Asha Tea House

Asha has always been and will continue to be my favorite matcha shop in the Bay Area. I’m so glad we have this place and the quality / selection here never disappoints. I first started coming here while a student and now that I’m still in the Bay, make sure to stop by whenever I’m in Berkeley as this is truly the best. The drinks use high quality matcha and taste delicious. They also have a hojicha option which is a bit more hard to find and tastes equally as amazing. The interior of this spot is very cozy with minimalist Japanese vibes and large ceilings. Can’t recommend this place enough!

Always a lot of people here, but never too crowded that I can’t find a seat. The selection of drinks seems very curated and well made. Matcha is always great here! Love stopping by to get a drink before going on with my day. The decor here is very cozy.

I am not here to disgust anyone who have seen this review. But I would have to say if you have seen this review, congrats on not drinking a milk tea with a FLY. YES, THERE IS A FLY INSIDE THE DRINK. And I only found it after I had already drink it. I bought from this store for AT LEAST 30 times, and I CANNOT believe how were all the drinks I ordered from here before. I HAVE DEFINITELY reported this food safety issue to Alameda County Department of Health.

One of my favorite milk tea places in the Bay Area! They serve high-quality teas and accept reusable boba containers! However, their straws and containers can be industrially-composted as well. They have a set menu but also have seasonal flavors. You can order at the counter or at the tablet. It is often filled with college students as the campus is nearby.

My go-to for traditional non-milk teas; I favor hojicha & matcha. The seasonal flavors such as yuzu & asian pear add another level of variety & complexity & you can get it unsweetened as well. There are local baked goods but they disappear quickly, but I was able to snag a black sesame cookie. The matcha sparkler hits the spot on a warm day too.

I love the architecture and atmosphere of this place. Green tea is excellent! We didn't think this is the best place for Boba. (My husband and my daughter are the Boba freak!) I LOVE the menu. Very different and well done. I thought this place could be more cleaner. Flies are just everywhere and floor are very messy. But overall, come and try their many choices of hot tea.

This spot is aesthetically unique with it’s minimalistic modern architecture! The drinks hit the spot just as equally (pictured iced chai latte and matcha latte). While super flavorful and aromatic, the infused spices in the chai latte are quite strong and would suggest getting a hot version of the drink without boba.

It's a small, cute place in Downtown Berkeley. Totally fits in with the area and the people. I had some great tea and was very comfortable. I would go again, even though I don't drink tea.

Asha has always been and will continue to be my favorite matcha shop in the Bay Area. I’m so glad we have this place and the quality / selection here never disappoints. I first started coming here while a student and now that I’m still in the Bay, make sure to stop by whenever I’m in Berkeley as this is truly the best. The drinks use high quality matcha and taste delicious. They also have a hojicha option which is a bit more hard to find and tastes equally as amazing. The interior of this spot is very cozy with minimalist Japanese vibes and large ceilings. Can’t recommend this place enough!

Always a lot of people here, but never too crowded that I can’t find a seat. The selection of drinks seems very curated and well made. Matcha is always great here! Love stopping by to get a drink before going on with my day. The decor here is very cozy.

I am not here to disgust anyone who have seen this review. But I would have to say if you have seen this review, congrats on not drinking a milk tea with a FLY. YES, THERE IS A FLY INSIDE THE DRINK. And I only found it after I had already drink it. I bought from this store for AT LEAST 30 times, and I CANNOT believe how were all the drinks I ordered from here before. I HAVE DEFINITELY reported this food safety issue to Alameda County Department of Health.

One of my favorite milk tea places in the Bay Area! They serve high-quality teas and accept reusable boba containers! However, their straws and containers can be industrially-composted as well. They have a set menu but also have seasonal flavors. You can order at the counter or at the tablet. It is often filled with college students as the campus is nearby.

My go-to for traditional non-milk teas; I favor hojicha & matcha. The seasonal flavors such as yuzu & asian pear add another level of variety & complexity & you can get it unsweetened as well. There are local baked goods but they disappear quickly, but I was able to snag a black sesame cookie. The matcha sparkler hits the spot on a warm day too.

