Fruit Teas, Brown Sugar, and More – Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea

Yi Fang is yet another big Taiwanese boba chain that has made it’s way over to America and started populating there as well, and I guess Japan, since I’ve been to one there. (My cousin said they went bankrupt in Taiwan, so maybe they’re just trying to recuperate business elsewhere?) I think to make themselves stand out from the “standard” popular milk craze of boba, Yi Fang is trying to specialize in their fruit teas. Personally, I prefer milk teas and just that overall flavor profile more, and they do have a pretty good selection of that as well. They have milk teas, and lattes with fresh milk, as well as straight teas, sugarcane drinks, and other more “traditional” Taiwanese flavors. Definitely on the unique side menu-wise.

Another thing they also are known for is brown sugar boba. Now that’s a boba shop staple, and they do have good brown sugar flavor roasted into their boba.

Oh, one time I was waiting in line at a Yi Fang, and I saw a guy rolling crates of some fruit from the local Chinese grocery store in the same plaza into the Yi Fang, presumably to make some drink. That was pretty wild, but also cool to see as proof they’re using real, and fresh, ingredients.

Chain? Yes. The one I went to in San Diego closed down, but I’ve been to the Irvine location (RIP) and one in Asakusa, Japan.

Drinks Tried: Passion Fruit Green Tea, Black Tea Latte, Traditional Milk Tea (Green), Wintermelon Tea Latte, Jasmine Tea Latte, Oolong Tea Latte,

Boba: Their boba is pretty good, and has a strong brown sugar flavor. I will say that their boba is on the slightly smaller end, not like mini boba, but smaller than the typical boba shop.

Price: I suppose in exchange for more premium drinks and ingredients, Yi Fang thinks it’s appropriate to charge more for their drinks. I’d say they’re a bit on the steeper end of prices, especially given the sizes of the drinks, but you’re supposed to be paying for quality.

Size: Most Yi Fangs sell two sizes: a medium and a large.

Interior: All the stores I’ve been to have been pretty small, with just the aesthetic order booth, enought space to fit a line of ordering customers, and maybe a few people who want to dine in.

Wait: I’ve been quite a few times with long lines, though the one shop in Japan I went to didn’t have one. Though that might be comparing America and Japan on that front though.

Sell Food? Don’t think so.

Reward System? Don’t think so.