Blooming Flavors: Flower Tea, a newly opened store in Overland Park sells fresh and unique bubble tea

From lemon tea with rainbow jelly boba at Bruú in the Kansas City Plaza to green apple tea in Montreal, Canada’s Chinatown, I’ve had 80 different bubble teas from around the world. 

The next stop was Flower Tea — a new boba shop in Overland Park that opened on Sept. 30.

A striking red “Grand Opening” sign welcomed me into the store. According to an employee, the business, started by a trio of family-friends, avoids processed ingredients by making homemade whipped cream and hand-cutting fresh fruits. The store also brews its tea daily to prevent bitterness and makes their own boba every morning to keep it soft. 

While waiting for my three drinks, I took in the Chinese art and clothing showcased on a rack in the back of the shop and the wooden decor surrounding the booth I was sitting in. 

White Peach Oolong Tea with Fresh Milk Cream: 4.5/5 stars

This pastel pink drink, served in a green and brown bamboo cup, combined peach oolong tea with fresh whipped cream and jelly boba. The fluffy whipped cream and sugary milk contrasted the tea’s plant-like earthy bitterness, while dried peach bits and chilled boba added a nice chewy texture.

Instead of artificial teas that are 75% sugar and taste like straight syrup, this authentic peach tea had a subtle, natural sweetness. I’d be willing to spend $6.95 on this tea again.

Lychee Jasmine Smoothie: 3/5 stars

Fresh lychee and jasmine tea blended with ice to create a yellow-and-white slush filled with crystal balls and jelly boba. The tea was fragrant with floral notes of jasmine flowers, but the lychee and jelly boba weren’t enough to prevent the crunchy ice from overshadowing the citrusy taste of the fruit.

The grainy texture and lack of flowery and fruity flavors didn’t satisfy my craving for the smoothie that was advertised. I was hardly able to taste the boba, considering the drink was 90% ice.

It reminded me of a lychee slushy — perfect for a hot day, but basic and bland for 55 degrees.

Mango Sago Cream White Pomelo: 5/5 stars

Although the sickly yellow colored tea and chunks of slimy translucent boba didn’t draw me in, smelling the sweet, creamy milk and succulent tropical mango through the red plastic lid ultimately made me take a sip. The mix of bitter carpels of grapefruit, tart crystal balls, refreshing jasmine tea jelly, juicy mango and creamy coconut milk created a perfect balance of bitterness, sourness, chewiness and sweetness.

The drink was loaded with different shapes, sizes and textures of fruits and boba. The natural flavor of the slightly buttery, yet sweet coconut made it clear no artificial powders or sweeteners were used.

Despite the sweetened milk, this drink wasn’t too heavy or too rich. The combination of five different ingredients made each sip have a unique blend of the two types of boba and three types of fruits, making it fun to anticipate what each sip would taste like. This drink has taken the top spot on my list as my absolute favorite bubble tea.

Ending:

Out of all the bubble tea stores I’ve tried, Flower Tea stands out for its customer service, freshness, flavors and decor. The staff explained every ingredient and even offered me traditional robes and scarves to try on. 

With Mandopop playing on the speakers, I chugged three cups of boba — and 36 ounces of fruity bubble tea — in 30 minutes. If you’re a bubble tea fanatic like me, Flower Tea’s innovative fruity blends won’t disappoint.