through the flowers next door while I wait for my order to be finished. I live near Castro so this is a regular boba stop for me. It's well priced and hits the spot every time. The staff is also very friendly and helpful! My friend really has been wanting a good honeydew/wintermelon tea for the longest time and finding one in SF is hard. Always thankful for QualiTea for their wide range of flavors. read more

QualiTea - Matcha Blossom & Honeydew Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tried this place for the first time a couple of weeks ago in October and I have to say it's pretty good. I ordered the strawberry matcha latte 80% sweet and it hit the spot for that unusually hot day in October. I'm a big fan of fruity and creamy drinks and this was exactly that, both refreshing, but creamy and slightly sweet. The boba was a good consistency with a favorable firm to chewy ratio, the tea was high quality matcha, the strawberry purée was fresh, and the milk was a good thickness that didn't overpower the matcha. This drink alone was $6 after tax, which is definitely on the pricey side. Given that it's made with matcha and fresh fruit, and is in the city, it's sort of expected though. Matcha is a very expensive tea, so places like these that don't use very cheap matcha charge a higher price. I make matcha at home and it's not that much cheaper because of how expensive matcha is itself. Also sf milk tea places tend to be more expensive. My real complaint about this place was the line I waited in that day. It was a weirdly hot day so i don't know how often this place has a line well out the door, but the wait-time was awful. I noticed once I got inside and was waiting that there were only 2 people working, 1 taking orders and the other making drinks. For that line, they were definitely understaffed, so hopefully that traffic was just an anomaly, because other wise you're going standing in line for awhile. Overall, I did enjoy this place and if I ever am around the neighborhood and there's no line/I have time to wait, I'd definitely be back. read more

QualiTea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. I was asking about their taro and they were happy to show me what they use (taro chunks). I was so excited to have real taro in my drink! They also have milk alternatives, and was able to sub oat milk. I'll definitely come back read more

QualiTea - Yummy! They use real taro in their drinks - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

There's no shortage of schlongs and schweaty balls in The Castro but ones you can slurp and swallow....through a straw? Until Qualitea opened earlier this week, there were none. Let that sink in for a bit... There's probably 50+ boba shops in The Sunset and The Richmond alone with 3-4 boba shops in a one block radius so I'm so happy that The Castro finally gets their first boba shop! I heard that for their soft opening, Qualitea was offering "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" drinks so my co-worker hopped into a Lyft and made our way there. As soon as we got out of the car, I saw the cutest bulldog sitting out front and excitedly went to go pet it. I'll save y'all the embarrassment because it's a statue, not a real dog unless it's like Emmy in the 80s classic: Mannequin. There may not be a real dog outside but there's dog-friendly seating so you can bring your furkid with you. On the menu are teas, fruit teas, milk teas, lattes, coffee, and specialty drinks like the Matcha Blossom (latte) and Cheese Mousse Creama drinks. One size only. Toppings are 50 cents each (boba, crystal boba, grass jelly, taro, egg pudding, etc) and if you want milk or soy milk (not non-dairy creamer), it's an extra 50 cents. There's 4 sweetness levels: 0%, 30%, 70%, and 100% (default). Drinks are a tad pricier than other boba shops (e.g. $4.75 milk tea w/ no toppings) but if you live in the area, it's a small convenience fee of not having to trek across the city for your boba fix. We tried 4 drinks (listed from favorite to least favorite) *Matcha Blossom: Japanese pure matcha latte w/ housemade strawberry puree ($5.50): http://bit.ly/2Fv7XXo Almost as good as Boba Guy's Strawberry Matcha Latte, there was good balance of earthy matcha and creamy milk flavor. However, it was near impossible to get to the strawberries on the bottom that was weighted down by the large amount of ice. The cup had over 50% of ice for "regular ice". There was a plug on the cup so we thought we were supposed to sip it but you're not. Make sure to grab a straw to mix things up before enjoying. *Housemilk Tea: Premium house blend Assam black tea w/ non-dairy creamer ($4.75): Sorry no pic. Most boba shop's milk teas tend to be hella watered down but not here. The tea flavor was strong and it was perfectly creamy and nicely sweet (70% sweet). *Pink Sparkle (non-caffeinated): Sparkling water w/ yogurt, housemade strawberry puree, fresh strawberries ($5): http://bit.ly/2Fw9LzL Like an Italian soda but a lot more refreshing since they use fresh ripen fruit, not artificial syrups. I couldn't taste the yogurt though. *Passion Cooler: Passionfruit green tea w/ kumquat juice, lime, mint ($5.00): Sorry, no pic. Even at 30% sweet, this drink was really sweet so I think more lime for balance would help. I'm not a passionfruit person so I didn't like this drink but my co-worker who is liked it. Service was really friendly and prompt by the staff. The shop is clean and bright with several two-tops, a picnic table, and a small outdoor seating area. Solid soft opening but I do have a few suggestions for the owner(s): (1) The drinks were supposed to be "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" but the Square system was set up as "Buy 1, Get 1 Half Off" so I was overcharged about $5. I didn't realize it until I received my receipt via email later on. (2) I told one of the staff that the Pink Sparkle didn't taste like it had yogurt in it and was told they would add more yogurt next time. If time allows, I think they should offer on-the-spot drink adjustments like other boba shops do. (3) Adjust the ice levels for "regular ice" - there was over 50% ice for three out of the four drinks we had. (4) Consider getting more supportive cup holders. Since the cups are tall and top heavy, they kept toppling over in-transit. (5) There are typos in the menu: "'none-daily' creamer" and "'chessy' tropical bliss". Once they work out their kinks, Qualitea has potential to be a solid 5 star boba shop. Yay for more balls in your mouff for The Castro! read more