I love the architecture and atmosphere of this place. Green tea is excellent! We didn't think this is the best place for Boba. (My husband and my daughter are the Boba freak!) I LOVE the menu. Very different and well done. I thought this place could be more cleaner. Flies are just everywhere and floor are very messy. But overall, come and try their many choices of hot tea.

This spot is aesthetically unique with it’s minimalistic modern architecture! The drinks hit the spot just as equally (pictured iced chai latte and matcha latte). While super flavorful and aromatic, the infused spices in the chai latte are quite strong and would suggest getting a hot version of the drink without boba.

It's a small, cute place in Downtown Berkeley. Totally fits in with the area and the people. I had some great tea and was very comfortable. I would go again, even though I don't drink tea.

Good quality matcha! I also love that there is the option to make it less sweet and with less ice. Ordering is pretty quick and easy through the ordering screen. To order loose-leaf tea, though, I believe I've had to order at the counter. The space is great -- it fills up, but I personally haven't had trouble finding seating. There are large windows and plenty of natural light if you're reading while sipping on your tea. They do run out of pastries later in the day, so come early not to miss them!

I heard Asha Tea House was quite popular for their matcha, so I had to go and see for myself. In total, I've tried their iced matcha latte as well as their strawberry matcha latte. Both times the service was very fast. At first glance, the color looks great. The texture and matcha itself was very smooth. But the matcha latte itself was quite bland, and the difference in matcha - if any at all - was barely recognizable. The espresso was also very light, to the point I really felt like I was just drinking milk. Maybe it was just me, so I went back on a different day for the iced strawberry matcha latte. This was a far better drink in my opinion - at least there is a second layer of flavor this time. Their strawberry syrup was sweet, and despite the coloring on the photo, there was a generous amount in the drink. The espresso was still undetectable, and there wasn't anything particularly interesting about the matcha either, but I would recommend this over the regular matcha latte.

I tried Asha several years ago before the pandemic but haven't been back since. It was pleasantly surprised with how good it was! ATMOSPHERE - a friendly, inviting atmosphere with lots of people on their laptops and hanging out with friends. I saw many Berkeley students coming in and getting boba as well as other individuals. You can order at the kiosk or at the front. If you bring a reusable/your own cup then you save a little since any compostable cup costs you extra. FOOD - I got the roasted oolong boba and my husband got the hojicha latte. ROASTED OOLONG TEA - It said this was a special so they may not have it all the time. Their default is less sweet so for me, I had to ask them to add more sweetener since it wasn't sweet enough for me. I'm usually a 75-80% sweetness kind of person. The boba was warm at first but firms up once it sits in the ice tea. It had the perfect amount of sweetness and once it firmed up was chewy and tasty. The tea was a good strength level (you can ask them to make it stronger if you want) and I could really taste it. I love roasted oolong and Tie Guan Yin (according to the description this is TGY) and it had a good flavor. I was sad it ended so quickly I think it's only 16 oz. so maybe next time I would get a large but it was already $6+. Overall, good place for quality tea and boba.

3.8 rating Solid place but nothing special to be honest. I would go here if I was in the area but I don't think I would crave for it. Clean place with seating. Great place to study and chill. HK Coffee Milk Tea (3.9/5) smooth slightly floral from the tea. Coffee flavor is pretty light. I wished the drink was strong in terms of tea or coffee flavor or maybe even creamier. Overall, a bit bland.

This place is a bind. Cool little Berkeley teahouse tucked away on university where cruising through get the chai.

Thoroughly impressed with their high-quality teas and cozy atmosphere! The Hong Kong Milk Tea is amazing--it's rich, creamy, and has the perfect balance of sweetness. I also tried their matcha series, which is made with 100% stone-ground green tea and individually hand-whisked to order. The matcha latte was smooth and not overly sweet, allowing the prominent flavor of matcha to shine through. The tea house itself is beautifully designed, creating a relaxing and inviting space to enjoy your drink. If you like tea, check out Asha Tea House!

