Tea Lyfe Drinks is tucked away inside Grand Century’s shopping plaza in East San Jose. With a forest-themed décor and an Instagram-friendly aesthetic—it’s hard to beat the cute bear logos and tree stump seats—the drinks are made with natural and organic ingredients, such as Strauss Milk and Taza Chocolate. Along with classic tea flavors, there are fruit fusions (Tropical Sangria) and House Specialties (Horchata 101). Toppings include honey boba, organic chia seeds, grass jelly and aloe.

Pekoe, pronounced pee-koh, is named after a tea grading system, and it puts an emphasis on high-quality tea. The atmosphere is jazzy with cool lighting, white plush seating and there is a big screen TV for gaming tournaments. The drink names keep it fun with names like "Foxy Brown," "Just Dew It" and "Manly Melons." Some unique flavors include, "Baked Apple Pie" and the "Angela," a jasmine tea infused with winter melon and aloe vera.

An established chain with multiple locations throughout the South Bay, Bambu is a veritable champion of the ché Vietnamese sweet desserts (traditional beverages). Bambu also sells a wide range of milk teas and desserts with boba, but it is the ché that draws in the crowds. With flavorful combinations that include ingredients such as lychee, pandan jelly, basil seed, taro, read bean, longan and red tapioca, the resulting snow topped ché drinks are jewel-like, if not beautiful. Added bonus: ice cream macaroon desserts. Cash only.

• ChaTime San Jose

• 311 N Capitol Ave, Suite C

Get ready for purple everything—including fuzzy seats, pillows, booth walls, lights and straws—at this boba-friendly establishment. At ChaTime there is no such thing as having too many options. A large menu selection of boba drinks offers different flavors of milk teas (banana, jasmine, thai, oolong, etc.) and a variety of customization, including ice and sweetness. Snacks are also listed on the menu, including popcorn chicken, sweet potato fries and calamari.

Newly opened this year, Vanitea stands out with a tea retail store that sells tea blends and an in-house art gallery that hosts creative workshops and events. Their house-brewed teas (brown rice milk tea, chrysanthemum, Earl grey and matcha, to name a few) can be paired with fresh local milk, a house made crema and syrup, or an almond milk option. Mix and match with a variety of flavors and additions. Bonus: Vanitea also sells pandan waffles, better known as green waffles, for $1.50.

Winner of the Best Milk Tea category at the first annual Boba Festival in San Jose, this dessert venue is known for creamy milk teas and specializes in adding Hong Kong style milk foam, sweet Japanese pudding and soft tofu into their drinks. Soyful also sells a range of flavored soymilk (taro, honey dew, banana and original flavors). Outdoor seating provides a great opportunity linger outside. Note: There is a $10 minimum for credit or debit cards.