QualiTea - Matcha Blossom: Japanese pure matcha latte w/ housemade strawberry purée | $5.50 - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Unique and colorful selections to choose from on qualitea boba drinks! Specialty drinks are up on the menu to the right where you order! I got my eyes on the Dirty Panda name, but the fresh green and pinkish red color blend of the Matcha Blossom, drew my attention! The Dirty Panda, reminds me of a salted caramel kind of drink, but with creama cheese used, and mixed in with sweet Oreo bits to compliment each other! It's a drink that I would want when I crave for an ordeal on not caring about counting my calories! The Matcha Blossom is matcha green tea latte with puréed strawberry on the bottom! The flavor is definitely captivating and tasty. I would order this on a regular basis! The Grapefruit Blush iced tea is refreshing for the warm summer days! If one doesn't feel like trying something new, one can customize the drink according to another menu. You can pick the sugar intake and the ice level. Adorned! Each drink is shaken up on the spot and made with precise care! There's WiFi and nice contemporary, wooden decor setting to enjoy with the drink! I admire the creative name to this tea shop! QualiDog is right outside, adorably, awaiting for your visit! Petting QualiDog and taking a picture with a QualiTea drink in your hand, is a must! read more

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I was so impressed by how delicious their rose petal drink was. It was probably one of the best tea drink that I've had this year. It had the perfect amount of rose and tea flavor and it was topped with rose petals which made the drink look so pretty. Definitely will be back! read more

Location: In the Castro neighborhood Parking: Free residential parking available Service: friendly WiFi: no WiFi Bathroom: available; they share with the Laundromat Deals: 20% off for students (with ID) Monday through Friday Décor: homey Drinks: Passion cooler with clear boba & Taro kisses I like how you can customize your own drink in the event you do not like any of their static menu items. I had the passion cooler with clear boba (0% sugar and no ice) and it was a nice refreshing drink that wasn't overly sweet. I could also really taste the green tea come through in the Passion cooler . The Taro kisses was made with (30% sugar and 40% ice) and the taro chunks were a nice touch, and this beverage was so good read more

QualiTea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Definitely the first time we've had quali-tea (see what I did there?) bubble tea in the Castro. There are a few places who carry it now since the Quickly went out of business, but it's not their main focus so things like non-dairy or less sweet are not options. This place gives you allll the customization you need. With non-dairy options, ability to control sweetness and ice amount I was very pleased with my house milk tea with soy and boba! The staff was super friendly, even bringing our drinks out to us when they noticed we were standing out front with our mutt. They take Square and drinks were pretty affordable (just under $5). They also had some fun concoctions like the "dirty panda" that I cannot wait to try in addition to coffee and espresso, and sparkling water based drinks if milk tea isn't your thing. Welcome to the neighborhood, Qualit-tea. Pretty sure this will be my go to spot while I do my laundry at sit n spin. Only advice I have is to embrace the hood and work in some fun rainbows and naughty puns into a drink or two. After all, you're bringing balls to the Castro. It pretty much writes itself. read more

