Traveling the World From Home: Boba Tea (Evergreen Coffee and Dessert in Longview, Texas)

 In this week's blog post, I continue with my "Traveling the World From Home" series, where I try new food at locally-owned restaurants and cafés. This series has been an interesting topic to cover because it has not only challenged me to go out of my way to find small businesses to support, but it has also helped me to feel a deeper connection to my community and make me more excited to talk about it with people. Word of mouth is a powerful tool in marketing, so we shouldn't discount the power of simply sharing our experiences with others.

But back to the topic at hand...

This week, I've decided to talk about one of my favorite local cafés, which happens to be one of the only places within a 30-minute drive where I can get boba-tea. Granted, this place does have other drinks and treats, but it's the boba-tea that keeps me coming back for more.

The Place

Evergreen Coffee and Dessert is located in Longview, TX. It is a snug little café with a cute interior that fills you with an wonderful sense of hygge. 

Hygge, noun
hyg·​ge | \ ˈhyü-gə
Definition of hygge
: a cozy quality that makes a person feel content and comfortable

(definition provided by Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

See what I mean?

In short, the place is adorable.

But what about the boba?

Before I break down my love for Evergreen's boba tea, I feel that I should give a brief overview of what "boba-tea" actually is for all of you out there who may not be familiar with it.

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A post shared by Evergreen coffee & dessert (@evergreen.longview)

About the Food

Boba Tea is originally a Taiwanese treat, made up of a milk-tea base and mixed with flavored tapioca pearls. As this drink has grown in popularity across the world, more flavors and variations of the original have been created. Now, in addition to the original, chewy tapioca pearls, there is "popping boba" which essentially is made of little "bubbles" of flavored juice that "pop" as you drink it. Dozens of different tea flavors are also available to mix and match with different boba flavors as well. In fact, there are so many variations of boba-tea, there are entire YouTube channels dedicated to it. 

In the end, boba-tea is brilliant because it mixes texture with your drink. Granted, many people do not like boba due to this unusual texture, but others find it completely addicting because it is such a unique way to enjoy a refreshing drink! (Can you guess which group I fall into?)

While Evergreen Coffee is technically not a traditional Taiwanese Boba place, they have taken this fun Taiwanese treat and made it their own! In fact, they are constantly sharing new flavors and combinations on their Instagram and Facebook pages, helping the excitement for boba tea to always stay fresh.

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A post shared by Evergreen coffee & dessert (@evergreen.longview)

The Experience

I've been to Evergreen so many times in the past month and ordered several different variations of the boba-tea. In fact, I've been so often, they reminded me about their rewards program, and I instantly regretted not signing up sooner because I would've had a free drink already. Oh, well... c'est la vie.

All that aside, as much as I've frequented this place in the past month, I still haven't worked my way through the entire boba menu. But I have faith in myself.

A small boba-tea is $3.50 and a large is $5.50. I personally always end up going for the large size because who has time for a small? Go big or go home, am I right?

At this point in time, I have only tried the traditional milk-tea base with strawberry popping-boba, mango popping-boba, and lychee jelly. Each of these combos provided an entirely different experience, but each one was delicious and unique.

The popping-boba definitely provides my favorite texture. So far, I think the milk-tea + mango is my favorite flavor-combo because it kind of reminds me of a dreamsicle. (You know, the creamy orange-sherbert icecream bars?) But part of what I love about Evergreen is that they are always adding new flavors to try! So there's always something new to explore.

The Takeaway

I could have easily spent close to $7.00 had I gone to Starbucks for a drink of a similar size. However, in choosing to visit a smaller, locally-owned café, I ended up getting to try their take on a Taiwanese drink for a cheaper price and I was helping to support a local business in my community.

As I continue to explore new places in my community, I'm struck with a deep appreciation for how wide an array of cultures are represented in the food community in my area. Whether it is shown in traditional foods cooked in family-owned restaurants or through street-food vendors and unique cafés showing their spin on different cuisines, so many different places and people are represented in different dishes. Even though I have been traveling only a short way, I am already enjoying the journey.

I encourage all of you reading this to explore your own community for unique foods and locations (if you are able). Especially during this pandemic, I think we often get it ingrained in our minds that all of the exciting places are elsewhere and that adventures can only be had after an expensive airplane or train ride. In actuality, we can enjoy the world right where we are! Beauty and excitement can be found in something as simple as a cup of tea, and I hope that this series can help to remind you of that fact.

Until next time, stay safe and eat well!

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