Yikes... I would not recommend. The Roasted Oolong Milk Tea tasted like milk and ONLY MILK. Completely lacked flavor and I didn't taste any tea at all. It was slightly watered-down too. I was really disappointed. This place was really busy on a Saturday... I don't understand the hype. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing as many people rave about the matcha here (?)

1 self serve kiosk to order. There's also menus by the kiosk in case you're in line and want to see the menu in advance, and there's also a big menu displayed on the wall. Store is very cute, concrete modern vibes with plants, tea books, and other splashes of green among the grey and black structure. Strawberry matcha latte: strawberry was good, but matcha latte tasted like milk. It was weak matcha. Pineapple oolong: good at first but upon further mixing, the pineapple tasted like dirt. Dirt like how kava tastes like dirt, except at least kava numbs your mouth so that the dirt taste only lasts a little. Oolong tasted watered down.

I really liked the interior of this place, especially how they showcase different kinds of teas and sell matcha products. I ordered the Hong Kong milk tea, and I thought it was really good. This spot is great for a coffee chat, and I noticed a few people studying, but there aren't many outlets available. So keep that in mind if you're planning to do work or study here.

the inside of the restaurant is very cute and cozy. the cashier who took our order was really friendly and welcoming. i ordered a roasted oolong milk tea & strawberry matcha latte. both drinks were just okay & i will most likely not being come back.

I love matcha and was excited to try this place. Cool vibes here and ordering at the kiosk was easy. All the possible options and changes were available on the kiosk. I got the strawberry matcha latte. First, beautiful presentation of the drink. The sugar level was spot on, as I got half sweet. The matcha flavor itself was quite faint, though the caffeine rush came through! My friend got the ginger matcha latte. She said it was just a hint of ginger. She wished it was stronger. Great location for university students, tricky for the rest of us who need to look for parking.

Came to pick up some mooncakes and thought to try it. Because why not? Asha is a cute little tea shop that also sells milk tea. I got the jasmine sea salt foam and my husband got the oolong milk tea. Both drinks were really good, but I like my jasmine better. It was light and floral. You can tell that the tea they used is quality tea because it was not watery and the tone and notes just washes you. Tldr; definitely will try it again whenever we are back in Berkeley

I originally ordered a hojicha latte, but it wasn't quite my thing. I asked if I could switch drinks, and the barista was so sweet about it! I ended up with an HK milk tea, and it was absolutely delicious. Big shoutout to Daphne for being so accommodating and kind!

The last time I was here I had a so-so experience but it was almost a decade ago! We were in the area and I wanted to give it another shot today. It was packed inside which is always a great sign. I had every intent on getting the Asian pear tea, only to walk in and find it on the out of season list :( I quickly settled on something to avoid falling behind half a dozen other people, and chose a matcha fresco. You can add on a seasonal puree for 75 cents and the current options are listed at the register so I went with mango. The drink itself without the puree is $5.50 for a regular which is completely reasonable these days! And I knew their matcha must be good quality for being a tea house. Turns out I was right - the color was on point and it was nicely prepared! Not quite as mango as I hoped but it did add a sweetness to balance the earthy matcha. Also the drink wasn't super cold so I didn't enjoy it to the full potential. However I'm still rounding up to 4 stars because of my husband's sea salt crema black tea. Although it's a pretty typical drink, I could tell that it was really good quality tea and not overpoweringly sweet. The crema was light but also not too thick! I'll be back again and someday I'm going to get that Asian pear tea!

