Sencha is my go-to drink spot on state! If you're not hungry for food but need some sort of a pick-me-up or a nice place to chill, it's a good idea. The teas are always refreshing and unique. I'm no boba expert, but I think it's delicious, especially with a hot or cold chai latte. I recommend the jellies for an iced fruity tea... but be careful, the drinks can come out pretty darn sweet! The baristas know their stuff (I've even seen them let customers smell the loose leaves to help them describe the flavors), and if you ask for a specific level of sweet, they should be able to cater. Get your drinks "for here" to sip the from a huge glass mug, and you can sit and read or study for a bit. The tunes are gooood, and it's an especially magical place around the holidays. It's eSENCHAlly the best. Haha. Ha. read more

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My first time in here, the people were there were SUPER helpful. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get overwhelmed with all of the options at bubble tea shops. Do I want iced? blended? regular bubbles? milk tea? regular tea? jellies? play it safe with a simple flavor? try something crazy? Well, my decision was easier to make because the person at the counter let me try a few different flavors before I committed. Huge plus! I would go back here in a heartbeat to try more of their unique blends! read more

Teas were alright. Bubble teas tasted watered down and flavorless and the tapioca balls tasted old and not fresh. read more

Sencha Tea Bar - Madison - Taro shake and taro ice bubble tea. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

found my new go to spot in madison visiting from california pictured : chai & cocoa haze latte read more

Sencha Tea Bar - Madison - chai & cocoa haze latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The staff are very friendly and talkative. They are welcoming and apologetic for any long waits though that is inevitable. The mystery drink is my favorite concept and so much fun! I often recommend it to the people I meet new to the city. read more

Friendly staff, peaceful decor, and herbal smells make this tea shop feel deliciously delightful to be in. Definitely try some bubble tea. I recommend black tea, taro flavor, with tapioca balls. They have quite a few other tea choices and they sell their own high quality herbs. read more

Sencha Tea Bar - Madison - You can sit at he bar window enjoying the plants and people watching. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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As a tea lover, I had bookmarked Sencha long before moving to Madison. I needed to know that my new city would have a tea bar. That is very important info! I was overjoyed when I saw Sencha and being able to actually visit it really made my day. There are SO MANY teas. Seriously. The girl at the counter gave me the book, and I turned it down -- I can barely make decisions with regular menus, so the huge variety of tea was honestly overwhelming! Instead, I took a look at the 4 teas listed on their daily menu board and chose from that limited list to prevent tea variety overload. There is regular loose leaf tea as well as bubble tea. I chose a peach black tea that sounded amazing, and got a teapot for $3 something. That is quite the bargain! While the tea was being prepared, I checked out the merchandise, particularly the sale section. There was a perfectly adorable pink and stainless steel teapot that I squealed over. If it's still there next time I go, it's mine! The teapot came out with a couple cookies on a cute little tray. I sat at the tea bar and people watched and relaxed. It wasn't exactly quiet, so I'm not sure how great it would be for doing work, but for hanging out it was perfect. Can't wait to try all the teas one at a time! read more

