Teapouro Tea and Espresso

I’ve a confession to make: I like bubble tea. A lot. Unfortunately, Teapouro isn’t the place to get it.
I was going to catch up with a friend of mine tonight; unfortunately, she had laryngitis, so alcoholic beverages weren’t a particularly sage idea. I figured tea might be better for her throat. I got done with some business at 8:35, and went over to House of Cha, only to find that they closed at 9. Fine. I then went to Teapouro. The door said they were open until 10 or 11. Fantastic!
I ordered my mango bubble tea. The gentleman barista (teaista?) ran my card. After handing me the receipt to sign, he let me know that the place was closing early – at 9pm. Golly, perhaps that would been a lovely thing to tell me before I paid. But I digress.
I received my bubble tea, and knew something was amiss. Most places offer several types of bubble tea: usually in liquid form or smoothie form. There were no options here. I strongly prefer my bubble tea as a liquid, and so was disappointed when I got a smoothie.
All right, fine. A smoothie bubble tea can still be good. Unfortunately, this one was not. Besides the dairy quality to the tea, it was … well, it was powdery. It almost felt/​tasted like I was consuming a protein shake rather than bubble tea. There was more than a trace of grit on my tongue.
No thanks, Teapouro. If I want bubble tea in Lawrence again, I’ll head to Zen Zero.

After a few visits I’m still making up my mind on Teapouro.
I really like the huge selection of teas and I enjoy the serene quiet of the shop. This is a good place to spend a working afternoon as there are very few distractions, but if you need to read try and score a seat near the windows, it can be a bit dark. At about $ 2.50 for a pot of tea, this place isn’t going to break your bank like a latte might.
On the other hand, I asked one of the employees if they had hojicha (Japanese roasted green tea) and he didn’t know what it was. Hmmmm… I like my coffee and tea folks to know their coffee and tea. Troublesome.
This isn’t a reason to skip Teapouro, but just be aware that if you’re looking for something in particular they may or may not be able to assist you in your search.

Bubble tea, my newest vice. And frankly as vices go, sucking chewy, black balls up a straw through spiced sweet tea with soy milk seems relatively benign. So I accepted my new passion, and chose to indulge myself with yet another trip to Lawrence in search of the best bubble tea. Thanks to Joi for yet another awesome recommendation. This place is sheek and relaxing. Warm wood, black leather, and old brick, give the place a very urban vibe. If, perchance, you should be one of those rare birds that just don’t like tea… eek! They do offer all sorts of fun, fruit-​smoothie flavors for your bubbles. I, however, crave the heady and exotic spices of the orient… anise, cardamom, cinnamon, peppercorns, and vanilla bean. aka, Chai! Served warm or iced, this is a taste sensation for your tongue. And just when you are feeling very sophisticated… you suck up a black tapioca pearl and giggle like a fiend. So much for sophistication. I’ll have to settle for rich, creamy, spicy, and yummy! It’s a long drive to Lawrence for bubble tea, but vices aren’t supposed to be a good thing. If anyone knows of a comparable bubble tea in Kansas City… please, save me from myself. I want to be green, I love my planet… I just have this vice, it’s not my fault, it’s Teapouro’s!

This is a nice, quiet little spot. It’s a peaceful place to grab a beverage on a week night. I like the bubble tea, coffee and chai, though I did find the tangerine bubble tea I had a while back sort of, well, chalky. Not quite sure what was up with that. I, too, appreciate that they offer milk choices. Nice touch.

The very mention of bubble tea seems to provoke violent reactions in people, and this is the very thing that prevented me from trying it since it became a trendy beverage over ten years ago (in NYC at least, which is when I first started hear people rave or rant about it). I finally took the plunge yesterday at Teapouro and boy am I glad I did!
I should have known that I’d like to suck up chewy tiny balls in my beverage! After all, I like chewy and or nutty things in my ice cream AND I have a fondness for pudding skin! OK, so I have a feeling that if you’re with me on this, you’re nodding and smiling. And if you’re not, you’re hating me for even going there («she had me ’til the pudding skin»)
The staff at Teapouro is accommodating and helpful – they point out a tray of teas for you to smell so that you know what you’re getting. They have quite the variety, from traditional spicy chai to coconut to Thai tea. I chose the chai and the server offered to make it without the tapioca balls, sensing my hesitation. «Nah, I’ll go for it!» I said. He then said he wouldn’t overload it in case I didn’t like it. Awesome! They also let you choose what kind of milk you want in it (yay, soy!)
It was the perfect drink and I can’t wait to get another one. It’s like a frozen chai (not too icy) with an extra surprise to suck up at the bottom.
NOTE: I am trying my best to sound less pornorific in this review, but it’s proven to be impossible!
Therefore, I rate this Review X.

I love tea, this place had a nice selection and offered coffee for the significant other. He proclaimed his coffee as uncomfortably hot. I had a jasmine flower tea, loose leaf, which was good. I prefer my jasmine flower tea the have the full bud because it adds a natural sweetness to the tea but this shop did not offer it as an option. But still a might fine cup of loose leaf tea. Although it was a bit hot.
The environment was dark and you were greeted by a ribbiting frog that continued to ribbit as people walked in. The games and free wi-​fi are a perk.