I've been visiting the different Asha spots (Oakland now closed :( and SF) for years. I LOVE their drinks!!! Since working in the downtown Berkeley area, I've visited the shop on University Ave a few times. Interestingly, every time I go, it's the same cashier. The last couple times, I thought, oh maybe they're just having a bad day, and just carry on. However, this time, I must make note of the extremely rude interaction. This is not how you treat customers! When I was ordering my drink, I asked a couple questions (about the matcha grade, etc.). Each answer was given with disdain, rudeness, and a condescending attitude. It seemed like they were short-tempered and very annoyed. I thought, come on... it's a couple questions about the tea! If you can't stand a mere simple 2 questions, YOU SHOULD NOT BE WORKING AT A TEA SHOP!!! Furthermore, as someone who has worked in the service industry for 12+ years, and still works with customers every day... YOU CAN NOT have piss poor service, especially when it's simple inquiries, like, "can I do light ice?" I don't consider these questions to be difficult, or needing much more than a couple seconds to answer. I really feel sorry for this person's incapacity to field simple questions that 100% pertain to their role, and the product that I am purchasing and about to ingest! Because of this interaction, I asked, "Can I ask your name?" They seemed appalled and answered. Another barista overheard my asking and they went behind the other side of the counter to talk. This is the area where I would have to go to pick up my drink. I overheard the other barista say, "Oh yea, I just tell them my name is Charlie hahaha." At hearing this I thought, ok, so you're basically making fun of things and telling your coworker to lie whenever people ask. So I asked the other barista, "And your name?" They just said "NO!" And walked away. This was an extremely discourteous and rude experience. I feel sad for these folks who feel that simple questions about the product are way too much to handle. And then feel threatened when I ask for their names. Ariana, I don't know who hurt you, but I hope you can take this as honest feedback about the way you treat people. Working in customer service is not for everyone, and that's ok. But if you do want to pursue anything in life that deals with people, please see this as a kind note to reflect on how you wear your emotions and project onto others. People don't deserve to deal with what you're dealing with. I do wish you well, and hope you can find some peace and happiness. I highly recommend the drinks at Asha, however, I think this location is in dire need of customer service training for ALL staff.

In all honesty, I tried this place a few times throughout the years, but could never understand the hype... I think the tea can end up tasting bland if you get a topping with it, so the best way to describe this place is that their teas are very delicate. Once I started ordering without toppings, the flavor of the tea really started to come through more, and I was pleasantly surprised by their seasonal oolong milk tea. The ambiance of this place is really nice though, and you can tell the owner put a lot of care into creating the aesthetic. This is a cute spot to do some light studying, journaling, or hanging out with a friend. Note that outlets are limited and the amount seating isn't huge, but I've yet to have an issue finding a seat for one person whenever i go.

Can't stop drinking the Asian Pear Oolong. I think I'm addicted. Can't put it down. I get it with no sugar, and it's still sweet and has a refreshingly satisfying pear taste. Maybe this is what drinking happiness tastes like!

We were actually in the area to go to a boba place nearby, but it was closed and seeing that Asha was open for another hour and also within walking distance we rushed over to get some tea. It's definitely a fancier, higher quality place to get tea. As the name states, it's a tea house more than just a standard boba place to get a drink from. The back wall has all of their tea leaves, there's informative decor and signs with information regarding the origins of their teas and just tea facts in general. It can easily be seen that this place is a favorite hang out/catch up/get work done spot by locals as seating was a bit scarce when we got there (factoring in the rain as well). You order from the tablets they have in front and they'll let you know when your drinks are ready. We got the: 1) Asian Pear Matcha Latte: - I got this cold and lightly sweetened. -It's made from Hosui Asian pear puree added to their matcha latte. -The puree adds texture to it, the Asian mushy pear texture, but is slightly crisp as well. -I didn't get this too sweet, knowing that the natural sweetness of the pear would kick in and blend really nicely with the slight bitter and earthy flavor of the matcha. -Super unique drink that I enjoyed very much. I almost inhaled this. 2) Lapsang Souchong (Whole Leaf): -We got this as a hot tea and I recommend anyone that goes here to get their whole leaf teas and ask for the tea leaves to go to re-brew yourself another cup afterwards. -I've never gone to a tea place that has offered this before, so this was super cool! Great way to reduce waste and get the most out of your beverage. -This tea comes from Mt. Wuyi from the Fujian Province in China. -The tea itself has a very smoky flavor to it with a very slight sweetness in the tea leaves themselves even at 0 sugar added to it. Nice and warming on a cold night. Would honestly be cool if they had these in SoCal, but it's definitely worth a stop if you're up north.