Traditional tea drinkers BEWARE: this place does indeed serve loose leaf tea. And you can even drink it HOT like most sensible tea drinkers do. The only problem is there's a somewhat seizure-inducing, smorgasbord of a menu full of non-traditional tea offerings that totally bamboozles the eager tea drinking patron into buying subpar, heavily westernized versions of tea like iced chai with tapioca, bubble tea, or even Slurp Juice. I question the mental stability of someone that orders such a drink that awkwardly pairs the words 'Slurp' and 'Juice' together. But then I realize I'm surrounded by insulin resistant college students and Kombucha dependent hipsters so it sort of makes sense. Sure it makes an excellent gamer tag or even a possible tinder communication interface idea (Hey, wanna slurp juice and chill?) but I really don't think a drink of this nature belongs in a place like this. But I digress. Tip 1: Don't even look at the menu. Head straight for the binder full of loose leaf teas. They have a lot (green, black, white, etc). I ended up going with the Kukicha Gold which left my palate in a state of sencha bliss. The taste was enrichingly bright and oddly sweet which is perfect for those sensitive to astringency. Tip 2: Seek help from cute Asian girl. She seemed more knowledgeable than the two white guys working there that day. In fact, when I asked one of the males what the caffeine to theanine ratio was on the Kukicha Gold he laughed and said he didn't know. I did not tip him for this very reason. Fortunately for him and the rest of the staff, their level of amicableness outweighed their ignorance. Tip 3: While you wait for your perfectly steeped tea (thank you cute Asian girl), you can sip on free water encased in a giant stainless steel tub. I didn't mind drinking from the unhealthy complimentary plastic cups because I knew the rest of my night would involve poor decisions and unhealthy choices. Tip 4: Do not sit next to the window. The counter was sordid and the seats were not compatible with an average pelvic tilt. There were also two homeless guys arguing on a bench outside directly in front of me which ruined my Kukicha buzz. If your palate is craving some fine selections of loose leaf tea, this is the place to go but don't expect a traditional tea experience since it's saturated in non-traditional commercialized forms. A la Slurp Juice. read more

Sencha Tea Bar - Madison - Why?? - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I was in the mood for some Boba...but then that switched to Aloe bites so i was on a hunt to find a tea bar that would be able to satisfy my craving. I was on state street and came across this gem as it was before Kung Fu tea. I like the location and even the ambiance as you walk in, but I think management needs to figure out a better way with the lines/with customer service. I waited for about 15 minutes in line while a lady was trying to figure out what tea to buy and asking for recommendations. In this midst about 3 people left the line to go somewhere else since she was taking so long. tip to management-- have a manager or someone else talk to the lady about her tea purchase or start asking customers in line what to make them so all they have to do when they get to the front is pay. Regardless, i waited as I was intent on getting my drink. I ordered a mango green tea with aloe. It was a little on the pricey side at about $4.50, but i was happy with it at the end as it was made quickly. The green tea flavor was still apparent and I should have asked for less mango syrup,but the aloe was great. Crunchy and delish. Overall i'll be back to try more teas and rack up some points on their system, but just be ready to wait if there is a person inquiring about tea purchases as they do have them on sale. Happy boba finding! read more

My daughter introduced me to Sencha Tea Bar and I've been a fan ever since. While the menu can be daunting, the baristas are super helpful - they have recommended some delicious flavor combinations, so if you're overwhelmed, ask for help. The space is decent for working on your laptops and there are plenty of power outlets, but things can get noisy when there's a full house. There also are time where it is challenging to find a spot to sit. read more

Hate to be "that guy", but is it just me or does this photo in the bathroom convey racist undertones? Like, I get the aspect of trying to be humorous, but comparing the beauty of a powerful black woman with that of a bathroom seems a little inappropriate. Just saying. Hm, I don't know, should this photo be removed? What would Beyoncé say? read more

Sencha Tea Bar - Madison - Racist photo in the bathroom? - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is such a cute little shop. I usually stop in when I am grabbing lunch on state street and/or walking around downtown and need a drink. They have a large selection of teas that you can get hot and cold. You also can choose if you want it sweetened and if you want to add bubbles. The options are endless! I really like that your can customize your drink. I also saw that you can full pots tea you can drink if you are staying that to chill. If I was downtown studying I would definitely do this but usually when I stop by I am on the go. Overall I love how customizable you can make your drinks here and have never had a tea/drink that I did not enjoy while going here. read more

