Brûlée Thai Milk Tea – Tan-Cha

Earlier today my friend went out to eat lunch and she brought me back boba, heh! Shoutout to my mom friend <3 I guess she was nearby Tan-Cha or she was stopping by there, because she asked me if I wanted a drink, and I’m really not going to say no…I think this Tan-Cha is new, as there used to be a YiFang in the same plaza but closed (maybe due to the fire or something that happened last year?) I’ve been meaning to go to the Tan-Cha near my home actually, but never actually got the chance to go because it’s a little further out. I’ve heard really good things about it though, and it’s one of those places that specializes in cheese and tiramisu foams (and matcha too I think?). In fact, apparently a different friend tried to get a cup of their tiramisu foam once but got turned down. I actually haven’t yet tried tiramisu foam yet, and that’s been on my list of things to try at Omomo, or just in general. Not today though.

So the menu is kind of weird, and I ended just going for something that appealed to me at the moment. On their website, it’s just pretty generic and not a full menu I think. The digital menu my friend sent me was relatively comprehensive with most of their specialty fancy drinks, but I didn’t see any more “normal” drinks on there that I’m pretty sure they offer, like a regular Thai tea. I think the best workaround is say like a foam drink but request no foam, which I think is a little weird system, but whatever. Yelp was the best option, but didn’t even have a menu pictures tab. It was mostly looking at past customers’ photos and some pictures of the monitors above the registers showcasing popular drinks. Apparently, the picture my friend sent me was the “inside” of their menu, but I couldn’t find pictures of the “outside”?

Anyway, I’ve been craving a Thai tea recently, and the pictures I saw looked so good and appealing. Plus, it reminded me of Omomo’s Camo Thai that’s really good (and my mom’s favorite!) and the fact I haven’t had it in a while. It was also one of the recommended drinks too so I felt like I didn’t have to think so hard about my drink choice, ha! Someday I will try out more of their drinks for sure. I knew that once my friend drove it home it wouldn’t look as aesthetic, but ultimately it’s the taste that matters right?

My first sip of the drink was of the Thai tea mostly by itself, and it’s a pretty classic Thai tea. The main flavor is there, and I’m not complaining about it. I do find that the drink itself is more liquid-y than most Thai teas I’ve had, which tend to be on the creamier side. I like a good balance between liquid-y and creamy, and though I feel like this drink could be a bit creamier, maybe the creme brûlée on the side is trying to make up for that. I’ve been trying to get a sup with the creme on its own, but maybe it’s already mixed in, or just not thick enough, but I don’t think I can get it by itself to taste it on its own. Every sip and then I do get a more caramel-y or sweeter flavor with the tea, so I feel like that’s probably the creme brûlée in the flavor background?

Boba itself is fine. I’m not sure how long it’s been since my friend ordered, and I’m super grateful just for her thinking of me and getting me a drink. That said, the boba isn’t hard, but it’s on the tougher side. There’s also not much flavor. They do give quite a bit compared to the cup, so that’s nice?

Anyway, it’s a good pick me up drink, since I just had work, will probably do some work later, and I didn’t get as much sleep last night 🙂

Details: Brûlée Thai Milk Tea w/ Boba; half sugar; No ice; from Tan-Cha (Kearney Mesa)