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    Rare Tea - Davis

    3.5 (205 reviews)
    InexpensiveBubble Tea
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Kiara S.

    Raretea Davis is a cozy spot with plenty of seating and something about this place feels very nostalgic. The seating area being away from the main counter makes it a quiet place to study and enjoy tea. It's a very laid back spot! You can order through scanning a QR code, inputting your selections into a kiosk, or with the one employee behind the bar. The wait can vary with one person making all the drinks, so if there's a big order before you, be prepared to hang out a bit. I had the opportunity to enjoy the Guava Spring Tea, half sweet, with lychee jelly. It was very refreshing and perfectly sweet. I would stop by again if I'm in the area.

    Strawberry Milk Tea
    Yessi O.

    The ambiance of the store was nice, it felt small, cozy, and a little dingy (but not in a bad way). The service was good, the lady working seemed nice. I personally ordered the strawberry milk tea, and recieved my food in a timely manner. First of all, the milk tea had a consistency of a slurpie, but honestly I'm not complaining! The strawberry was sweet and fruity while the milk was sweet as well. Overall, pretty refreshing and delicious!

    This was my second time getting rare tea but I ordered 2 drinks: - Jasmine Milk Tea w/ boba - Mango Passionfruit Tea w/ lychee jelly My major complaint is that I found some hair-like fiberous threads/plasticky strings in my mango passionfruit tea. Not sure if it came from the lychee jelly but it might've been a bad batch. I have ordered this exact drink last time and I didn't encounter any issues then. When I tasted the first one in my mouth, I just ignored it but after getting multiple strands (see attached), it became an unpleasant experience. Just wanted to warn others to be cautious!

    Stanley L.

    Issa yup for me broski. The kiwi drank kinna litty. And my reviews kinna witty. I need to get me a kitty (cat). Rapper by the way. @flywitstan

    Black Milk Tea - nondairy milk
    Angel T.

    I love Rare Tea and think it needs more love. It's open, despite the constant construction happening in the building it's located in. My favorites are their Watermelon Green Tea and Black Milk Tea. I've also had their Peach Black Tea, Strawberry Berry, and Mango Passionfruit. They use fresh fruit purées for their drinks, rather than artificial fruit syrups. If you're a fan of fruit "pulp" (tiny fruity bits) in your drinks -- I'm a fan -- this is the place for you! I also recommend getting less sweet for everything if you like a stronger tea flavor. They also use non-dairy milk for their milk teas by default (similar to Teaspoon) with the exception of their "Fresh Milk" drinks. A bit pricier ($5-$6 for most drinks) but worth it. Conveniently located next to the Social Sciences building on campus.

    Strawberry Milk Tea and Popcorn Chicken
    Maikhanh H.

    Rare Tea was very much meant for getting food and drinks. The ambience is a bit lacking but still has a good seating area for waiting. The service was fast and simple. For the food and drink aspect, we got the strawberry milk tea and popcorn chicken. The popcorn chicken is not traditional to the Taiwanese popcorn chicken with flavors of basil and 5 spice. This was their own rendition so if you were looking for the traditional kind this not the place to get it. However we really enjoyed the flavor as it was more on the spicy and salty taste coupled with a lemon on the side. It was unique and quite enjoyable for us so if you were looking for a change of pace I would recommend. I highly recommend the strawberry milk tea. It is has a nice slushy texture that makes it so refreshing and has the perfect amount of sweetness. I added boba as well and it was the perfect texture as well. This makes a perfect drink for the hot summers in Davis!

    Kiwi Fruit Tea w/ Jelly

    second time getting this drink and tastes even better than the first time (maybe i was just thirsty). came earlier than pick up time and they had no issue with it, already having the drink in preparation very good! kind workers

    Mango milk tea
    Kasey H.

    Lots of options, I'd definitely go back to try more. Mango Milk Tea was good, but nothing mind blowing - hence the 4 stars. Smooth and creamy, but not strong mango flavor. Some chunks of mango, if I'm guessing?