I can definitely see myself becoming addicted to this place. My summer place here is really close to State so I don't know if its a good thing or a bad thing that I can just roll up to this place whenever I want. It's got creamy tea, iced teas, warm teas, blended teas, and a bunch of other types of teas. You can get lychee or tapioca pearls etc. There are so many options!! So far I have tried the Black Tea Lemonade, Blended Lychee, Iced Royal Tea, and the Iced Chai Tea. All have been really amazing and it's made me really really happy. I can't wait to come back and try Taro because that's my ultimate fave but I'm saving it for another day! Its a really nice place. Also the first time I tried it I was totally lost and not sure what to order. The staff was nice and helped me pick out a tea. I was happy! Definitely coming back here! read more

Sencha Tea Bar - Madison - Iced Royal Tea Blend - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is such a cute tea room on State Street. I saw Sencha pop up on Hooked, so I went in to get an iced chai with tapioca pearls. The service was lightning fast and very friendly. The chai was pretty tasty and had a little snap to it. The pearls were really fresh tasting and good with the chai flavoring. A really good combo that I would recommend to others. I sat at the window seating and watched the pedestrian traffic on State Street for a while. It was really nice. There were a few others in the cafe that were chatting away and some others that were set up and working on their laptops. A good mix of customers. They have their walls sprinkled with local art for sale. What a fun way to host local artists in our area. There's lots of seating inside and they could accommodate a larger group if needed too. The prices were on par with the Madison area too. read more

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Overall I think this place is nice for tea but it's unfortunately not my favorite. I had a matcha latte that tasted watered down and I couldn't really taste the matcha. It's a nice environment for playing games with friends or chatting. The servers are nice too. But I think the tea could be better. It may have been a one off that my tea did not have as much tea flavor though. read more

I was a little overwhelmed at first looking through the menu for a standard boba milk tea. They have a lot of different options available, but I'm a simple bubble tea kind of guy. I ended up finding the Royal Black Milk Tea, and I was fairly pleased with it. Good tapioca pearls and the tea was sweet but not overly so. The service was great. I got wrapped up in an email while waiting for the tea and they were nice enough to bring it over to me. I love that there is a lot of bar seating along with tables, which works well if I am just looking for a spot to work alone. One of the bars faces the cashier and back of the establishment and the other bar seating faces out onto State Street. I hesitate to recommend this place as a spot to have a conversation with a friend since it was fairly easy for me to overhear a chat from the next table over even though they weren't very loud and I was trying to avoid hearing them. I would say though that it is a good place to get in the zone and get some work done on State Street. read more

Thank you for the wonderful experience and even better boba tea! The baristas were wonderful and I had a great time here (:

Sencha satisfies this picky boba lover's craving for things teas and milk teas. To be honest, I much prefer it to its competitor across the street, Kung Fu Tea. Unlike KFT, this Sencha location offers a great, attractive-looking space to work or talk efficiently in without feeling like you have to compete with loud music or a rowdy crowd. The service is great, and the manager has always been nice and helpful when making suggestions or recommendations. My go-to typically involves wintermelon tea (hot or cold), but so far there hasn't been a drink that I didn't enjoy. read more

The offspring loves this place so much that we've pretty much made it a regular stop when we're in town. Small shop, with current pandemic limit of 4 patrons at a time, but great staff and a nice selection of hot and cold drinks. Love the milk tea with various boba and jellies! read more

There iced chai with tapioca is my favorite bubble tea in Madison. Service has always been quick and courteous. Nice atmosphere, they have ice water available while you wait or enjoy your beverage. I try to incorporate a pit stop here whenever I ride my bike through the downtown area of Madison. read more

Favorite place to go to for a quick tea break! It has a very warm cozy atmosphere that draws you to stay longer than 30 mins. The tea bar has several options, I highly recommend the sweet tea boba as it's quite refreshing. read more

