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 York tea guide.
New York's boba is strongest in Manhattan's Chinatown, on Main Street in Flushing and in Downtown Brooklyn, where a May 2026 count found nine shops along Court, Smith, Willoughby and Fulton streets. Turnover is fast: both Manhattan Boba Guys stores and Vivi's Union Square shop have closed. Chicha San Chen on Bayard Street is the place to taste one Lishan oolong at five roast levels before you order.
8 New York 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 8 New York bubble-tea and iced-tea shops as open on 2026-10-01: Chicha San Chen (Chinatown, Manhattan), Xing Fu Tang (Flushing) (Flushing, Queens), Debutea (Boerum Hill / Downtown Brooklyn), Yaya Tea Garden (Chinatown / Lower East Side, Manhattan), I'Milky (Midtown) (Midtown / Bryant Park, Manhattan), Tidal Tea (Edgecombe) (Harlem), Surreal Creamery (Greenwich Village) (Greenwich Village, Manhattan) and Vivi Bubble Tea (Court St) (Brooklyn Heights / Downtown Brooklyn).
Xing Fu Tang (Flushing) list brown sugar boba on their own menus or listings.
Debutea, Yaya Tea Garden, I'Milky (Midtown), Tidal Tea (Edgecombe), Vivi Bubble Tea (Court St) 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.