Arts & Entertainment
 

Tapioca tea cools down Houston

Even in the heat, Teahouse offers something different to quench thirst

Feeding frenzy

Bjorn Gudmundsson

With winter basically behind us and only a long, humid summer to look forward to, we will all soon be searching for a way to beat the heat. One way to cool off is with a drink from Teahouse Tapioca & Tea at Shepherd Drive and Westheimer Road.

This popular spot for tapioca tea and coffee drinks has developed a cult following, partially because it's one of the only places in the area that offers these sweet and refreshing drinks.

Tapioca tea has become something of a cultural phenomenon since its beginning as a trendy drink in Taiwan. Starting with a base of green or black tea and infused with any number of ingredients and flavors, they are made appealing and more fun to drink by the addition of tapioca balls. The black, gumball-sized tapioca nuggets, which settle to the bottom of the glass, have the consistency of gummi bears.

With more than 170 choices, each offered hot or cold, and a variety of add-ons to complicate matters, deciding what to order can be a daunting task. Most people gravitate toward cream tea, which is tea blended with non-dairy creamer and usually served with tapioca. For more seasoned customers, trying new flavors such as strawberry, jasmine, cantaloupe and kumquat is part of the fun of returning on a regular basis.

Caffeine junkies looking to branch out from their Starbucks dependency will find that there is also a selection of coffee-based drinks, including mocha with tapioca and ice-cream coffee. Prices for these customized creations range from $1.75 to $4, with add-ons like mango pudding and coffee gelatin available for an extra 50 cents.

"We have something for everyone," Amber Alaniz, a Teahouse employee, said. "If you don't find what you're looking for, we can make anything you'd like."

The cafe itself is small and homey, with a distinct coffeehouse feel, and everything is geared toward making sure customers feel free to hang around as long as they want. Peppy collegiate rock and pop hits play on the speakers, while a selection of board games and dog-eared issues of Entertainment Weekly guard against boredom. Another distraction for the clients, most of whom are students, is an Internet station. Three computers are provided for customers who want to check their e-mail while gulping down a coconut lychee gelatin slurpee.

Though the popularity of tapioca tea drinks is rising and the market for them is expanding, many still consider them a novelty drink. However, owner Davin Huang said he's sure they are definitely not a passing fad.

"It's not going to be something that people will just stop drinking all of a sudden," he said. "This is something that will be around for a long time."

Teahouse Tapioca & Tea, with its seemingly endless selection of specialty drinks, is a great place to hang out or to pick up a quick order to go. Either way, it's a fun, comfortable place to cool down on a hot day.

Teahouse Tapioca & Tea

Westheimer Road at Shepherd Drive

The verdict: Tapioca treats for everyone.

 Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu