Mario B.
Yelp
It's finally here, one of the most famous tea chains from Asia has arrived in the States with its first flagship location! Started by an orphan in Yunnan China, Chagee has thousands of locations all across the world and if you've had the pleasure of trying it, you'd know you need to run not just walk to get a cup, or two, or five!
The Christian Dior of Teas, Chagee elevates and modernizes the tea experience by using high quality ingredients combined with novel extraction techniques to enhance the natural flavors. You won't get endless options and ton of additives. Their approach is tea forward and simplified in order to let the carefully curated tea ingredients shine!
The flavors are unique and bold. Chagee's signature BOYA tea features a special blend of premium tea leaves extracted to perfection. The flavors are a careful balance of floral and earthy tones while remaining grounded and simple. The texture is smooth and even silky. The aroma is intoxicating and addicting. Combined together, this delivers a cup that is as close to perfection as it can get.
The atmosphere of the "modern tea house" as they like to label it is immaculate. It's modern yet simple and elegant. It exudes fashion and confidence while not foregoing utility for looks alone. While aesthetically pleasing, the seating is actually quite comfortable, the lights are the perfect color temperature and intensity, and the decor is peaceful and soothing with their merchandise on display serving as a splash of color with their recognizable pattern. Examining the walls will also provide you with simple illustration and explanation of the various methods of tea preparation over the decades and how the techniques have evolved.
Chagee has their own signature equipment and methodology to use pressurized water to extract the tea flavors while preserving the tea's natural essence and boldness while insuring consistency and output.
The staff moves in a choreographed manner where every movement is precise and calculated, embodying the art of making tea while insuring consistency and quality in the preparation. They are also just extremely friendly and seem happy to work here, going out of their way to help you make sure you get the right order for you and your personal preferences. There are other Chinese tea chains that have more of the assembly line approach down to a science with an endless army of employees, making them even quicker and more efficient but can't complain too much.
While yes, the lines are still crazy long and depending on when you come you may wait upwards of two hours or not at all, Chagee is a magical experience that is a special treat for everyone. Given the popularity, you may even run into an influencer or two; hi Andy and Michelle! I look forward to the day their stores are everywhere and you don't have to wait for a magic in a cup.
The name in Chinese loosely translates to Tea Empress as the logo implies, but even more so, it's a play on words and references the famous Farewell My Concubine Opera.
Overall, if you love tea forward flavors and appreciate the artistry that goes into modern and high end tea preparation, you'll absolutely love what Chagee has to offer!