Sencha replaced Steepery a few months ago, and was originally a Tea Garden. When Sencha opened, rather than a "Grand Opening," they had a "Grand *Re*opening," which supports my thoughts that it's the same place with different branding (and after a few google searches, they are!) The offerings have changed a little bit throughout their evolution, but the quality of the product and general ambience has remained pretty much the same (consistently good!) The staff has always been friendly, quite knowledgable, and helpful in picking out the right sort of drink when I'm being indecisive. And for the indecisive among us, be warned -- the menu is a *book,* so if you're easily overwhelmed, don't be afraid to ask for recommendations, or just pick from the featured teas on the board. To add to your decision-making possibilities, they've also got a nice little nook of merchandise that includes cast iron teapots, thermoses, and other tea ware available, as well. I'm generally there for some variety of boba or jelly tea, and for that, they don't disappoint. You can get it sweet, savory, or more on the bitter side. As a bonus for the dairy-free among us (hi!) their default milk teas are non-dairy-based, though I believe you can ask for dairy-based options as well. The levels of sweetness are also somewhat adjustable, which I appreciate, as milk tea at some purveyors can be a total sugar-bomb. Their pots of loose-leaf hot tea are also quite good, especially if you plan to hang out for a bit -- they're reasonably-priced to begin with (about $3), and the refills on hot water and sweetener are included as long as you're there. They also come with a couple of complimentary cookies. Your options run the gamut from sencha (obvs), to your blacks, whites, greens, oolongs, and a host of tisanes (herbals.) As it's on State Street a few blocks from campus, it's usually slammed with students there to study (anyplace with free wifi and copious outlets near campus that allows food and drink will be!) Also, for the students reading this, last time I was in, Sencha was open later than a number of the other coffee shops on State, which made it a great option for later-night studying. Because it's a high-traffic location, it's never exactly *quiet,* but it is what it is. Overall, whether you're planning to get your drinks to stay or to go, they're one of my preferred places in town for boba and tea, especially downtown. read more

I love a good boba and the ladies here were nice. They made great explanations-good for non dairy like me. The Thai tea with Boba iced was refreshing on a hot summer day. It was made super quick and was a great size for the price. Nice seating area, understated music makes this a pleasure to sit. Outdoor seating is there but probably inadequate. Not much room to move and add so I get why not a lot of it. Really enjoyed this! read more

Sencha Tea Bar - Madison - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

everything is always top tier. very personable staff and great drinks every. single. time.

Stopped in to try out a bubble tea. This was my first time and the tea blew my mind... Bubble tea newbies, imagine a sweet raspberry, strawberry, banana or watermelon flavored drink with fruit snacks at the bottom. You drink through a large straw so that you get the initial last of fruitiness, then suck up a few of the bubbles ("fruit snacks") to chew on. Our barista was sweet and very friendly. The bathrooms were a "beautiful as Beyonce" just like the picture on the bathroom wall alludes to. This will certainly be one of my go-to places to for a dessert-y drink. read more

A real tea bar! That's what it is. With various flavors to try from - it's a place you must visit if you are in search of a place for a nice cup of tea, or a kettle of tea to share. They come with additional tea strainers if the tea in kettle is not enough to satisfy your taste buds. read more

The atmosphere of the tea bar is wonderful and fun. The staff was nice and welcoming. They were helpful when we had questions. I got the Thai Tea with Tapioca pearls and my daughter got a Strawberry Milk Tea with Mango popping pearls. Both were delicious. I loved how you could adjust the sweetness before you order. It wasn't needed, but some boba teas at other places have been extremely sweet. Me read more

3.5 stars for me. I am a big fan of this place in terms of atmosphere. It is a good place to go to in order to get some work done, and the atmosphere is cozy and cute. The boba is done well here and they have a lot of new and unique teas. In terms of personal taste, I think I prefer the taste of the milk teas at Kung Fu Tea, however, Sencha is a better studying environment. In addition, I tried some of their other seasonal teas (including a peach yogurt one and a mint one) that were unique and interesting. This is a place of hipsters, but if you're looking for something more traditional, maybe Starbucks or Kung Fu may be the place for you, depending on what you like. read more