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This review is mostly for the Pride drink. I tried my friends' Matcha Blossom and I actually thought that was pretty good, especially with the salty cream on top. Unfortunately I didn't get that drink. The Pride was the special drink, and it was a bit pricier around $7, but it came with a cool floatie. That's about all the positives for it. It tasted pretty much like a grapefruit lemonade mixed with soda and a bunch of syrup. The drink was mostly just sour and sweet, which got really tiring after the first few sips. It wasn't as complicated or good tasting as the Matcha Blossom and left a lot to be desired. The boba at the bottom though was actually pretty good, but given how unpleasant the rest of the drink was, I would pass on this in the future. I might give it another shot to try their Matcha Blossom, but I probably wouldn't veer too far away from it. read more

QualiTea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

They're better than Boba Guys and Yes I MEAN IT!! Qualitea seriously always brings good quality. I've ordered from them both in person and through the Doordash app and it has always tasted the same (great taste)! They never get the order wrong esp bc I order my two fave go-to drinks: Rose Milk tea w/ Oatmilk and Boba and the Deluxe Punch tea. However with my experiences with Boba Guys have been hit or miss esp through delivery apps. read more

QualiTea - Deluxe Punch (left) and Rose Milk Tea w/ oat milk (right) - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Whenever I'm in the area I always like to stop by qualitea for their drinks. The quality of the tea drinks are pretty decent. There's nothing wrong with any of the drinks that I have tried! I tried the golden oolong and the matcha blossom and I honestly have to say that both drinks are pretty decent. The golden oolong has a pretty strong tea flavor and it has just enough sweetness at 50 percent. It's not watered down nor is it disgustingly sweet. The matcha blossom is my other fav drink, it's similar to boba guys strawberry matcha latte. It has exact same layers except this one is slightly sweeter with the purée but the matcha flavor is still there and it's nice and not too strong. I've been here a few times and I do t mind making my way back here for other drinks in the future! Overall, it's been a good experience each time! Only gripe is the parking in the area, it's not usually the best but if you come in a weekday usually you can find some parking: Total : 5 read more

QualiTea - Passion Cooler - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've had Qualitea several times, but definitely way more during quarantine. I have since learnt that I really only like one item on their menu so this review will focus on that. DIY is the best! There aren't many boba places in the Bay Area that offers a DIY option. I mean, even growing up in Socal, there wasn't that many but the few that existed were treasures! So, perhaps you can understand how I jump at this experience. My favorite blend is Rose Lychee Green Tea. You can adjust the sugar and ice levels as well as add multiple toppings. They have a long list of different flavors available and milk options if you want it to be a milk tea. Which is probably why I've been ordering so much of the DIY options recently. read more

Solid boba place. Came in at around 6:30pm on a Thursday, tea flavor was strong, boba was flavored well and texture was good. Got the dirty panda- foam mixed well with the tea. May have a little too sweet at 100% for me, so will try 75% next time. read more

When I saw this place is actually in front of a coin laundry shop I was like oh no is not going to be good, coz usually most of those shop don't make good drink since is the only place that the customer can go while waiting for their laundry to be done But surprisingly is better then I think I order the rose Patel for myself and the virgin lychee mojito for my fd We both like our drink so much !! We come back next time Also the place is super clean and nice for hang out read more

Attempted to go to another dessert place but they were closed so ended up at this boba place which was pretty satisfying and very cute inside! Ordered: matcha blossom ($5.50), golden oolong with mango star jelly ($5.25), black tea with cream read more

