Located at 9717 Fairfax Boulevard, Pekoe Tea Bar opened its doors on January 6th to dozens of thirsty bubble tea lovers. Online, the brand touts that it serves “the best premium organic fusion teas.” The menu includes milk teas, fruit teas, and what they call their “naugh-teas,” boasting creative names like “Yung Mung-y,” a jasmine tea blended with mung bean and topped with green coconut pudding, or “Let that man-go,” a slush of fresh mango puree.
Pekoe is open from 10 AM to 12 AM, 7 days a week. The cozy atmosphere is complemented by modern decor, communal seating, digital screens, and a miniature cherry blossom tree. The staff was extremely friendly, and the wait was surprisingly short. Pekoe Tea Bar is marketed as an elevation of “tea time and nightlife,” pairing a lounge-like atmosphere with bar-esque music. Strategically located near restaurants, Pekoe is the perfect place to hang out with friends after a night out. Overall, Pekoe is a 9/10.
Pekoe Special: 7/10
The Pekoe Special is a black earl gray milk tea infused with lavender and orange bergamot, complemented with silky black grass jelly and black pearls. A bestseller, the Pekoe Special combines the fragrance of the earl gray with the sweetness and milkiness of the tea. The grass jelly and tapioca pearls are a nice textural element, adding a smooth and herbal element to the tea. Unfortunately, this tea lacked the depth of flavor from the lavender and orange bergamot, and the chunks of grass jelly were too big to fit through the straw.
Matcha Man: 9.5/10
Matcha Man is a matcha latte topped with strawberry cream. The matcha has mellow vegetal grassy notes, a natural sweet nuttiness, and a touch of bitterness with a pleasant savory aftertaste. The strawberry cream adds a tart and fruity hint to the matcha. The matcha is distinct but not too overpowering. Unfortunately, we felt that there was too little strawberry cream.
Kawaii: 10/10
Kawaii is a premium jasmine green tea infused with red guava, mango, and passionfruit, complemented with mango stars. Kawaii is the perfect fruity blend of sweet and sour with a pleasant tea aftertaste. It is a super refreshing rendition of the three tropical fruits. The mango stars resemble the taste and texture of fruit and the flavor profile combines beautifully with the drink. This was our favorite drink by far and we highly recommend this to fans of fruit teas.
Thai Me Up: 7/10
Thai Me Up is a cool and refreshing take on the quintessential Thai iced tea, with a distinctive orange color, typically paired with the addition of boba. The bubbles were chewy, but slightly lacked sweetness and flavor. The tea itself fell short when it came to the tang of spice (consisting of anise, cardamom, cinnamon, and turmeric) that Thai tea is known for. Thai Me Up felt more like earl gray milk tea, than Thai tea. Though it was a refreshing beverage, it was moderately underwhelming.
Yellow Mango: 9/10
The Yellow Mango drink is an ice cold mango juice infused with tea, with the addition of aesthetic star-shaped jellies. With a satisfying texture when chewed, the unsugared star-shaped mango jellies paired nicely with the sweeter taste of the fruit tea itself. A perfect drink for mango lovers and those looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, the drink nailed the blend of the tropical flavors from the fruit and the refreshing essence of the tea.