One thing I can say about this is the quality is there. I love the Jasmine milk tea and just tried to strawberry matcha latte. Both taste fresh and light, exactly how tea is supposed to, and it's not overly sweet. It has super cute seating, there were a lot of other university students getting some work done. I really believe it's the perfect tea shop to go to by campus, everywhere else is crowded and you feel rushed. Here it feels almost like a coffee shop vibe where you can relax and get what you need done or just pop in and grab a "pick me up".

Phenomenal teas and fruit blends. Wonderful working atmosphere. Great drink customization options, sometimes seasonal varieties sell fast. Pick up and service is fairly efficient and very friendly. Top boba spot in Berkeley for many people I know. Highly recommend: seasonal fruit teas, matcha, matcha + fruit purer options.

A little boujie for me lol. First thing I saw clicking on their website is a $100 bowl which I thought was wild. I had a hojicha with boba 6.5 before tax. I've had richer tasting beverages elsewhere. I'd return if someone else wanted to go here.

The service was great and I really wanted to like this place but I thought it was okay. They didn't have any baked goods (which was what I was most excited for) except for cookies. They had two flavors. I ordered a regular hot masala chai for my bf. He's Indian and wasn't a fan of it. I got the iced Hong Kong milk tea with boba. Wasn't sweet enough for me. Boba is chewy and hard. Paid about $12 for both drinks. Overall, not my cup of tea.

Asha Tea House caught my eye because of how cute it looked on the outside and inside. The menu offered a variety of options between coffees and teas. They have options to order on the iPad or on the counter. I ordered boba with the strawberry and green tea. It tasted good, but I did expect a bit more caffeine from the green tea. I also would have appreciated to have less strawberry seeds at the bottom of the drink.

I still stand by my five star review from 8 years ago. If you want quality matcha, this is the spot. So many different variations of matcha, hot and cold, flavored and natural. You order at a screen upon entry, and they call your name to pick it up from the counter. Inside, the vibe is chill, ceilings tall, and wifi reliable.

Very belated review for catering. EXCELLENT service by David and his crew! My roommate from college was getting married and Asha's has a special place in our hearts. My other then roommate and I decided to cater Asha's at her wedding. Granted it was over email and some delays here and there with communication, they were very accomodating - especially given the location (country club uphill) and timing we wanted them to be delievered (evening since it was an afternoon wedding but we didn't want the drinks to be sitting out for too long). It was on time and perfectly individually packaged and clearly labeled. The payment was available online and it made it easy to do the financial part too. The guests seemed to absolutely adore HK Milk Tea and the seasonal fruit tea - if you are looking to cater Asha's, we highly recommend! Of course, their individual drinks are awesome too - make sure to bring your own cup to save a quarter... in these trying times it seems every save is a win!

I love matcha as much as the next person, which is why I think Asha does a great job with their matcha quality and flavor. It is a bit on the pricier side, but you get what you're paying for with decent service, wide variety of options, and nice cafe environment. My friend treated me to the matcha blood orange latte while they tried the matcha yuzu latte with boba. In hindsight, one of us should have ordered a more basic milk tea to balance things out because the matcha was intense for both (in a good way). The blood orange flavor was very subtle and light which you didn't taste until the end. The yuzu was stronger on the other hand like someone cut the rind of a yuzu lemon and plopped it right in. Not our favorite drinks in terms of taste, but fun to try something new. Might get it a bit sweeter next time as well

Came here in the midst of exploring Berkeley and thought it was very aesthetic. There was a lot more seating than I expected so that was a nice surprise. Not many outlets though so I would recommend if you need to do work on a laptop that needs to be charged. My matcha is was very yummy and one of the best strawberry matchas I've tried so far. Definitely would recommend if you're in the area looking for a mid day pick me up.