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Needed a pick-me up that wasn't coffee and during this time in the morning, drink options were limited. Qualitea was within walking distance of my location and they were open plus they had good reviews. I ordered from the app for pick up and I received a notification of the time it would be ready. I wanted to check out the inside of their store and it's so cute. It's small, had cute signs of inclusivity and had great drink options between coffee, lattes, specialty drinks, tea and boba tea. The two people making the drinks were quick and very nice. I was in and out of their shop in 5 min. I got the passion cooler w/ lychee and it was so delicious! I would come here again. read more

QualiTea - First sign that you see when you walk into Qualitea! - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tall cups, soft chewy boba, tasty brewed tea. Straws are compostable Good social distancing measures in the shop Ordered matcha and jasmine. Both well brewed. Able to order not too sweet and with extra I've in this hot day read more

The tea are for sure Quality. Very fragrant. Glad I came here before hitting up the Delores park. Was the topping to a fantastic day! Highly recommend the rose petal tea! read more

QualiTea - Rose petal tea and grapefruit (bliss) - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious boba and you can even ask for no ice because they shake the tea with ice so it's cold.

Decent boba shop in the Castro. It's not the best boba I've ever had, but it's certainly not the worst. I swung by with my boyfriend on a Thursday night after dinner, about an hour before they closed, and we were the only ones in the store. I ordered the Mango Cheesy Tropical Bliss w/ boba (30% sugar) while my boyfriend ordered the fresh taro milk tea. I didn't try my boyfriend's drink so I unfortunately can't comment on that. The Mango Cheesy Tropical Bliss was still pretty sweet at 30% and tasted artificial. Huge bummer since there are other boba shops in SF that do an amazing, natural tasting Mango Smoothie w/ cheese. The boba itself was decent. It had a pretty good qq texture and had a hint of sweetness to it. All in all, I wouldn't travel specifically to the Castro for QualiTea, but if I was nearby and someone suggested it, I would still buy a drink here. read more

Qualitea doesn't really have quality. Ordered 9 drinks and only received 8. Out of the drinks, there are only 4 straws provided. Taro kisses doesn't have taro bits and drinks are overall a disappointment. read more

My favorite local boba milk tea, in the heart of Castro. Thing I like the most form Qualitea is, I can adjust my sweet level, from 100% sugar to 0% sugar. It means, they don't use the flavor powder to make drinks. They use real fresh Tea leaves to brew my tea. I also can modify the milk option, almond or oat or soy or fresh milk or 50/50. Nice and quick customer service. Highly recommend. read more

Pleasantly surprised to find a decent boba shop in the Castro. I have to requirements when it comes to boba sea salt crema and actually boba, qualitea does a great job of making drinks while keeping it under $8. Service was quick and friendly. Will be back again. read more

One of my fav boba places! (Mixed my matcha blossom, phone didn't eat first, but trust it was beautiful when I got it) read more

QualiTea - Matcha Blossom and Passion Cooler - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

i've had this place both through doordash and in person many times now so this review is long overdue! i LOVE qualitea it's truly quali-tea... tea :') i love their selection of unique drinks as well as just the classics AND the options to customize! i can't wait to try more of their drinks! they seem to have a lot of fruit tea options that i want to try :) --- jasmine milk tea + strawberry puree i usually get the custom milk tea and add strawberry to make a strawberry milk tea and it is SO GOOD. the tea flavor is perfect and with 0-30% sugar depending on my mood (lol) it's honestly perfect one of my fave drinks! --- matcha blossom this is just a strawberry matcha and its bomb! i think boba guys is overrated so i'd rather get this drink here! the matcha flavor is definitely there but isn't bitter and it's super creamy and good! def a sweet drink tho --- house milk tea you know a boba place is solid when their classic black milk tea is good and qualitea's is rly good! :) read more

SUPER SOLID boba in the Castro. Lemme lay it down real quick. I'm Taiwanese. I'm from San Jose aka boba central of NorCal, and I go to Berkeley which is basically boba central #2 of NorCal. I've worked at a boba shop. If there's anyone who knows her boba, it's me. There aren't many boba spots in the Castro at all. Like I'm talking there's probably one in every mile radius, but I'm used to one on every block. Now Qualitea is an oasis in this boba desert. Not only do they literally just exist, but their boba SCHMACK. The salted cream on top isn't overpowering like Sharetea, nor do they skimp like Happy Lemon. The roast of the oolong matches and complements the milk ones of the salted cream. And to top it all off, the Oreo offsets it all with a bit of texture and crunch. And last but not least, their boba is a really good size and consistency. The boba itself also had some caramelization that went super well with the drink. What can I say, the Dirty Panda just hits the spot. It's qualitea stuff (hahaha). I'm excited to try out their other drinks when I'm back. read more