    Classic coffee
    Valerie K.

    I never knew about this RareTea in Davis which seems it used to be a ShareTea, because it still has a ShareTea sign outside and this location hasn't been here long according to Yelp. Their Classic Coffee was pretty on point (a lot of their other locations don't seem to carry it for some reason). I don't normally order a lot of coffee drinks as they tend to be too sweet, but this tasted just like a frozen coffee cappuccino. They also have a variety of food items to pick from on the menu along with packaged snacks like ramen.

    Outside seating! Remember, clean up after yourself.
    Ron R.

    *** Vegetarian Review **** Location. Location. Location. If you're a student at UCD, this place is probably a second home. For some, it might even be accounted for in your tuition -- housing, books, reg fees, Starbucks, and boba. Over the last decade, this spot has been several businesses. I've always wondered how and why they couldn't make it because they are literally a stones throw from the campus plus you can usually find street parking right in front or at a minimum, not more than 1 1/2 blocks away. So why did all prior businesses fail? Best guess, they weren't Sharetea and they didn't feature the best boba in a town that has plenty of boba shops to stick a large mouthed straw into. My Usual (will post picture next time I visit): Taro Ice Blend with Pudding, add boba (Grade A): You'll find this under the "Ice Blended" menu. "Ice blended" basically means "Jamba Juice-style." But because it was nearly 100-degrees outside, the heat made me feel adventurous and I tried something off the "Milk Tea" menu. Okinawa Pearl Milk Tea with boba, add pudding, with 80% sweetness level (Grade A): No wonder this place always has a line 4-6 people deep. Takes forever to state your order. Now if you like milk tea, you'll love this. It has roasted brown sugar so I recommend 80% sweetness. And since they don't blend the ice Jamba Juice-style, I also recommend requesting they add more ice when the thermometer reaches triple-digits. First-timers ... Don't Forget: (1) Add pudding! If you're choice doesn't include pudding, just ask. It's the best 50-cents you'll ever spend. Boba shop pudding is more like dessert flan or custard. It's scooped into your drink and nestles down at the bottom so you'll get that savory custard in every sip. (2) Register your phone number. Yes you'll get an occasional bubble-text from your boba shop, but they just want to remind you of specials and freebies to bring you back to the shop. Yes, BOBA BOGO! It answers the age old question ... what's better than one Boba? Two Bobas. (3) Choices. You can choose how much ice (normal, less, or none) and sweetness level (100%, 80%, 50%, 30%, and 0%). Try it sans changes the first time and use that as your baseline. Overall restaurant observations: (1) The people that work here -- every single one of them -- are the friendliest staff in town. Like most boba shops, you'll find thousands of menu items to choose from and sometimes you might have a question or two. I've been to other shops and the staff will impatiently roll their eyes. I've been here dozens of times and I usually get 80% sweetness, but 100% smiles! (2) Outside seating and plenty of signage to remind you to clean up after yourself. (3) You need a bathroom key. Yikes! Just plan ahead if you avoid those bathroom keys like the plague like I do. (4) Straws are individually wrapped! Almost makes up for the bathroom key. Bottom line: Friendly, fast, and felicious (delicious). It's the perfect place to skip the restaurant dessert or to get an afternoon pick-me-up in lieu of a Starbucks run.

    Yao C.

    My favorite boba place in Davis! They have this drink I love and it's the only place I know that makes it! I order a strawberry milk and it's soooo good! It's fresh strawberry milk with egg pudding and boba.... ah man... I can taste it now!! The sharetea in sac doesn't have this drink and it's disappointing!!! This Davis location is cool.... it's in the heart of Davis college town! Haha.... Aggie pride.... blah.... This boba joint is clean and your drink comes out fast! Sharetea is Davis may be the only reason I visit Davis.... If your a strawberry fan, please try this drink!!

    They put in so much boba, no matter how I beg and plead for jus'a lil bit. I LOVE YOU SHARETEA WHY WONT YOU LOVE ME???

