What is life without a SoCal Milk Tea Ranking? Southern California is known for many things, including milk tea. Brew some tea, add milk, sugar, and ice; now you have milk tea. It becomes artisanal when you start getting into specialty tea, adding complexities such as growing conditions and processing techniques. Do all milk teas taste the same? To an extent, it’s still milk tea. Then you run into a situation where you realize, “oh, this milk tea is REALLY good.” Later, you’ll find yourself saying, “I’d rather go HERE.”
Here’s my Southern California Milk Tea Ranking.
Disclaimer: This is solely my opinion based on my own experience, as I have not been paid, sponsored, or compensated for any influence on this ranking. Also, this is really based on my opinion, so you can honestly like whatever you like!
Milk Tea Ranking Winners
The biggest winners for the milk tea ranking would have to be Molly Tea and CHICHA San Chen.
Molly Tea did piss me off in the beginning because parking sucked, and the wait was worse. I’m okay with parking on the streets and walking two blocks, but what do you mean I have to be worried about the parking enforcement giving tickets for not having a front license plate? Aside from that, you’ll need to have the ordering process for Molly Tea down to a T, before you arrive. The Premium Jasmine Milk Tea is my top favorite, with its floral scent and taste, for $7.99.
CHICHA San Chen is goated, although why is the cup so small? Their boba milk tea and bubble volcano are an icon, but if you’d like it without the boba, you can order the Black Tea + Cream, for $7.40. Ordering here also requires a timing process, because don’t forget about the parking situation! You can honestly taste the quality of the milk tea; it doesn’t taste manufactured or mass-produced.
Aside from having to plan around ordering, the milk teas here taste a world of difference from other places. The brew is amazing; the ratio with the milk is perfect, and make sure to balance the sweetness to your liking. It is not always about 100%, but rather, can you still taste the tea?
The A-Tier Milk Tea
When it comes to the A Tier, this practically means, if I see these around, I will order from them. Can we talk about how we are in the era where a cup of good milk tea costs you almost $8? But, I’d rather take an $8 A Tier Milk Tea than… Lollicup, sorry.
I was always wondering who’s Charlie, but apparently Charlie’s Tea is a play on words for Cha Li (Jasmine Tea)… Or Formal tea ceremonies? Anyways, their Green Grape Jasmine Milk Tea, Jasmine Green Milk Tea, Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea, Peach Oolong Milk Tea, and Ceylon Black Milk Tea are their popular hits for $7.99 – I basically described almost all of their milk tea offerings. Its taste profile is very close to Molly Tea. The Jasmine Green Milk Tea might be better for those who want a more subtle scent and taste in the drink.
Chagee is starting to pop up in all of the major malls around LA. I am a huge fan of their BOYA Tea Latte (Jasmin Green Milk Tea). Another drink with a jasmine scent and taste, well balanced with milk, costing $5.95 for regular and $6.45 for large. If you’re not a fan, you can always opt for the Ceylon Black Tea Latte or other roasts.
What is the female version of Unc? Auntea Jenny also has an amazing Premium Jasmine Tea Latte (basically a milk tea) for $6.99. If you’re still not a fan, just order the White Champaca Oolong Tea Latte (another floral milk tea) or the Da Hong Pao Tea Latte.
I really thought UG Tea was a matcha place in the beginning, but they have solid milk tea options. Why did people line up for BLOCKS – I mean BLOCKS when it had some grand reopening? UG Tea stands for Unique Green Tea. I did place UG Green in 2nd place for a matcha latte. They will also get 2nd place (A Tier) for milk tea. Their Jasmine Milk Tea and Camellia Oolong Milk Tea are solid options. People also love the Rice Floral Green Milk Tea. Not a bad choice for $7.80.
Going a bit south brings you Bako Tea House. The Rose Guanyin Tea Latte (Milk Tea) is my favorite, but the Earl Grey Tea Latte is also an absolute banger if you’re looking to avoid a floral scent and taste, for $6.50.
Desouro will always have a line, as they don’t take online orders. For up to $6.50, I would recommend the Desouro Phoenix No. 2 or No. 13 Oolong Milk Tea, as well as the Sesouro Rising Buddha Oolong Milk Tea.
The B-Tier Milk Tea
The consideration for the B-Tier would be that it tastes great, but considering the crowd amongst the A-Tier, I’d still rather go for the A-Tier any day. If any of the A-Tier choices are too inconvenient, I guess the B-Tier would do.
The biggest thing saving heytea right now is their promotions. The World Cup with a free pin when you buy two drinks, or currently the US Open with a tennis ball pin. Also, heytea is more so known for their fruit tea, not milk tea. They have seasonal milk tea flavors, but for $6.49, you can get their Jasmine Milk Tea.
Guiji doesn’t have anything that really make them stick out, per se, like Molly Tea. Their signature drink is the Pu-erh Milk Tea and the Pu-erh Fresh Milk Tea for less than $6.69… Which I don’t know the difference between the two. It is still good nonetheless!
Tiger Sugar was my absolute favorite during the prime-time lockdown era. I feel like the mighty might fall because black sugar boba isn’t as popular as it once was. For $5.75, you can get either the Black Tea Latte with Cream Mousse or the Green Tea Latte with Cream Mousse. Very sweet, but good options.
Etc
I almost feel really bad ranking the rest of the milk tea shops beyond a B rating. If someone else is ordering and going out of their way to pick it up, I might be open to getting a cup, unless it’s something like Tea Brick, because it was their gorgeous cups that were saving their business once upon a time (now I have a HUGE collection with no space to store them for no reason).