Boba Fête
Sip into bliss: Filipino flavors take center stage at Dreamy Tea.
- Tarin Scarbrough
- Fred Lopez
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” And for twin sisters Andrea Perlas and Cristina Dewrell, that future unfolds in dreamy tea of Filipino-infused delight.
Dreamy Tea, at its core, is a boba shop. If you’re not familiar with the term, boba is a pearl dropped in the bottom of a tea, leaving a chewy surprise to enhance your tea-drinking experience. Boba can be made of tapioca, jelly, or syrups and can pop with flavor. Lucky for us, Andrea and Cristina offer a create-your-own-adventure to customize your creation, tailoring your tea experience.
However, don’t let the “tea” in the name be the focal point. Set in an ethereal environment, “dreamy” is the first word you’ll think of when venturing into the sister’s shop. With pillowy light fixtures, cozy couches, and board games, the ambiance feels like you’re situated in a peaceful cloud. Fully equipped with outlets and a covered patio, you can utilize the space for any mood. Need a quiet space to do a little computer work? They have it. Want to unwind and play a game of chess? Absolutely. Need a spot to host your child’s birthday or need an event catered? They’ll take care of you!
Like most dreams, Dreamy Tea floats from one ethereal concept to another. While they specialize in fruit and milk teas, they also offer smoothies, slushies, coffee, and much more. The menu includes light bites as well, including a delicious delicacy called a “croffle.” This croissant and waffle hybrid comes with a variety of toppings that make it one of the most appealing dessert options in town. Not to mention the waffle dogs and my personal favorite, the elusive Filipino dessert Taho.
Taho is a beloved snack in the Philippines, almost like a drinkable custard made with warm silken tofu, boba pearls, and arnibal, a simple brown sugar syrup. To the indoctrinated, it sounds like a crazy combination of ingredients, but believe me when I tell you, it’s as delicious and as comforting as your grandmother’s homemade pie. Served warm, it’s sweet and soothing, the silken tofu much like a custard, with the satisfying chew from boba. It is a delicacy rarely served in the Orlando area—only served on the weekends, so plan your visit accordingly.
Taho isn’t the only nod to the twins’ Filipino heritage. Purple-hued ube and taro feature prominently on the menu, as does calamansi, a zesty fruit that tastes like a lime and lemon hybrid. No matter what flavor you choose, however, the drinks are designed to look as good as they taste, ideally while clutched in full sunlight by a freshly manicured hand for the ‘Gram. (Guilty, as charged.)
Beyond the colorful menu, Andrea and Cristina have woven their mission into the fabric of their storefront: To make dreams come true. From homemade honey sourced from a close bee-raising friend to pup cups for your (well-behaved) furry companions, the sisters embrace the community. Between hosting local events with entrepreneurs, ranging from craft nights to K-Pop meetups, and showcasing local artists in their eclectic bathroom artwork, Andrea and Cristina foster a unique experience to anyone who walks in the door.
Adorning the wall in the dining room is a framed sign posing a question: “What’s your dream?” It’s surrounded by handwritten hopes and desires written on brightly colored post-its by patrons who venture in. Andrea and Cristina want nothing more than to inspire you to explore your passions and see everyone thrive. Venture in, savor something new, and share your dream within a dream.
Tara's Must Haves
Taho
Purple Velvet (Ube Milk Tea)
Superfruit Medley (Mango, Passionfruit, Calamansi)
Nutella & Banana Croffle
Okay, but what even is it?
The word “boba” can refer to either a broad category of chunky drinks—including everything from iced tea with tapioca pearls to fresh juice loaded with fruity bits—or black tapioca pearls themselves. Boba tea, bubble tea, and pearl milk tea are essentially different names for the same thing; the monikers differ by location, but also personal preference. Whatever you call it, in its most basic form, the drink consists of black tea, milk, ice, and chewy tapioca pearls, all shaken together like a martini and served with that famously fat straw to accommodate the marbles of tapioca that cluster at the bottom of the cup.
The pearls, made from tapioca starch extracted from the cassava plant, undergo a magical transformation. Initially white, hard, and rather tasteless, they’re boiled inside huge, bubbling vats and steeped in sugary caramelized syrup for hours, resulting in the black, springy tapioca pearls we’ve come to know and slurp. So next time you enjoy boba, savor not just the flavor but the alchemy behind those delightful pearls.
