So You Think You Know Boba? Chaa Has Notes

If your boba knowledge starts and ends with choosing your milk tea, sweetness level and how many pearls you want, Chaa is here to complicate things.

Founded by Chinese-Egyptian local-at-heart Jessie, Chaa is her take on bringing the boba she grew up with to a country she has called home for more than two decades. That means brewed Chinese tea leaves at the centre of the menu, alongside milk teas, fruit teas, matcha and all the chewy additions that have made bubble tea a global fixation.

Then there’s taro, one of the flavours we had to get into. Recognisable by its signature purple shade, taro has a naturally earthy, subtly sweet flavour that gives boba a completely different personality from your usual tea order.

But perhaps the most unexpected part of Chaa is Jessie herself. After more than 20 years in Egypt, she speaks fluent Egyptian Arabic and has become pretty well versed in the local food scene, making her uniquely placed to translate a part of Chinese tea and boba culture for an Egyptian audience without losing what makes it special in the first place.

The result is a place that feels less like a trend stop and more like a little cultural exchange, served one cup at a time.

Chaa is currently pouring at Royal Park Mall in Sheikh Zayed and Lakeyard in Hacienda Bay, so whether you’re staying in the city or heading to Sahel, there’s a cup waiting.