Asha's a staple at Berkeley and is a super convenient spot next to 51B and Berkeley Way West to do some work in Berkeley! Strawberry Matcha Latte (4/5): it's pretty good! Hits in the right spots, but not the same as boba guys. Asian Pear Matcha Latte (4/5): less sweet than the strawberry matcha latte and more pear bits! Great for a light matcha drink and really yummy overall. I will say the boba here is always fresh and perfectly squishy too! I live by the matcha lattes here. They usually have a variety of matcha lattes and fruity flavors the change throughout the seasons. I will say, the tea here is the best, but service isn't super personal since you mainly use a self-checkout to order. Great study spot overall with standing tables and regular tables, but it does get quite packed throughout the day. There's also little to no outlets. Vibe is pretty casual and most people are working with their computers.

I've heard a couple of good things about this place so thought to give it a try finally. Firstly, the ambiance is great, nice open space with lots of seating and big windows. The service was very quick as I got my drink like 5 min within ordering. The drink options are so unique and cool I sort of felt overwhelmed with what to pick lol. I got a matcha latte less sweet with boba. The matcha wasn't sickly sweet and had a deep matcha earthy flavor which was nice! The boba was literally perfect chewy and soft texture and had good sweetness. Will def come back next time in Berkeley!

Good food, pretty cafe, nice ambiance Good for a nice stop and re energizing break Everything can find something they like You order from a tablet and everything is pretty self explanatory from there

It always feels a bit crowded, the drinks could have been better. the seating arrangement is very tight. But I went on a weekend so it might have been their rush but the customer service was not nice.

Very disappointed in my experience. The menu has many options which looked good. The wait was what did it for me. There were 2-3 workers in the work area, but it seemed like only one person was making the drinks. One girl was on a laptop the whole time, even though there was a rush of customers. For our drinks, we waited around 20 minutes with only one other person who ordered before us. Stopped by here to grab a quick drink, but probably wouldn't be coming back. Jasmine Green Tea w/ sea salt cream: I was really disappointed in this drink. It tasted like straight milk and there was no tea flavor at all. I could barely taste the sea salt flavor too. Usually sea salt teas are separated to where we have to shake the drink to mix it ourselves but my drink was already mixed. Matcha Latte: Decent matcha latte. The matcha flavor was there and had that bitter kick a matcha drink should have. The drink diluted over time, but this drink was solid and can satisfy any matcha craving someone has. Chai Latte: Flavor was definitely there, but I'm not really a chai person. I would say if anyone likes chai flavored drinks, this drink would be a great option for you since the chai favor is quite strong.

High quality matcha that never disappoints! I've ordered in person and delivered and the consistency remains the same. They have oat milk for vegans and you can adjust the sweetness as desired. My go to is an iced matcha latte with oat milk.

Ah.. this place has been so hyped for me ever since I saw it on the Best Matcha Lattes in the Bay Area list! I'm a huge matcha fan, having had some of the best in Japan, and I've been navigating my way through the Bay Area trying to see who really has "the best." I came here with my friend about 30 minutes before closing on a Friday night (10/13). The place was packed as expected, lots of people our age hanging out with their teas. It was a really nice vibe. Ambiance definitely 10/10! You order at a kiosk so there is no real "customer service." I ordered a matcha latte with regular sweetness and whole milk.. and I can honestly say that the ratio was off. The color AS SOON as I saw the drink.. already threw me off. It was very light green, and I immediately knew that this wouldn't be it.. My friend's strawberry matcha latte was a nice dark green and she said hers was really good. I'm not sure, do they put more matcha in the "specialty" lattes (the ones with mango/strawberry puree)? There was too much milk in mine that I just barely tasted the matcha. I wanted to bring it up to the barista but I just didn't want to be a nuisance especially since they were closing soon. I was expecting more but I'll definitely be back with an updated review to see. Maybe it was just an off night.

Pretty solid spot although a tad inconsistent with their brewing at times. I love how strong the tea flavor is even in the milk tea, and you can definitely tell that they use good quality leaves. But sometimes it comes out a bit diluted and watery, which is of course a disappointment. The boba is also a bit mushy on the outside but has a nice al dente chew in the center. Overall not bad, although I really wish the whole thing was al dente, because I have nothing good to say about that mushy outer layer lol. All in all, one of the better tea shops around. I certainly appreciate how they focus on their tea quality. Hope to try their other menu items in the future (the fruity drinks look really good!)

