By: Eva Mandelbaum
A new location of the highly regarded bubble tea chain Whale Tea has opened in downtown White Plains. The ribbon for this new location was cut on November 13, 2021, and it has been a buzzing gem of White Plains ever since. Located at 148A Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains, this small yet highly hyped bubble tea place brings a sense of comfort and joy to many members of the White Plains community. Walking into Whale Tea feels like walking into a friend’s home—when going, you can expect to be greeted by the kind family who runs the place, and of course you’re likely to run into familiar White Plains faces. For those not familiar with bubble tea (also known as “boba”), it is a cold drink made with tea and chewy tapioca balls that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s. It’s often sweetened with milk in addition to a plethora of different flavors ranging from matcha to Oreo. Whale Tea offers a wide range of flavors including fresh fruit like mango, classic like thai milk tea, and unique like crème brulee. Bubble tea has practically exploded in the past few years, so it is safe to say that the boba craze is real. This drink has rapidly spread, and people have recently become hooked on the drink more than ever.
After trying Whale Tea for myself, I understand the widespread love for this uniquely satisfying drink. I ordered a brown sugar milk tea, one that I am assuming is one of their more popular drinks. The drink came as a cup filled with cool milk with warm tapioca pearls and a swirl of sweet syrup at the bottom. I was advised to shake the drink to make sure the milk and bottom ingredients are mixed, and I highly advise that you do the same. If you don’t shake your drink, you will not get the full experience, but you will get a mouthful of milk. Although there are slim pickings for good boba in White Plains, compared to the others I have tried, Whale Tea is easily my favorite. Whale Tea’s sweet sentiment (on their website they proclaim the reasoning behind their name is a swoon-worthy love story), paired with its sweet drinks makes for a place you do not want to miss. Although the space is small, the warm atmosphere created by moon and star lights and a sense of community fills the space, making up for lack of physical size. Most drinks cost around $5-$7 depending on size, but the bubble tea is worth every penny.
Don’t believe it? You’ll have to try some for yourself. Rating: 5/5 stars