You may have heard of The Front Porch Cafe or more likely passed it during a hectic study session at the Anderson Academic Commons. While a staple of dining at DU, it brings something entirely new to the table: bubble tea.

Bubble tea—also known as boba tea—is a Taiwanese-American drink that originated in the 1990s and gained traction in Eastern-Asian youth culture before eventually becoming a hot commodity for young people of many diverse cultures. It is usually a milk tea base with chewy brown sugar tapioca pearls that sink to the bottom, which you drink with a colorful extra-large straw. 

So how does the library’s new boba stop-in stack up against the competition? Any boba connoisseur knows there are three things that define boba shops and their products: the tapioca pearls, the milk tea and the overall environment of the establishment.

Tapioca pearls, for the unfamiliar, are made of a rice-like starch originating in South America which is rolled into a ball and is boiled with brown sugar to create chewy pearls in a sweet syrup. They are typically the best part of the drink—the thing people are really looking for when they seek out some authentic boba tea. The tapioca pearls at the front porch cafe are no exception. When I tried them, my first thought was that they were hands down the best pearls I had ever had in boba. They were sweet, chewy and the perfect size. However, as I continued to sip, I found more and more bubbles to be frozen solid, they broke apart in my mouth the way a stale Gobstopper might. There seemed to be nothing in between perfection and tapioca pearls of the lowest quality, and it changed on a sip-by-sip basis. Despite the occasional disappointing pearl, I still rate the tapioca pearls a 4 out of 5 for their surprisingly delicious start and the yummy brown sugar syrup they rested in.

Unlike the pearls, there was no ambiguity in the quality of the tea. It was just plain bad. The strawberry milk tea lacked any flavor at all and had the consistency of water. I continued to drink purely for the tapioca pearls at the bottom and each sip was a struggle to consume as little of the beverage itself as possible. Having been a frequent tea drinker all my life I can confidently say it was among the worst milk teas I have ever had. 

In addition to the flavorlessness, there was far too much ice in the cup, leaving you with very little liquid on which to pass judgment in the first place. Due to the lack of flavor, the thin milk consistency and the ratio of liquid to ice, the tea receives a 2 out of 5 from me.

Contrary to the tea, the environment at the cafe is very nice. It is a peaceful setting on the main level of the academic commons with plenty of seats and wonderful light. The staff is friendly and they have a wide selection of other food to choose from. While it may be lacking in the creativity other boba shops have with decor, it makes up for it by creating an alternative communal study space to share thoughts and tea with friends. It is also convenient for DU students. 

Unlike other boba restaurants nearby, Front Porch Cafe is right in the middle of campus, within walking distance of most residence halls. Students with meal plan cash are also able to use their student ID cards to pay, making it very easy to stop in for a drink. For environment and location, I think it is a 5 out of 5, and exactly what one looks for in an on-campus tea supplier.

Overall, the boba at the Front Porch Cafe could be better, but it is definitely worth trying for yourself. It is a calming, community atmosphere with at best mediocre milk tea, but the friendly staff and occasionally good  boba pearls will keep me coming back for more. I think their boba drink deserves a 3.5 out of 5—pretty good, with plenty of room for improvement! More flavorful tea and consistent tapioca pearls would go a long way in making the Front Porch Cafe the boba hot-spot it could be.