Sencha (previously called Steepery), has a great environment for studying or meeting up with friends. They now have a bar--which I'm a big fan of. I am a huge fan of their loose-leaf teas--I would recommend getting a pot (saves you money). You can also get a side of milk and honey with it. (4 stars) I am not a fan of the bubble tea there (2 stars). The chai tea tastes like it has artificial flavoring and the times I have gotten the thai tea, I've only taken two sips and thrown it away due to the lack of authentic taste. The bubbles do not have any flavor to them and are often either overdone or underdone. read more

My go-to place for bubble tea near the UW campus/Capitol area. Both their milk tea (which they call Tea Lattes for people who are more familiar with the term "milk tea"...) and fruit teas are very tasty and not too sweet like most other places (looking at you, Kungfu Tea). I was super hyped that they have bubbles/boba/tapioca, and immediately ordered an "Iced black tea latte with bubbles" which is the equivalent of "milk tea with tapioca" where I'm from. It tasted just as I expected, though, and I was pleasantly surprised with their prices. They also have a reward system that's fairly easy to use and can get you a few upgrades and stuff for simply showing up and getting a drink. I really recommend this place as an after-dinner tea place. It's also a nice place to chill in the afternoon! The ambience is great and you'll often find students studying at all times in the day. read more

They are always so nice there and they are also very patient with new customers who don't know how to order. I love the green tea with strawberry jellies there! But honestly you can't go wrong with any drink there! read more

So many teas to select from (tip: make sure to check out the binder of loose leaf teas if you're not into super sweet drinks). Boba shops in the Midwest tend to only offer the syrupy pre-made teas, but Sencha steeps while you wait before adding the tapioca. Great flavor. read more

Love the milk tea! I'm a simple man. I just get the jasmine milk tea without pearls. Low sugar & ice.

Love love love Sencha! It has such a warm welcome everytime we come. The smell of tea and the decor is always on point with what's trending. Their customer service is great as well! I would recommend trying their blends or shakes if you LOVE bubble/boba tea because it's our favorite. read more

I mentioned that I have a dairy allergy, and the owner said that they do not use milk in their products. I asked if I could get the Chai Tea Latte and she literally told me that there was milk powder in it. Not a great place to go if you have an allergen, considering this was all in the same conversation. read more

I've been coming to sencha for all 4 years of my UW college experience. It's an awesome place to study and the staff is always friendly/attentive to your needs. Their loose leaf tea is great (I've never tried any of their other menu items). The only reason I'm giving them 4 stars is that sometimes the seating areas can become a little cramped when the shop gets busy. Other than that, it's one of my favorite tea shops on state street! read more

This place is the best. They have a wide variety of teas and bubble teas. I love coming here for their iced royal tea. They have really fun specials that are often updated. Staff is always friendly. They showcase local artists in their space too which is super cool. read more

Everyone that works here is knowledgeable and kind. They were patient with me when as I rifled through the exhaustive list of teas and helped me select the right one for me. Great spot to study. read more

I love this place!! It's further away then I'd like but I don't mind traveling because this place is legit.

My boyfriend and I discovered this place a few years ago and we've been a fan since! Sencha was formerly steepery fyi! The baristas there are really helpful! They know great combos for different tea flavors so if you're stuck definitely ask! So far my boyfriend and I have tried taro bubble tea , black lemon ice tea, and black milk tea. After having the black lemon ice tea with lychee bubbles I'm never going back! It's the perfect amount of sour and the lychee compliments the lemon so well!! The taro bubble tea is milky and the boba is pretty good! I always try to swing by to grab some tea! The interior changed as well! They added a booth which adds more seating and it improves the overall look of the cafe. It's quite small so sometimes there's no seating. They also sell local art as well as tea accessories! I'm a fan! Hope you guys like it too! :) read more

Sencha Tea Bar - Madison - Ice lemon black tea with lychee and taro boba (the lemon is my fav!) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin