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Tapicha
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
1815 Massachusetts AvenueCambridge, MA 02140
Neighborhood: Porter Square
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Mt Vernon St (77, 96)
Massachusetts Ave @ Roseland St (77, 83, 96)
Porter Square (Fitchburg/South Acton Line)
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Tapicha
Review Highlights
"I love the bubble tea here and the lady is so nice."
(in 16 reviews)
"I love, love, love their tapioca balls."
(in 8 reviews)
"...the right consistency and their coconut jelly is yuh-um-ee."
(in 3 reviews)
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27 reviews in English
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Review from Katy O.
Braintree, MA
8/16/2009
Possibly the best bubble tea in Boston!
I love that you can choose not only the flavor of the tea (and there are *many* flavors), but the type of tea as well.
While I'm not a fan of tapioca balls, theirs are the best: not too soft, and not grainy at all! The jelly (I think it's lychee) is also very delicious. -
Review from Jessica C.
Boston, MA
12/10/2011
Tapicha-Porter Square
0/5 stars
Kiosk in Lesley U, next to the asian restaurants. Texture of the pearls is unbearable, there is no chew, you can taste the center is uncooked. The tea is super diluted and they use non-dairy creamer and white sugar for the milk and sugar. The flavors they offer are via syrups and powders. The old chinese lady added extra ice in the non-standard boba cup with lid when the tea didn't fill to the top. Presentation- F looks like something I would make at my kid's bakesale. UGH.. we need a decent boba place in BOSTON!!!!! -
Review from Amanda L.
Brighton, MA
11/24/2008
Many many moons ago, Tapicha broke my Bubble Tea cherry if you will. Now, many months later, and copious amounts of Bubble Tea and balls later, Tapicha is at the bottom of my list. First of all, it's all a powder mix. At first, when I was young and naive, I thought this was the norm, so I dealt with it. Oh, but with the likes of Dong Khanh and Xinh Xinh I've realized that powder is not enough!! Bubble Tea doesn't have to taste watery and flavorless, but it can be creamy and delicious.
While Tapicha gets some points for having a wide variety of options when it comes to Bubble Tea, the taste just doesn't cut it. Also I remember in my Bubble Tea virgin phase I didn't understand the wonder of boba. I think it was because I was so turned off by Tapicha's offerings, that I didn't realize how good those lovely balls really were.
So while I will always cherish Tapicha as my first time (after all, don't you always remember your first?) we all know that the first time is never the best. -
Review from Ben L.
8/2/2008
So I give the woman my money
wait a couple of moments for her to get it ready for me
she gives it to me
I stick it in my mouth and suck
there is a rush of fluid and warm squishy balls into my mouth
i was disappointed
When I had walked up I had such high hopes because of their interesting flavor combinations. They have a good assortment of things to choose from and they like to offer various flavor blends but they let me down by being a bit too short on the chilling and letting their boba get to mush.
It's a place that I want to like but until they can get their boba better and get the operation looking a bit more ship shape I won't be paying them any more visits.Listed in: Bubble Tea
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Review from Kiwi H.
6/11/2008
The tea isn't the best I've ever had, but I love the texture of their bubbles. They have a good consistency, and although I adore the teas at Tealuxe, the bubbles over there are chewier, harder, more unpleasant. Unlike the ones at Tapicha which tend to be more perfectly gummy. If only I could combine the Tealuxe teas with the Tapicha boba!
I can't ever seem to get my head around their hours, but when I do ever pass by and see that it's open, I'm usually happy to stop by for a little chewy-fun refreshment. And since this is the place from which the bubble tea that caused me extreme shame came and caused me pain (try saying that really fast), it'll always hold a special place in my... humilation spot. And my heart I suppose. After all, having my extremely extroverted friend YELL out "Come on, don't you want to suck on my balls? Take them, chew them, you know you want them!" and me turning a deep shade of beetroot in shame amidst the stuffy, shocked elderly people in the T afterwards (who'd never heard of TAPIOCA BALLS before) just can't be erased from memory. -
Review from meaghan s.
Cambridge, MA
5/5/2007
Perhaps I am biased because I lived on this bubble tea for three years as a grad student at Lesley, but, I love it!
My old favorite bubble tea place was a divey Pho restaurant in Chinatown, Hu Tieu Nam Vang, but it's been closed for a year or more. At Hu Tieu Nam Vang they would make watermelon tea or green bean tea with the real deal, fresh fruit and vegetables. At Tapicha it's all made with powder. Given the difference I can still say with confidence that Tapicha is actually pretty good!
The owner is super cute and friendly. And you can get your bubble tea card stamped each time you go, so eventually you end up with a free tea. I've gone through MANY cards over these years.