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    11 years ago

    I always ask for less ice in my drinks and the lady ALWAYS gives me at least half a cup of ice.

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    6 years ago

    The service is great and the drinks come out quickly. I order Super lychee. It was very good.I love this place.

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

    I've never been more upset in my life, it's poor quality boba, they messed up my order, and very overpriced

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    9 years ago

    Great place and taste. I'll be coming back to earn my free drinks. I also love how the lady always remembers my name.

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    Decent milk tea. Hokkaido is pretty good and they have a really refreshing non alcoholic strawberry mojito!

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    11 years ago

    You can't go wrong with a classic black milk tea! They make the drinks much faster than most Boba places here in Davis! Awesome start!

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    MandRo Teahouse - Strawberry

    MandRo Teahouse

    3.9(640 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    This is our neighbor's favorite shaved ice place. They invited us to go with them to Davis to try…read moreit out. It's a bit of a drive from Sacramento due to the traffic because of the construction. It was worth the drive to try something new. I've never had this type of Taiwanese shaved ice before. At least I think it's Taiwanese. It was described as frozen milk shaved like shaved ice. It's very fluffy and not chunky like regularly snow cones you get at fairs and festivals. This shaved ices don't compare. I loved the texture of the shaved ice in our Mango Bingsoo(Regular). The shaved ice was covered with mangos and dressed with sweetened condensed milk. I wish there was a larger portion of the condensed milk to pour on top of the plain ice when you run out of mangos. The proportions mango to shaved ice was pretty spot on, though you could always use another layer or two of mangos. I just can't get enough mangos. Price- This was pretty pricy and I would say it's a special occasion type of place. In addition i Size- The regular was the perfect size to share with a friend. For two of us the large would have been too much. Restrooms- They have one unisex bathroom in back. Thankfully you don't need a code to go in. It was clean and well supplied. Entertainment- They have a bookshelf of games to entertain you and your friends as you enjoy your sweet treat. Parking- There is plenty of parking as they share a private lot with the shopping center. It's nothing like downtown Davis where parking is scarce and there is a time limit. Menu- they have a large menu, mostly of drinks. They have a smaller menu of desserts. They had several flavors of Bingsoo(Regular) including a seasonal peach, mango, and our friends got the one with red beans and rice cakes. I had a taste and it was really good also. Would I go back? Yes, for a special occasion.

    Fast service (kiosk for ordering) and desserts are made pretty fast. Young atmosphere since it's…read moreclose to UC Davis. We like to order the Mango Bingsoo and Mango Sago here. FYI there is a $0.75 charge for water cups or sharing bowls.

    Photos
    MandRo Teahouse - Mango Sago and Taro Milktea

    Mango Sago and Taro Milktea

    MandRo Teahouse
    MandRo Teahouse

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    Teaspoon - Tea travelers for your party

    Teaspoon

    4.5(209 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $

    I'm surprised I haven't written a review for Teaspoon Davis already. I used to come here all the…read moretime when I went to college and would stop by 2-3x a week on my walks home. I came by Teaspoon again a few days ago while in Davis for Picnic Day and I am happy to say that it's as good as it was before. The menu is smaller than other boba places, but each drink I've had here has been good. I love a blend of strong tea flavor and not overly sweetened milk tea, which is what they have to offer! My go-to drinks are their house milk tea or liquid gold, and when I want something fruity, I opt for their lychee black tea (aka lychee on lychee). I suggest getting the drinks half sweet if you don't want your drinks too bland but also not too sweet. The staff here has always been local college students who offer kind and speedy service. I'm never in here more than a few minutes unless I'm ordering a lot of drinks. It's small inside the store so if there's a lot of people in line, it's best to wait outside. It's not really a place to sit down and chat, but to take your drink to go which is fine since it's located downtown.

