Bubble-tea and iced-tea shops we checked, and how to cold-brew loose-leaf tea at home. For hot tea, tea rooms and loose-leaf shops, see the New Orleans tea guide.
Most of the New Orleans area's boba is outside Orleans Parish, on Severn Avenue and Clearview Parkway in Metairie and along Terry Parkway on the West Bank. Inside the city, shops are scattered along Magazine Street, the CBD, Canal Street and Tulane Avenue. That makes this a short list, from Ding Tea's leaf-brewed drinks downtown to a coconut-juice and milk-tea counter inside City Market on Elysian Fields.
5 New Orleans shops, checked as open on 2026-10-01. Listed in no particular order; this is not a ranking.
| Tea | Leaf per Water | Example Batch | Steep and Serve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green or white tea | 8.5–10.6 g per litre | 9 g leaf : 1 L cold water | Fridge 6–8 hours, strain, drink as is (Rishi) |
| Black tea or oolong | 8.5–10.6 g per litre | 9 g leaf : 1 L cold water | Fridge 8–10 hours, strain, drink as is (Rishi) |
| Taiwanese oolong, lighter batch | 7 g per litre | 7 g leaf : 1 L cold water | 2–3 hours at room temperature or overnight in the fridge (Eco-Cha) |
| Herbal blends and rooibos | 8.5–10.6 g per litre | 10 g : 1 L cold water | Fridge 10–12 hours for herbal (Rishi), at least 12 hours for rooibos (Rooibos.Africa) |
| Sencha, quick concentrate | 10 g per 210 ml | 10 g leaf : 210 ml chilled water | 15 minutes undisturbed, small glasses (Ippodo) |
| Where It Steeps | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator, 40 °F (4 °C) or colder | 6–12 hours by tea type | Green and white shortest, herbal and rooibos longest. The FDA puts a safe fridge at 40 °F or below. |
| Room temperature | 2–3 hours (Taiwanese oolong only) | Eco-Cha’s short counter steep; strain and refrigerate the tea once it is done. |
| Chilled water, quick | 15 minutes (sencha) | Ippodo’s method gives a small, concentrated cup rather than a pitcher. |
Sources: Rishi Tea & Botanicals, How to Make Iced Tea; Eco-Cha, How to Brew Oolong Tea; Ippodo Tea, Cold Brew Sencha; Rooibos.Africa, Brewing; FDA, Refrigerator Thermometers: Cold Facts about Food Safety.
Every tea type, with leaf weight and fridge time: Cold-Brew Tea Ratio Chart.
We checked 5 New Orleans bubble-tea and iced-tea shops as open on 2026-10-01: Ding Tea Downtown Nola (CBD), Feng Cha New Orleans (Lower Garden District), Matcha Magic (NOLA) (Mid-City (Tulane Ave)), Mr. Bubbles Cafe (Canal St) (Mid-City / CBD edge) and SUGA @ City Market (Marigny / 7th Ward (Elysian Fields)).
Feng Cha New Orleans, SUGA @ City Market list brown sugar boba on their own menus or listings.
Ding Tea Downtown Nola, Matcha Magic (NOLA), Mr. Bubbles Cafe (Canal St), SUGA @ City Market make fruit teas, according to their menus or listings.
Use about 9 g of leaf per litre of cold water and steep it in the fridge: 6–8 hours for green or white tea, 8–10 hours for black or oolong, 10–12 hours for herbal blends (Rishi’s guidance). Strain, then keep it refrigerated at 40 °F or colder.