They have a truly outstanding number of flavors to choose from and also a pretty wide variety of teas both caffeinated and decaf. My favorite is generally almond or almond and red bean. So good! The thai tea is tasty too, and my friend Tiffany swears by the strawberry milk tea.
The "pearl" or "bubble" consistency is usually pretty good, and I like the texture and flavor of these pearls more than most others. I can't really comment on the jelly because I am not a fan, but others seem to enjoy it.
If you're in the area check it out.Listed in: Places I adore
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Review from Lisa M. K.
Cambridge, MA
7/29/2010
I want to give them a higher rating, I do, but I just a cannot.
While I generally enjoy bubble tea and those yummy tapioca balls, I find I really can't bring myself back to Tapicha. All their flavors (including their milk) are all powders and have that sort of synthetic taste. Sometimes it is better than others but usually it tasted like artificial flavors and sweeteners. Also, certain flavors are just too mega-sweet. Also, their equipment (spoons, stirrers, storage) all seems a tad dirty for my liking (and I am neither a germ-phobe nor a neat freak).
The tea and tapioca they use seem to taste good however. If really have a hankering for bubble tea, they are ok but you can probably do a lot better elsewhere. -
Review from Erica S.
Media, PA
1/20/2008
Meh. This place has its moments, but overall wouldn't be my first choice for bubble tea. However, it's in my neighborhood, so I keep coming back (damn bubble tea addiction...)
The pros are that there are a ton of unique flavors, and there are 3 different tea options to choose from (black tea, jasmine green tea, or Thai tea). I strongly recommend getting the Thai.
The cons are that the flavors come from a powder and you can tell, the jasmine green tea sounds good in theory, but when combined with other flavors tastes terrible, and the coconut jelly is gross. Skip the coconut jelly and just opt for the tapioca balls-- they're not bad.
The woman who works here is super nice and I appreciate that this place is around. But you can do better-- try My Thai in Allston, the Boston Tea Stop in Harvard Square, or pretty much anywhere in Chinatown for better bubble tea. -
Review from Mimi W.
Somerville, MA
5/17/2007
First of all, let me say, I appreciate that this place exists, as Boston hasn't really caught on to the Bubble Tea craze like the West Coast where there's a shop every few miles BUT, the tea was horrible. And by horrible, I mean that it tasted powdered and the tapioca balls were completely tasteless and inedible. And by inedible, I mean that they weren't cooked properly and were gelatinous, borderline melting. I ordered a Sesame tea and my gf ordered a Thai iced tea. I see people ordering at the stand, and I just pity them, as I pitied myself for paying 6.50 for two gross teas that we immediately dumped in the trash when we turned the corner.
Go to Boston Tea Stop instead. It's the same price but yummy. -
Review from alex l.
Cambridge, MA
3/27/2011
I love the bubble tea here and the lady is so nice. I just wish she would keep more consistent hours. It's always hit or miss if she is there =(
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Review from Aretha B.
Aquinnah, MA
5/27/2007
NEGATIVE 5 STARZ
Worst bubble tea I've ever, ever, ever had.
Lukewarm (when it's supposed to be cold)
Powdery texture
Lacking flavor
AWFUL boba. Mush balls. I didn't know it could even be this bad. When I got there the woman was literally mashing the balls with a masher! Why!!! They were COMPLETELY disgusting.
Overpriced
un-smiling workers
couldn't finish this nasty drink.
NOT REFRESHING.
AVOID -
Review from Jenny Y.
Newton, MA
6/6/2009
Dig it. One off for using a powder mix, and the flavoring not being as sweet (the mango and passionfruit were on the tart side, taro was a little too watery) as I would have liked, but those are my only two complaints. The coloring of the flavors was a bit off, in my opinion, but I'm not that superficial.
I love, love, love their tapioca balls! I think they're the perfect consistantcy. They're not too warm, not too frozen, but gummy and sweet. It's what every boba tea boba should be.
They also don't use ice! They keep it chilled with a cocktail shaker and strain it, so you get so much more bubble tea for your money.
The price was about right too. $3.10 or something for a large? The service was a bit bored looking, but was nice enough. I also really dig their T's. I might come back with more cash and buy one the next time I'm around. -
Review from A S.
Warren, NJ
7/10/2009
I'm surprised to see the negative reviews here, perhaps things have gone downhill since I last sent to Tapicha in '07. Vin is a delight, and if you frequent Tapicha enough, she'll recognize you.
Tapicha was founded by a Tufts alum, which might also be why I have a bit of a soft spot for this place. If you're not quite sure what you want, the staff is helpful w/recommendations. The strawberry milk tea, taro tea, and mango w/black tea were always favorites. The boba is consistent here in being of a good consistency and properly sweetened. When I had a cold, Vin had recommended a hot ginger boba, which had hit the spot. -
Review from Christine J.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
6/1/2009
Some of my favorite flavors:
chocolate, soursop *no longer available*, thai ice tea, almond, ginger.
