My sister and I have been obsessed with boba tea for the past couple of months and we are constantly scouring for new places to visit in South Tampa. There aren’t many places to acquire boba other than Kung Fu Tea and 35 Below, which are both a little bit of a drive.

However, just a week before they opened on April 7, my sister and I passed a tiny little building on the way home that read “Boba and Berry.” Instantly, we were intrigued and we excitedly awaited their opening.

Tucked away on MacDill Avenue lies a quaint, unassuming little shop with minimal parking and a white exterior. Upon entering the store, you are welcomed by the clean smell, cute décor and of course, a bright and genuine smile from behind the counter. The shop sells a variety of milk tea and fruit tea flavors, as well as a selection of acai bowls and two cotton candy flavors.

Though a bit small with only three tables, the interior of the store is beautifully decorated; I saw a few people stop by and take photos of the back wall. The back wall had a clean and aesthetically pleasing feeling to it, covered from head to toe in ivy with a pink neon sign reading “Boba and Berry.” Fun, interactive board games are set on each table for customers at each table, which really was a unique touch.

The customer service was amazing. The owner was so helpful and enthusiastic to take our orders and was very helpful in decision making. She answered questions and informed us that the entire shop only included plant-based products, and that nothing in the store is frozen except for the acai purée, which was pleasant to hear.

I ordered a Taro Slush with tapioca pearls and it was absolutely phenomenal. The purple drink’s texture was perfect, with no grainy or chunky ice, and the flavor was perfect, with nothing too sweet or subtle. My sister bought a Honeydew Milk Tea with coffee jelly, and we brought my brother a Peach Green Tea with strawberry popping boba. They both seemed to truly enjoy their beverages.

I had never had an acai bowl before, but I decided to try one out during my visit. I purchased the Rainbow Bowl, which included fresh banana, strawberry, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries and raspberries. It was so pretty that I almost did not want to eat it, but I’m glad that I did because it was delicious. The granola at the bottom was some of the best that I’ve ever had.

The prices of the boba is in line with other stores in the area, though the quality seemed much better. The acai bowls seem a bit pricey at first glance, but they are well worth your money because the portion size is quite large and all the fruit is served fresh. Overall, I found the experience quite enjoyable and would recommend any of my fellow boba lovers to stop by and try it out.

IF YOU GO:

Address: 5216 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, FL 33611

Hours: Closed Monday

11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday

11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday–Saturday

12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday

Website: https://www.bobaandberry.com