Downtown Berkeley Gets Tea Fever

If Berkeley wasn't , it's about to get full fledged fever. 

Tea Fever opened Aug. 1 on Shattuck Avenue in Downtown Berkeley, with a selection of boba milk teas, fresh smoothies and tea "slushies" served with lychee jelly. The bright decor and large windows illuminate a small but comfortable seating and bar area surrounding the open kitchen. The smell of fresh waffles hangs steadily in the air.

The service is as sweet as the tea, with free samples of waffles filled with fruit and Tea Fever's special "egg puffs" — a waffle-like snack popular in Hong Kong. These doughy balls are dense and sweet, and made fresh to order at the egg puff station for $2.95. 

Owner Steven Chan hails from Hong Kong and lives in San Francisco. His sister, Betty, helps run the shop part time, while also studying graphic design at Academy of Art University. Betty recommends the lychee black tea or the lemon green tea, both of which she says are "sour but refreshing."

What makes the perfect bubble tea? Betty says, "you should be able to taste tea" instead of just sweetness. "The tapioca shouldn't be too soft or soggy," she added. Tea Fever boils their tapioca balls fresh each morning and serves them ice cold. The milk tea comes in a range of flavors, including black, green, coconut, mango, honeydew, taro and almond and costs $3.15 for 16 ounces. A kids size is available for $2.65

The "slushies" cost $3.50 and come with lychee jelly, although boba can be substituted upon request. These thick blended drinks come in the following flavors: passionfruit, mango, green tea, taro, coconut, lychee, strawberry, pineapple, honeydew and peach.

Tea Fever also offers smoothies for $3.65, each with a cute name like "Bikini Mango," "Pink Me" and "Blue Me Away." The waffles cost $3.50, and include the classic — with nutella and strawberries, and the combo — with condensed milk and peanut butter. Combo waffles are also available in coffee flavor, for an added kick to the taste buds.

Tea Fever is located at 2202 Shattuck Avenue. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.