Cute shop with great decorations but not the best place to get work done, moreso a date or coffee chat place. I got the hojicha latte which was out super quick and in a glass cup which I was very happy with! It was rich and flavorful and it went down FAST! There is ample seating but due to its popularity, it can take some time before a table clears up. Overall, definitely give it a try-- it is pricey but it is high quality.

The hipster interior caught my eye! It looked like an earthy, industrialized tea house. Features: Limited seating. Kiosk available to browse menu and to order. Quick service.  The HK milk tea tasted nutty, light, and sweet. Compared to other HK milk teas I've tried, Asha's version has a completely different flavor profile and isn't as strong.

My go-to for traditional non-milk teas; I favor hojicha & matcha. The seasonal flavors such as yuzu & asian pear add another level of variety & complexity & you can get it unsweetened as well. There are local baked goods but they disappear quickly, but I was able to snag a black sesame cookie. The matcha sparkler hits the spot on a warm day too.

Mediocre tea place and not sure why the reviews are so high. I saw it on yelp while wandering around Berkeley. The drinks have some unique combos so I tried one and even paid extra for stronger tea but it came out tasting like water! I was confused where the tea flavor is. Came here twice thinking maybe I didn't get the right drink but disappointed both times.

Honestly not sure how I haven't reviewed Asha in the 10+ years that I've been around the Berkeley area. Asha is a Berkeley tea / milk tea icon, simple as that. They have a strong focus on good tea and quality ingredients (fresh boba, Strauss milk, fresh fruit purees, etc.) Flavor profile: * Strong tea flavor * Medium-creamy levels of milk. Less than Feng Cha, more than Yifang. * Default is less-sweet. I like the 100% sweetness at Feng Cha and U-Cha, so at Asha I usually do the extra sweet level. Ambience: Honestly, the space is a little small. I usually do grab and go. There are tables that would be good for short hangouts, but this isn't generally the kind of location that you'd want to spend a few hours doing homework at. Service: Fast and friendly!

As a Taiwanese-American who grew up on bubble tea before it became mainstream and globally loved, Asha became one of my haunts during my Cal undergrad days. After all these years, and even through the pandemic, I'm so happy to see still Asha here, and still popular as ever. I'm surprised I didn't write a review til now! There's always long lines and crowds of people sitting at the tables. Definitely recommend the matcha latte or the black strawberry drinks. They also have a great selection of authentic Taiwanese and Chinese teas that are imported and fantastic to taste. Whether you're here to study, work, or just have a pleasurable zen session with your choice of tea, Asha is a staple here in downtown Berkeley. It's been wonderful to see them expand in the Bay Area to San Francisco and Oakland, but Berkeley is always going to be the OG location, and a source of pride for Cal.

delicious matcha!! I got the matcha americano with one shot of matcha and no sweetener. The barista was so kind, and the matcha was so bright and so smooth! I feel so revived and so uplifted :) also a lovely space that manages to have tranquility amidst the chaos of university ave.