    This place is TINY compared to the other locations I've gone to. This is a grab and go place. No…read morespace to sit down and hang out like their other locations. Just going in and out with others waiting for their drinks was a bit of a hassle. They have a touch screen to order drinks yourself which was helpful since one person was only working and it allowed him to just focus on making drinks instead of also taking drink orders. I enjoy their roasted oolong and the ability to customize your own drink.

    Photos
    Teaspoon - Golden Brew a signature coffee drink

    Golden Brew a signature coffee drink

    Teaspoon - Caramel cream

    Caramel cream

    Teaspoon - Your favorite drinks, served hot

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    Your favorite drinks, served hot

    Fourteasons Coffee & Tea - Soy redbean tornado, #2 on the specials list!

    Fourteasons Coffee & Tea

    4.0(154 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $

    I stopped by here on a whim on a weekday around lunchtime to grab a drink. It was surprisingly…read moreempty, which means I had very minimal wait time. I got the grapefruit yakult drink with lychee jelly at 25% sweetness and less ice. I was looking for a caffeine free drink. This really fit the bill. I found it to taste really good, I'll be a little sweet for my taste, but I also prefer my drinks on the less sweet side. The shop itself is fine, nothing really to write home about but clean enough. It's a little bit cramped because they have like a clothing rack and stuff in there, but it works. I liked the little outdoor seating area. The staff and service was fine. Nothing really to write home about but nothing bad either! I do think the owner of the shop was there when I stopped by and having a conversation with another staff member, but didn't bother me at all. Looking forward to coming back and trying their other drinks. It looks like they have some really interesting and creative things. Four stars because I thought it was pretty good, but nothing quite stand out yet.

    I like their sago and their fruity drinks here, the large upgrade is worth it, there's some indoor…read moreseating that's limited and more outdoor seating, but it's not really a place where you can sit and study. Their bubble waffles are decent if you're craving one

    Photos
    Fourteasons Coffee & Tea - Mango pomelo sago

    Mango pomelo sago

    Fourteasons Coffee & Tea - Purple eventually wins

    Purple eventually wins

    Fourteasons Coffee & Tea - Taro milk with boba

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    Taro milk with boba

    Teabo Café - Popcorn Chicken

    Teabo Café

    3.5(670 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $

    One of the few boba spots in Davis open late at night. But it's really quiet here.. lights were…read moresuper dim and I couldn't tell if it was open or not, kind of like an eerie motel off the side of a road. Staff were very kind, even late at night. Orders were accurate and efficient. I like the flavor customization options, but the tea is just regular. Snack options are a plus. Note: There is no public WiFi here. Kinda defeats the purpose of being open so late IMO. Would be a nice quiet study place if there was

    Hidden gem in the Davis area, you cannot beat the price or the service. Upon entering there's a…read morekiosk with a detailed menu of everything they offer and their Ten principles, one about the Perfect Drink Guarantee caught my eye, emphasizing they value the quality of their drinks and customer satisfaction. Our two drinks with toppings came out to be $10 and ready within 5-7 minutes of ordering. We ordered their Teabo Signature Black Milk Tea with boba and a Custom Blended Fruit Tea with crystal boba. I wanted to try their boba for sure since all of the reviews mentioned how divine it is. And I was happily surprised with the quality of their boba so late into the night. The texture was still very soft and chewy, not too sweet, and the portion of the boba was generous!! The black milk tea was strong and silky, I changed the sweetness to 75% and it was perfect. The ambiance is dark, dimly lit, lots of pandas (paintings and decor) everywhere. It was really quiet when I visited, I saw a couple students working on homework. And a family enjoying boba and various finger food snacks they offer. Would definitely come back whenever I'm in the area!!

    Photos
    Teabo Café
    Teabo Café - Chicken Katsu with Rice and Milk Tea

    Chicken Katsu with Rice and Milk Tea

    Teabo Café - Those boba balls are the only thing in my drink

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    Those boba balls are the only thing in my drink

    Rare Tea - Davis - bubbletea - Updated August 2026

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