RareTea
2670 Fifth St, Alameda, CA
Crema's Take
“This Alameda spot specializes in elevated tea drinks and creative specialty beverages, with matcha and jasmine milk tea as notable offerings alongside light food options like takoyaki. While the drinks can be fantastic on good days, recent visits suggest inconsistency—some customers rave about the quality while others report diluted flavors, oversweetened preparations, and occasional misses with food items that taste overly salty. The shop has a fun, collectible side with Smiski toys at the register, though quality control on merchandise (and drinks) could use some attention to match their 4-star reputation.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
Ordered 3 drinks, staff doesn't bother to ask if I need straws... shouldn't wait for customer to ask unless you assumed they don't need it. The drink, mango with ice cream is terrible.... tastes like water with ice. The other 2 milk tea is just plain simple and nothing special. The price for those drinks are $25.... incredible for outrageous price with nearly par quality. Please don't waste your money at this place for boba itea drinks, other places are much better for starters.
The jasmine milktea contained minimal tea flavor and tasted primarily like diluted creamer with sugar. Unfortunately, the quality has declined compared to what I have experienced before.
The drinks are always great! This recent visit we purchased one of the smiski toys at the register and after opening we discovered it was fake/a knockoff. For $10.99 it was very disappointing! Photo reference: the one in the left is one we already had at home and the right one is the knockoff from Raretea.
i’m sorry but it was so gross and the boba was soggy? i ordered regular sweetness but it legit tasted like milk (yes i did mix/shake cup before drinking) they r usually good when i go so idk what happened
Normally Id rate 4 stars, but for some reason, the chicken was EXTREMELY salty. Dumped 2 boxes of chicken straight down the trash because it was literally inedible. The takoyaki and drinks in general were delicious otherwise.
Crema Reviews
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