HiTea

Way much better than bubble island!!!
You guys should try the signature milk tea or taro milk tea are the best!

Cashier loudly had the blender on while taking my order and messed it up. Refused to refund me or change my drink. Please hire someone who knows english to a decent extent or offer better customer service. Will just go to bubble island from now on, not happy at all with this place.

This place has the best smoothies/​milk tea in EL! Not only are the drinks amazing, but the interior is also very cute. They have a wall where you can write on with chalk (if you can find any room: p) and the ambiance is great for studying!
I would recommend getting the passion fruit smoothie with jelly (my fav) or taro milk tea with bubbles!

SO UNDERRATED! Why is this place not taking over Bubble Island. This is the most authentic boba place in the Lansing area — coming from someone who has tried boba in pretty much every place she has every traveled, including china, Los Angeles, Germany, and yes yes, East Lansing! :)
They even have MATCHA TEAS!!! YUUUUUMMMMMM!!! Prices are average for a boba place, but the quality is supreme to all other places I have tried. They also offer small, complimentary candies/​snacks when you order. How nice!
It is attached to the Marriott Hotel in East Lansing, so visit whenever you are in the area.

I’VE BEEN WAITING MY WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS MOMENT!
Okay, maybe not my whole life but I am pleased with this quaint coffee shop :)
The drinks here are pretty typical of asian cafes, which hits me with a lot of nostalgia for Taiwan. I had a winter melon green tea — something which you can only get at the oriental marts here — and it was pretty true to taste. Most of the drinks average around $ 3.50 for the smallest size and add ons like jellies are $ 1.50. HiTea also offers the options of less sugar/​ice which is really nice for sugar-​sensitive people like me!
It looks like they will have some pastries and baked goods for sale… they didn’t have any when I went, though.
I love the atmosphere also! One wall allows patrons to leave notes and write messages, and there are cute simple little artifacts everywhere :) big windows allow people watching (mainly of bdubs across the street but hey) and the free wifi is a huge plus.
The service is a bit cold if you don’t speak Chinese, but you get your drink at a decent time and that’s enough for me.
Oh yeah, CASH ONLY!
Final thoughts — I’ll be coming back for authentic asian drinks in a cute environment. Hope this place does well!