Sophie Zhang
Xin Wei, chief financial officer, quickly takes orders from customers who are eager to try the new Molly Tea shop that opened in downtown Palo Alto. According to Xin Wei, customers can consistently expect a menu with changing flavors. "Our menu changes seasonally, depending on how [the company] changes the menu back in China," Wei said.
Jasmine aroma and tea leaves that can be smelled from around the block are signs of Palo Alto’s newest boba shop: Molly Tea.
Molly Tea opened its fourth Bay Area location, at 318 University Ave., on Nov. 21, bringing the popular fragrant tea brand to Palo Alto.
According to Molly Tea’s website, the company was founded in Shenzhen, China, with a mission to spread Eastern cultural heritage in a modern, contemporary aesthetic. With over 1,000 stores in China, Molly Tea began expanding to the United States starting in late 2024, debuting internationally in New York.
According to Xin Wei, chief financial officer of the Palo Alto location, University Avenue was chosen because of the street’s popularity.
“It’s the downtown street,” Wei said. “We check around and did surveys to see how many people are going to the stores, how many people are on the streets and that’s how we decided [on this location].”
The shop had a “coming soon” sign for over half a year, leaving many anticipating the official opening, a wait Wei said was due to difficulties getting a permit.
“Palo Alto has very strict rules,” Wei said. “Applying for the permit takes a long time, way more than the other cities [we opened in], so that was the biggest challenge. We’ve been waiting for almost a year to open.”
According to Wei, what makes Molly Tea different from other boba shops is its focus on high-quality and floral-based teas.
“The most special thing is how we make the tea,” Wei said. “All the tea is scented with jasmine flowers naturally and there is no artificial flavor or anything. … We try to do better service, try to maintain better quality.”
Within the first week of opening, lines of thirsty customers wrapped around the corner of University Avenue. Despite the high volume, servers provided fast and efficient service, as well as providing tea samples for those waiting in line.
We tried a few of their most popular drinks and here’s what we thought:
Snowy Jasmine ($7.99) – 8/10
This is the brand’s signature drink: a jasmine green tea and fresh milk, topped with a generous amount of jasmine whipped cream and pecans. Immediately after the first sip, the stand-out flavor was a milky jasmine, prominent with every sip. While the 50% sweetness level kept the flavor light, the whipped topping added a rich and almost buttery flavor. A handful of pecans were sprinkled on top, a peculiar addition that provided a nutty crunch and complemented the airy whipped cream.
White Champaca Matcha ($6.99) – 7/10
This drink consists of a white champaca green tea mixed with whole milk and topped with matcha cheese foam. The 70% sweetness was the perfect level of sugar for this drink. The cheese topping was thick and had a distinctly strong matcha flavor. However, we noticed a subtle aftertaste of the cheese that made each sip hold a subtle hint of saltiness. The foam, once mixed into the rest of the drink, pairs well with the champaca tea that adds a floral aroma.
Premium Jasmine Iced Tea ($4.69) and sago ($0.99) – 4/10
Currently, this is the only tea on the Palo Alto menu without milk. We ordered the recommended 70% sweetness and added sago topping, however the tea still had no hint of sweetness. Despite being an additional cost, the amount of sago was small and was more of a sprinkle than a scoop. The strong, fresh flavor makes it recommendable for those who love the taste of pure tea.
Peach Tieguanyin Oolong Milk Tea ($6.59) – 9/10
The Palo Alto location currently only has fruit flavored drinks in the form of two peach milk teas. The drink has a strong taste of real peach, clearly not from an artificial syrup. The sweet fruitness makes for a tasteful, but not overwhelmingly sugary, combination with the roasted milky flavor from the tea base. The pairing provides a velvety smooth consistency, different from the rest of the menu’s floral options.
Osmanthus Milk Tea ($6.79) – 8/10
As one of the options from the popular Floral Fresh Milk Tea collection, the Osmanthus Milk Tea is a simple, yet classic drink. Unlike a standard milk tea, the osmanthus adds a strong flowery flavor, giving each sip a more aromatic complexity. The combination makes it appealing to anyone who wants an elevated version of the basic milk tea.