With its large Asian community, Silicon Valley is truly a battlefield for bubble tea lovers — new shops keep popping up, each competing to win over loyal fans.
In this post, I’m sharing my top 3 bubble tea recommendations in San Jose for 2025 — the ones that stand out for their flavor, quality, and vibe.
Table of Contents
1. TP Tea
For Bubble Tea Lovers — TP Tea is a Must-Try! As a true bubble-tea lover, I have to recommend TP Tea.
Even in the U.S., you can still enjoy the authentic flavor that traces back to Chun Shui Tang, the birthplace of bubble tea — it’s pure happiness in a cup.
TP Tea’s milk tea is rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced.
It’s so addictive that once you start, you’ll find yourself wanting one every single day.
TOP 1：TGY Family Milk Tea
▲ TGY Family Milk Tea
TGY Family Milk Tea is my top pick from TP Tea, and I think it best represents the brand’s signature flavor.
It features Tie Guan Yin Oolong Milk Tea topped with pudding, boba, and coffee jelly — a combination that perfectly satisfies anyone with a sweet tooth.
The pudding and boba add a delightful, dessert-like sweetness, while the coffee jelly introduces a slightly bitter note.
If you’re not a fan of coffee or prefer milder flavors, this drink might not be for you — try their Taiwan Classic Milk Tea instead for a softer, nostalgic taste.
TOP 2：Taiwan Classic Milk Tea
▲ Taiwan Classic Milk Tea
The Taiwan Classic Milk Tea is the most easy-to-drink and well-balanced flavor on the menu.
It comes with Classic Black Milk Tea with Boba, QQ Noodles, and Grass Jelly — the refreshing taste of the grass jelly blends beautifully with the milk tea’s sweetness, creating a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
The QQ Noodles add texture without overpowering the drink, making them a nice supporting touch.
Price-wise, this cup costs about the same as adding one extra topping to a regular milk tea, but it’s far more satisfying and filling.
It’s a great-value, delicious, and comforting choice that I highly recommend.
TOP 3：3Q TP Milk Tea
▲ 3Q TP Milk Tea
The 3Q TP Milk Tea is another great-value option on the menu.
It’s made with Tie Guan Yin Milk Tea as the base, and packed with Boba, QQ Noodles, and Coffee Jelly — a generous mix that’s both chewy and filling.
However, since it includes coffee jelly, the flavor carries a slight bitterness.
If you’re not a fan of coffee or prefer sweeter drinks, this might not be your best pick — try something lighter instead.
2. HEYTEA
HEYTEA — The Trendy Tea Everyone’s Talking About. The globally popular HEYTEA has finally made its way to San Jose — a perfect fit for the vibrant Bay Area!
On weekends, the shop is always buzzing with people, and whenever there’s a fridge magnet giveaway or a discount event, you can expect a long line of fans waiting to get their drinks.
If you haven’t tried HEYTEA yet, I highly recommend giving it a go.
Their fruit teas are definitely the stars of the menu — refreshing, flavorful, and beautifully layered in color.
The milk teas are decent but not particularly special, while the matcha series is also worth a try.
What makes HEYTEA stand out most is how aesthetically pleasing their drinks look — those gradient hues are just perfect for photos and guaranteed to brighten your day.
TOP 1：Cloud Crisp Grape
▲ Cloud Crisp Grape
HEYTEA’s Must-Try: Cloud Crisp Grape. The Cloud Crisp Grape is my top recommendation at HEYTEA — a refreshing blend of Selected Grapes + Green Tea + Cheese Cloud.
The acidity is mild, making it perfect even for those (like me!) who usually shy away from sour drinks.
The salty-sweet cheese foam adds a wonderful layer of flavor to the fruity green tea base, creating a perfectly balanced taste.
☕ How to drink it:
Enjoy it directly from the lid, without stirring.
Once you mix the cheese foam into the tea, the flavor becomes less distinct — and the pretty gradient color also disappears.
Sipping it straight from the cup lets you experience the best part — the gentle texture of real grape pulp topped with a smooth, creamy layer of cheese foam.
TOP 2：Mango Grapefruit Boom
▲ Mango Grapefruit Boom
Mango Grapefruit Boom – A Tropical Delight. The Mango Grapefruit Boom is another delicious choice.
It’s made with fresh mango chunks, grapefruit pulp, sago pearls, and jasmine green tea.
The overall flavor is on the sweeter side, but the combination of tangy mango, a hint of grapefruit bitterness, and the gentle aroma of jasmine tea creates a refreshing and well-rounded drink.
TOP 3：Triple Supreme Matcha Latte
▲ Triple Supreme Matcha Latte
Triple Supreme Matcha Latte – A Must for Matcha Lovers. If you’re a matcha lover, the Triple Supreme Matcha Latte from HEYTEA is definitely worth a try.
It’s made with layers of Matcha Cloud + Matcha + Matcha Mochi + Matcha Jelly + Real Milk — a true matcha overload in the best way possible.
Their matcha has a slight bitterness, giving it a more authentic taste instead of the overly sweet, artificial flavor that some other shops have.
I especially love the chewy matcha mochi, which adds a fun and satisfying texture to each sip.
3. Chi Cha San Chen
Chi Cha San Chen is a premium tea brand under the well-known Taiwanese chain 喫茶小舖 (Tea Shop).
The Cupertino location is spacious and beautifully decorated with a touch of artistic charm — it’s a great spot to sit down and enjoy your drink if you have time.
Their teas are freshly brewed using professional tea extraction machines, allowing customers to watch the entire brewing process in-store.
It’s a treat for both the taste buds and the eyes — a perfect example of how modern technology and traditional tea culture can blend together.
Since I’ve only tried one flavor from Chi Cha San Chen, I won’t be ranking their drinks this time.
But I do recommend their signature drink — the Bubble Milk Tea, which truly represents the brand’s classic taste.
Bubble Milk Tea
▲ Bubble Milk Tea
The Bubble Milk Tea is Chi Cha San Chen’s signature drink, made with Black Tea + Cream + Bubble.
The tea itself has a very unique flavor — slightly acidic and bitter, almost reminiscent of coffee.
As a milk tea, it might taste a little unusual at first, but if you think of it as a coffee latte made with tea, it’s actually quite enjoyable.
Their cups are smaller than most bubble tea shops, following a “small but exquisite” concept — some even call Chi Cha San Chen the Blue Bottle of bubble tea.
I especially love their handcrafted jute-string cup holder — stylish, practical, and beautifully designed.