I've been going to Asha's for the past decade, and it is easily one of my favorite tea spot in the East Bay. If I could describe Asha's in a few words they would be: modern yet classy, sophisticated yet also comfortable, aesthetic, high quality, and creative . Fruit Teas: Asha's makes the best fruit teas. The blend of quality tea with fresh fruit is perfect. If you're looking for a non-caffeinated alternative, I highly recommend the sparkling fruit drinks which, in my opinion, are underrated. My favorites flavors are grape, Asian pear, and strawberry. Milk Teas: I really like the Jasmine milk tea. It's light and the floral fragrance is beautiful. If you're feeling adventurous, I also recommend the jasmine taro milk tea for more texture and a subtle taro flavor. If you're open to a slightly heavier drink, the Hojicha milk tea is very nice. Always recommend adding in boba and I usually order with whole milk. Everyone raves about Asha's matcha latte, but sadly I'm not a big fan; the matcha latte's milk taste is too strong for my preference and stronger than their other milk teas, so I prefer anything that's not the matcha latte. Space: I love Asha's modern design like the high ceilings and display of their teas. They have a good variety of seating too (e.g. communal table, seats for pairs, and individual high chairs, etc.). You can people watch by the window or hide in the corner. Whenever I work at Asha's, I'm always productive. It's the perfect study / work spot. Service: Teas are made very quickly (within minutes). You can also self order in a kiosk or online. Asha also offers WiFi (it can be spotty when there's too many people), and there are a few outlets for you to charge your devices. One downside is finding parking around downtown Berkeley, which is very challenging. However, if you're planning to spend a few hours at the cafe or plan to do other things around the area, then I think it's worth it to visit Asha's. Price: Asha's drinks are a bit on the pricier side. Not saying they need to bring down the price but one thing I wish Asha would bring back is a loyalty rewards program. I've seen other boba tea shops do something similar and every time I get a discount or a free drink after a certain number of purchase, it makes me feel appreciated as a customer, especially if I'm a regular there. Overall, Asha's is a very unique and a quality tea spot that I highly recommend! (And get the fruit teas!!)

I recently visited Asha Tea House and tried two different drinks. I liked the Asian Pear Matcha Latte ($6.50), which I asked for unsweetened (aside from the Asian pure puree). I really liked the Asian pear, and it went well with the rest of the drink (which had a noticeable but not super strong matcha flavor, and was on the milky side). I didn't like the Grape Oolong ($5.50) as much: it had an oolong aftertaste but I felt that the drink itself didn't have much flavor, and the grape seemed to only contribute to the appearance but not the taste. The house-made fruit purees available are sourced from local farms and change seasonally, so I'd be open to trying a different fruit flavored matcha latte. I really like the aesthetic of the shop. Also, on Fridays and weekends they carry baked goods from Bake Sum, which gives another reason to stop by (I love their black sesame snickerdoodle cookies).

Lovely space, with fantastic tea. The service is good and the workers are helpful if you don't know which item to choose. Ambiance is wonderful, best place to get work done and have some tea or perhaps even a first date. I've come here a few times and recently found out when you purchase 4oz of tea leaves they give you a complimentary tea beverage on the house. The tea is not inexpensive by any means, but the quality is good and will justify you breaking out the finest of tea sets.

Love love love the matcha. There's really nothing like it. The best part, they have seasonal offerings like strawberry puree with the matcha. Little adjustments can be made to the drinks, but the flavors here are already so good that nothing needs to be done. Carefully crafted, each drink it made to perfections. I have had lots of drinks here and they have all been really good, ranging from their fruit teas, milk tea, and of course the matcha latte. Parking can be tricky here, but it is well worth it! Also this place is cashless!

We came here on a Saturday afternoon and the tables were full with students studying, but hopefully you can grab a table. The teas here are clearly made fresh and have a lot of flavor. The only thing is that the boba is a little less than other places. The sugar is also very minimal here so if you order less sweet like I did, you might end up with a drink that does not taste sweet at all. But overall, I appreciate the selection of teas.

After seeing this place online, I really wanted to give it a shot as it seemed to have really high quality teas and drinks. When you walk in, you're greeted with a huge space with high ceilings and a long bar. There were quite a few options-- some were seasonal, so take advantage of those and give them a try! But, I ended up choosing the basic strawberry matcha haha. I brought my laptop here to get some work done, but unfortunately, there was no free wi-fi (I ended up just doing some work offline). The strawberry matcha was really good, but definitely a lot less sweet than if you were to go to other cafes or a big boba/drink chain. However, I did like that change of pace so I would definitely recommend it. Overall, I would love to come back here sometime and try some of their other drinks!

i would rate this matcha 1/5. Me personally I didn't taste any matcha, all i tasted was milk. Everyone was saying how great this place was, so i might try the other drinks. Service was ok - i placed my order from the ipad but never had my name called out. The place was cute and nicely decorated. Great place to study.