Foodish Ways

Have you ever had a place on your list to visit, but it just doesn’t work out for a while? That was me with Cuppa Tea. It’s one of the bubble tea, or boba tea, shops that I’ve had on my list for a while. Cuppa Tea is a Hong Kong-inspired cafe that offers handcrafted bubble tea and pastries. One of the many locations in the world is in College Park, MD. I’m glad I finally got to check it out and add it to the DMV boba tea shops guide.

I put off visiting for so long because the closest parking garage I found has a lot of tiny parking spaces. Spaces so small that I couldn’t safely open my car door without hitting something. I finally got to go while with my mom because I didn’t have to worry about parking. Cuppa Tea is one of many shops on Route 1, but this cafe’s beautiful interior makes it a place where you might want to hang out with your friends. The wall art and decorations, like the phone booth, added beautiful touches to the space.

WHAT I ORDERED

The cafe was busy when I arrived, so I used one of the large screened machines to order my items. The menu features milk tea, lemon tea, fruit tea, milk foam-topped drinks, slushes, Hong Kong-style drinks, Hong Kong-style milk tea, and pastries. The drink sizes may be different for each item type.

Super Fruit Iced Tea

I don’t get fruit tea often, so I was excited to try a flavor I haven’t seen at other shops. I had never heard of Super Fruit tea and hoped it would be as flavorful as it sounded. I ordered mine with less ice, a normal sugar level, and classic boba pearls. Based on my research, super fruit herbal tea varies in flavors. Some have pineapple, passionfruit, apple, and lime. Other versions have berries.

Although I don’t know what fruits are in this Super Fruit Iced Tea, but I tasted some citrus in there. This drink was one of the most refreshing fruit teas I’ve had. I loved that there was fresh fruit in it, which included grapefruit and passionfruit. I think it kicked the flavor up a notch. If you love fruit tea, you’ll enjoy this drink.

Buttered Pineapple Bun

I’ve wanted to try a pineapple bun for years and was so excited to try one. According to Atlas Obscura, it peaked in popularity between the 1940s and 1960s. The pineapple bun (bolo bao), got its name from its appearance–yellow/golden and cracked–like a pineapple. It’s a sweet bun made with lard or butter, sugar, egg yolk, and flour. The creation process is what creates the crust-like exterior. The inside remains soft and airy. Read more about pineapple buns here.

The bun was warm and had a slab of cold butter in the middle, which is a popular way for this pastry to be served. I loved how the sweetness of the bun and the saltiness of the butter came together. I also enjoyed the warm and cold elements of this pastry. I could taste that the bun was freshly made. I wish I ordered another one for later.

CONCLUSION

Cuppa Tea is a pretty space with nods to Hong Kong and Britain’s impact on the city. I think it’s a great space to hang out with friends and family. The fruit tea drink was the best I’ve ever had, and I look forward to visiting again. The next time you’re in College Park, MD, check out Cuppa Tea!

G115b, 8700 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740

Want to stay in the know about what’s happening in the D.C. Metro Area’s food scene? Subscribe to my newsletter to stay in the know here.

Until next time.