Ever hear of boba, or bubble tea? Owners Keoni Evans, Matthew Phu and Minh Vu are on a mission to introduce Asian tea culture to Huntsvillians and make tea-drinking a part of everyday routines.
Boba, also known as bubble tea, is a Taiwanese drink that has gained widespread popularity around the world in recent years. This refreshing and sweet beverage is made by combining tea, milk, fruit, or syrup with chewy tapioca balls (also known as boba or bubbles) that are usually served with a wide straw. Bubble tea comes in a variety of flavors and can be customized to individual preferences, making it a versatile drink that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Whether you’re looking for a fun and delicious drink to enjoy with friends or a quick pick-me-up on a hot day, boba is a great choice that has become a staple of many people’s diets.
bubble tea in huntsville, al
Huntsville recently welcomed it’s newest boba speciality shop, Leafly Boba Bar, which offers a fresh take on the classic boba experience by serving high-quality bubble tea with real handcrafted ingredients.
Located at 6275 University Drive NW, Leafly Boba Bar’s menu features both traditional bubble tea options and unique flavors. Leafly’s teas are made with premium loose-leaf teas, flavored with all-natural fruit purees, and sweetened with house-made simple syrups made from all-natural cane sugar.
One of the unique features of Leafly’s menu is the salted crema series, which features a decadent and creamy cold foam with a light, cheesecake-like taste, topped over fresh tea and milk tea options. Guests can also customize their drinks by adding toppings such as honey boba, lychee jelly, aloe, and salted cheese crema.
Minh Vu, one of the owners of Leafly, fell in love with boba during regular family visits to California. Inspired to bring this experience to his hometown, Vu and his partners decided to open Leafly Boba Bar, offering an inviting and youthful atmosphere designed by Katerina Kohlwes of Mindful Design Consulting.
The 1,200-square-foot space is bright, airy, and features three different seating areas with industrial chairs and stools, wood-finished tables, and exposed shelves. Large wall graphics and contrasting tones of black and bright yellow against a neutral background add character to the fresh space.
With its cleaner approach and high-quality ingredients, Leafly Boba Bar is a welcome addition to Huntsville’s growing bubble tea scene. As Vu says, “Boba isn’t exclusive, it’s for everyone.”
this article first appeared in the print issue of huntsville magazine spring ’23
