Hyoeun Tan
Google
Let me preface this by saying I've had lots of boba in Taiwan (where boba originated), all over LA, Seattle, and Portland. I drink boba at least 4 times a week and make my own boba at home.
I moved to Corvallis 3 years ago from a big city and was devastated by how horrible the boba scene was. Like an oasis in the desert, Bobahead's opening has been a blessing in Corvallis for me. To be honest, if I were to compare Bobahead to boba places in the cities, it would not be getting 5 stars. However, this is THE BEST place in Corvallis, and I cannot afford to lose it.
Their sugar levels are of course too much for an Asian like me who is used to less sweet versions of desserts, so I usually go for 50% or 25% sweetness.
Their boba though, is definitely not the best I've had. The texture and quality are not always consistent, usually a good chewy and springy, but sometimes leans toward overcooked where the boba falls apart too easily. They do have a sweet taste, which means they probably braise their boba in sweet syrup, as they should.
With all that said, here is a quick rundown of some of my favorites:
- Green tea creama: my go-to. The creama, which is like a fluffy creamy foam on top of the green tea, is different from a milk tea in that it adds a light milky taste to the drink rather than a full milk tea.
- Jasmine milk tea: is a classic.
- Fresh strawberry tea: not all boba places carry this, but it's my favorite in the summer, with real strawberries blended in the tea for a really refreshing drink.
- Wintermelon black/milk tea: wintermelon is a fruit widely used in Asian food. Usually for a wintermelon drink though, it's syrup or a melted block of wintermelon sugar, which could sound gross, but it's amazing, I promise. I hope Bobahead will one day make a non-caffeinated wintermelon drink, because that's a classic go-to when you want boba without caffeine.
Parking is sometimes difficult, as there is limited street parking on Monroe.
I do enjoy sitting here to study/work, especially at the back tables where it's more secluded from the people traffic!