I never knew they had hot boba before this place, it's pretty good!
They have funny Tees that say "Got balls?" on the back. -
Review from Arnab M.
New York, NY
5/16/2007
I think this place had one of the best collections of bubble tea flavors and combinations. They are generous with their tapioca bubbles, which I love, so extra points for that. It is not overpriced like Teavana or some other pretentious tea place. The lady who works there is so nice, and never makes the slightest scowl when I ask for extra bubbles in my tea. I recommend ginger-lime with jasmine tea. Any intelligent combination tastes good though, and what I mean by that is mixing something adventurous like avocado with watermelon might not be wise, but two or three fruity flavors would work perfectly well, I'm sure.
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Review from Michael T.
Boston, MA
4/4/2006
Def. deserving of at least 3 stars...yes, there are other options out there, but when you're in need of a thirst quencher in the middle of a hot summer day, while waiting for a seat at Blue Fin or one of the Japanese stalls, Tapicha successfully and dutifully serves that need. Service is above par and the options and combinations of flavors and boba suffice, even for the most picky boba connoisseur. Anyways, compared to Asia, boba drinking was hot like 10 yrs ago, so no complaining...remember, drink carefully and don't choke on any tapioca balls!
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Review from annie k.
Los Angeles, CA
4/4/2006
The boba tea place in the Porter Exchange. I guess some people like tapioca drinks made from powder. I think Kool Aid is better. Please sombody put an end to powdered drink shops.
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Review from M. Deloris D.
Arlington, MA
1/9/2008
I've never had a bad bubble tea at Tapicha. The bubbles are always the right consistency and their coconut jelly is yuh-um-ee. I once bought a drink that was entirely too sweet. I asked the lady to rectify it, she gave me a large that was just right. The customer service for a one woman show Boba Kiosk can't be beat.
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Review from Erica E.
Cambridge, MA
2/16/2009
Yikes, this place is great! The woman who works there is very sweet and friendly, I'm pretty sure she knows what I'm going to order before I even order. The bubbles and tea are great and with a million flavors additions and four or so teas, there is something for everyone!
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Review from Cait S.
11/28/2009
Tapicha makes the best bubble tea I have had. I like the black tea with almond flavor and boba balls. Every time I get bubble tea some where else it never tastes as good the Tapicha bubble tea.
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Review from Susan D.
Burlington, MA
6/25/2007
Not my favorite because the drinks are made with shakened water with an unnatural powdery taste. I wish they would just start using real fruit because that would up the quality by a zillion. Alas, there is no light to this storefront's little tunnel.
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Review from Chlo S.
Washington, DC
2/18/2008
I'm a fan- I always go here when I'm in Porter Square. It's better than most bubble teas I've had, and their flavor selection is quite wide. It's sort of my personal goal to taste it all before I finish school. Some are better than others (Lotus was a bit on the powdery side), but their bubbles are tasty and the woman who works there is pretty cool. I love trying new foods and flavors, though, and this place is just right.
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Review from susan K.
Arlington, MA
5/10/2010
I have been going to this place off and on for several years, located close by, great selection of flavors, reasonable prices, nice people, and I always loved this place, up until this past Sat. After finishing my tea, I opened the lid, to eat the rest of the tapioca balls, and I was shocked to find a hair. I was extremely surprised, so my question to other reviewers is What would you do?
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Review from Heather S.
Boston, MA
10/10/2010 3 Check-ins Here
a huge selection of flavors to pick from, 3 different bases, and service with a smile. the only thing i don't like is that the hours seem a little inconsistent. but damn, it's good.
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Review from Amanda M.
Cambridge, MA
2/23/2010
Awesome bubble tea!
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Review from D H.
MA
9/5/2010
Best bubble tea in Cambridge, without a doubt. And the lady who runs the stand really appreciates her regulars, always friendly and happy to see folks. You can't beat the flavor selection but more importantly, the bubbles themselves are excellent, particularly for the more traditional creamier flavors (taro, almond, sesame). The coconut jelly is also very delicious, and goes well with the fruitier flavors (lychee, mango, green apple, etc). Sure, there's better bubble tea in the world. But so what? This bubble tea stand is great, and a real boon to Porter Square.
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Review from Jagonga M.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
4/28/2009
I expected real milk or cream, real fruit, and flavored syrup in my tea drink, but instead of those, they use non dairy creamer, fruit flavored powder and don't even use a blender to puree the ice. All artificial ingredients. The employee swirls it around in a cup with chopsticks. It was quite disgusting and I will never go back.
