Dreams come true at Victorville's Tea Life boba shop
Sometimes the biggest dreams come together because of many small dreams.
These “seed” dreams often go in many directions, but when everything works well, that is called progress.
Tea Life, the trendy bubble tea shop near Von’s in the Victor Valley Town Center, is a perfect example. Maya and her father Nhan discussed opening a tea shop but knew they should start small.
Thai tea treats
The family was adept at creating various tasty “enhanced teas.”
Also known as Thai or milk tea with or without tapioca boba ─ also called bubbles or pearls ─ the drinks start with black or green teas brewed fresh daily, then handcrafted by baristas to mouthwatering perfection including fruits, herbs, creams and foams.
With a dozen or so recipes declared winners, Maya teamed with her father and mother Muoi to develop a marketing campaign of catchy drink names, social media options, and a wonderful website.
Tea Life was ready to open for business.
With enthusiastic baristas, Tea Life launched as a “pop-up canopy” food vendor at the High Desert Farmers Market.
Education plays its part
Customer service was especially important because newbies to these tea recipes needed to learn about them. Education because the key to building a following for Tea Life’s enhanced tea menu.
Important lessons were learned, notes taken, recipes tweaked and new drinks with catchy names like Game, Set, Matcha and Two to Mango were introduced.
In August 2023, Tea Life moved into a food trailer.
Trailer to tea shop
Refurbished outside and inside with a fancy wrap and functional work area, the trailer offered a larger menu. Tea lovers enjoyed broadening their horizons.
In January 2024, the beautifully designed high-tech tea shop held its grand opening. Two years in transition from empty building to a welcoming desert oasis, Tea Life is open daily and welcomes old friends and new..
Teas with catchy names
Brewed teas are mixed with fresh fruits, milk and other tasty ingredients to become tall bubble-top drinks to be enjoyed all year round.
Tea Life’s recipes ─ from traditional Thai tea to the deliciously “tweaked” varieties ─ are fresh start to finish and have been approved by family and friends before joining the current list of 30 tasty ─ and cleverly named ─ selections to please the palate.
Fresh and diet friendly
The boba (tapioca) pearls are reconstituted in small batches every four hours to assure freshness.
There are many milk options ─ soy, almond, coconut, or oat─ to allow everyone to enjoy the milk tea experience. The drinks offer a flavor-packed energy boost, too..
Popular flavors for all
The best way to decide which Tea Life flavor to try is by visiting the website. The teas are sorted into popular, seasonal, tea, milk, blended or coffee menus with pictures, also available on Instagram.
Every drink is fully described.
Customer favorite Summer Rain, for example, is black tea paired with basil seeds, strawberry heart jelly, diced fresh strawberries and mint. Classic Thai Tea is premium tea topped with organic half-and-half paired with brown sugar boba. Tiger Boba is a caramel-lover’s dream with special brown sugar throughout and caffeine free.
Seasonal drinks include Summer Volcano, loaded with fresh strawberries, ice blended and topped with Tea Life’s signature cream foam. Special drinks for the holidays are available.
Online ordering, on the go or in the shop with the touch screen at the entrance, is easy, too.
Sweet or savory snacks are available at the shop. The menu varies, but Tea Life offers Vietnamese pork buns, egg rolls and other Thai finger foods plus cake pops from Abby’s Cakes and Moore, another HDFM vendor
Catering and more
Tea Life caters, serving up to three flavors of specialty teas and requiring at least two weeks’ notice.
They will be at the Helendale Summer Concert series through September and serve customers at the Hesperia Food Truck event the first and third Sunday of the month.
Tea Life also supports high school fundraisers and holiday celebrations. Contact them for more information.
When you go
What: Tea Life, 17100 Bear Valley Rd, Ste. C, Victorville. 760-888-8TEA (8832).
When: Open Sunday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Information: Dine-in, pick-up. Schedule ASAP orders, ready in six minutes, on the website. Earn points from tea purchases to receive discounted or free drinks, gift cards or a glass tumbler. Visit Drinktealife.com, also drinktealife on Facebook and Instagram.
If you want a restaurant profiled in Dining Around, please text/voicemail 760-953-8682 or email kaynhuey@aol.com.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Dreams come true at Victorville's Tea Life boba shop