10/10 would recommend! My favorite boba spot in SF! Definitely must try the rose petal, it has a beautiful aroma as well as taste. The boba is also very soft which is an absolute plus. Good boba is everything. Located within the Castro near Dolores Park~ read more

QualiTea - Rose Petal MT - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Don't waste your time coming here. We stopped by on the walk back from Dolores park to the Castro district. I had a friend pick a drink for me because I didn't know what to order. She got me a deluxe tea with regular sweetness. Let me tell you, it was not at all sweet, flavor was bland, no tangy flavor from the fruit in it. It was an absolute waste of money. My other friend got the strawberry matcha which actually looked incredible, but he said it didn't taste good either. Very bottom tier, spend your money somewhere else. read more

I absolutely love coming here for their Jasmine milk tea with boba and their pink sparkle. I love how you can taste that their boba has been swimming in honey. Not too big a fan of their Thai tea as it tastes fairly light, however their other drinks are pretty great in tasting. The staff here are so friendly and accommodating. They are really flexible with customizations and you can create your own milk tea/ carbonated drink. Order ahead for pickup from delivery platforms and they take care of everything for you super quick! read more

Grateful for this local boba spot. The people are always friendly, there never is a line, and the boba is some of the best in SF. Thank you for doing pick up orders and delivery during these crazy times read more

QualiTea - Taro Infusion with Boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend and I decided to look for a new milk tea place to try and came across QualiTea. It's a cute small boba shop in Castro near Mission Dolores, but there's only street parking so you might have to spend some time looking for a spot in the area. I'll be honest, I decided on QualiTea over all the other places we were considering because I thought the cups were cuter LOL. But I'm really glad we ended up coming here! They really live up to their name, as all the drinks we got were very good quality. My friend got the Rose Petal, and I got the House Milk Tea with 50% sweet on the recommendation of the worker at the register. We both really enjoyed our drinks! The tea flavors came through in both the drinks, which I really like. The House Milk Tea with 50% sweet is just enough for me to still get some of the sugar, but definitely not a very sweet drink. If you want a sweet drink, definitely consider getting a higher sweetness (to be honest, I might next time!) I also got a strawberry egg puff (I believe they called it a bubble waffle here), which was advertised on the little message board next to the register. I had to wait a bit longer for them to make it fresh, and it ended up being more on the chewy side vs. crunchy -- and it was great. I ended up eating the entire thing on the walk back to the car heh. I can't wait to come back and try their other drinks in the future! I definitely want to eventually try the Pink Sparkle and Matcha Blossom as well. read more

Everything was amazing all the way down to the very last sip! Sat outside for awhile to enjoy my lavender milk tea and it was so nice enjoying every sip with the cool breeze. Gf loved her jasmine milk tea so much, she wanted to get another overall best milk tea hands down. Superb quality and fast service too! read more

QualiTea - Lavender Milk Tea and jasmine milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very yummy matcha and bubble waffle. My friend is boring and got a plain bubble waffle with chocolate syrup but yummy nonetheless. Also goated for playing the new nicki song. Also very nice man at the register. read more

QualiTea - Matcha Blossom - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Small, quaint, cute boba shop. When I say small, it's pretty small inside (3 tables and a communal table). It is located in a great area, easy to walk to if you are nearby, however if you drive (like I did) parking is pretty horrendous around The Castro. I got the Pink Sparkle, drink was decent, felt like flavor was lacking. It did however reminded me of the Korean yogurt drink, Milkis. Will come back and give another drink a go. read more

QualiTea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

The cashier was super friendly and super patient! There isn't an overwhelming number of items on the menu. Portions are decently sized, and the price is typical for milk tea places. As far as taste goes, the lychee tea w lychee and aloe jellies def fulfilled my craving. I'll probably be back soon! read more

QualiTea - Menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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