There’s an immediate joy to be felt when entering the Palms branch of Ume Tea and therefore, we presume, many if not all of the locations. The anime-themed aesthetic–the pastel walls, neon signs and animal characters–means that there’s a theme park-cafeteria atmosphere before you’ve even looked at the menu. As it happens, they’re quite proud of their drinks too.
“By infusing engineering principles into the art of creating bubble tea, Ume Tea creates a distinct identity that appeals to those who appreciate meticulous craftsmanship and a consistent experience,” they say online. “Being loved by customers for constant innovation is a testament to Ume Tea’s ability to connect with their desires and provide them with unique and fun experiences. By continuously introducing new products, including seasonal drinks, we create a sense of excitement and anticipation among our customers.”
The company was founded in 2019, in Silicon Valley. Since then, they say that they’ve “experienced significant growth and established itself as one of the leading tea shops in America known for its emphasis on quality, craftsmanship, and customer experience.”
It does all feel very Silicon Valley; futuristic, hi-tech and extremely efficient. Customers can order at the counter as normal, or on iPads. That alone isn’t particularly new; McDonalds has been doing it for years. But combined with the fresh feel of the place, the super-sealed cups, the incredibly clean venue, and it all feels very new.
We opted for the passion fruit slushie with lychee jelly. The first thing that we noticed was that we were asked how sweet we wanted it. Honestly, having never visited before, we didn’t know how to answer. What’s the measure of sweetness for a fruity slushie?
We were shown a guide which didn’t really help, so we just said “50 percent sweetness.” That seemed like a safe bet. And the thing is, unless we go again and have the exact same drink numerous times at different levels, we won’t know how we did. We can say that it tasted great, so that will have to suffice.
The drink was sweet and tart, resulting in a refreshing beverage. We went on a warm afternoon, despite the fact that it was in February, so the slushie sensation on the throat was most welcome. It also contrasted beautifully with the lychee jelly, which offered a nice change of texture.
Ume Tea sells a lot of different milk teas, bobas, and slushies, as well as a handful of fried snacks. So if you had a preexisting idea of what it is and never ventured inside, do yourself a favor.
Ume Tea is located at 11138 Palms Blvd., Los Angeles 90034. Call 310-439-1172 or visit umetea.com.