insiderseattle
SEATTLE, WA — In honor of National Bubble Tea Day, The U District Partnership is launching the first annual Seattle Boba Fest in the U District. With dozens of shops in the neighborhood dedicated to this special milk tea drink, the U District is fast becoming the heart of Seattle’s bubble tea scene.
Saturday, April 30 marks National Bubble Tea Day, and eighteen U District cafes and restaurants are coming together to feature special and fan-favorite flavors; inviting all who want to learn more about the global phenomenon of bubble tea. Known for its endless flavor combinations and the toppings that make it so unique, bubble tea has propelled its own cultural following.
Boba lovers can expect a handful of featured flavors including:
- White Rabbit Candy Milk Tea from Oh Bear Cafe and Teahouse
- Pink Lychee Smoothie Topped with Cheese Foam from Don’t Yell at Me
- Ube Milk Tea from Sip House
- Honey Green Milk Tea with Pearls from Sharetea
- Assam Black Tea flavored ice cream with Boba topping from Sweet Alchemy Ice Creamery
Jack Hui, the owner of the internationally known cafe Don’t Yell At Me says, “We are excited for Boba Fest and thrilled to share our commitment of fresh and organic ingredients to Boba fans across the U District!”
Boba or tapioca balls, as they are commonly known, are made from tapioca starch, brown sugar, and water. When they were added to a sweetened milk tea around the 1980s in Taiwan, the bubble tea sensation took off. Bubble tea shops have become a mainstay destination for U District-area students and residents alike, with more shops opening across the neighborhood in the last year.
“I first had boba when I came to UW as an undergrad in 2000. It’s one of those sweet, milky delights that has become an institution in the U District,” says Lois Ko, owner of Sweet Alchemy. “We’re so excited to share our limited edition Assam Black Tea Boba Ice Cream for this awesome event!”
Seattle Boba Fest aims to recognize the diversity of bubble tea offerings and the many U District shops that add to the vitality of the neighborhood.
“Boba Up is thrilled to participate in Boba Fest and celebrate this internationally recognized drink,” says Maya Lu, owner of Boba Up, a popular bubble tea destination in the U District and the first self-serve boba shop in Seattle. “As a boba lover myself, celebrating Boba Fest is a dream come true!”
The U District represents the largest concentration of bubble tea cafes and restaurants in the region. Seattle Boba Fest invites Seattleites to celebrate this wonderfully creative drink and explore the U District, where there’s always more to do, see, taste, and experience at every turn.
HOW TO ENJOY BOBA FEST
Visitors are invited to stop into any of the participating boba shops to purchase a featured bubble tea drink (or choose their own flavors). The first 100 visitors to each shop will receive a commemorative button. Avoid the weekend traffic and travel by bus or light rail to the event! The U District Partnership will be hosting a welcome tent and bubble tea photo display near the U District Station on NE 43rd and Brooklyn Ave NE, where visitors can pick up an event menu, ask questions, and take a photo to celebrate National Bubble Tea Day. More details and the event menu can be found at udistrictseattle.com/bobafest
ABOUT THE U DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP
The U District Partnership (UDP) is the lead economic development organization that works to improve and promote Seattle’s U District. In addition to providing cleaning services, the UDP coordinates several of the neighborhood’s major events including the U District Street Fair, the U District Food Walk, the Cherry Blossom Festival, and Boba Fest on April 30, 2022. The UDP also advocates on behalf of its constituents with respect to a host of public policy, planning, and quality-of-life issues. For more information about the U District Partnership, please visit udistrictpartnership.org.