Boba Cucue isn’t exactly like a visit to Japan, but it has a Tokyo vibe.
Thanks to owner Sharon Walker, Boba Cuecu has been open for just over a year, featuring pink walls, neon lights, and oversized decorations.
Its signature drink blends Hong Kong and Taiwan flavors with tapioca pearls (or boba) at the bottom of the cup.
“Taiwan created the boba, which are the little pearls that you see at the bottom of the drink,” Walker said.
“Hong Kong developed the milk tea. Like in England or elsewhere, you add a little cream or milk to your tea. Well, they add a little more than that, so it’s just a nice creamy smooth tea. They blended those and they’re bringing it to the United States.”
Boba Cucue has more than a dozen flavors, including strawberry smash green tea ($5.99), created with a mixture of fresh strawberries, strawberry jam, cold-brewed green tea and a choice of crystal or brown sugar boba. The galaxy rainbow soda ($5.49) features fresh lemon, blueberry soda, butterfly pea flower and crystal boba.
Besides fruit tea mixtures, Boba Cucue offers a brown sugar milk tea ($5.49). The store’s best seller is made with black tea, milk, brown sugar drizzle and boba.
The menu also boasts steamed dumplings in pork, chicken or vegetable ($5.99), bao in sweet and steamed versions ($6.49) and waffle pops ($4.50 for one, $7.95 for two) that resemble doughnuts on a stick.
The coffee-flavored drinks are a favorite of manager Austin Stephens.
“I always go for the brown sugar coffee; I really like the coffee here,” he said.
The Walkers’ son, Stephens is a creative force, having designed several of the tea offerings, including the lychee lemonade and the mango berry fizz.
Boba Cuecu is a Phoenix-based franchise with only a few stores, several in Phoenix and two in Tucson. Walker owns the Tucson stores and hopes to open another. Buying into Boba Cuecu was a natural progression for Walker.
“I was looking online and trying to find boba tea shops,” she said. “I like boba tea. It’s so good. My husband and I would treat ourselves once a week to it. I just started looking to see if there was anything available. We saw this brand-new franchise that was looking for people who were interested.”
To study the company, the Walkers traveled to Phoenix and visited three stores, trying nine drinks.
“When we walked in, it was as pink and pretty as a dream… It’s beautiful,” Walker said. “You feel welcome. The customer service in each of the shops was outstanding … they truly went the extra mile, and that’s the type of person I am. It was so easy to fall in love with the place.”
The store is about more than just boba tea; what customers really get is an experience.
“I don’t want anyone to walk through the store in a bad mood and stay in that mood,” Walker said. “I want them to walk through and say, ‘Oh, my gosh, all my problems have been checked at the door and I’m happy.”
All the ingredients are as fresh as possible. The boba is cooked at least once a day but sometimes more, depending on the day’s demand.
More than anything else, Walker wants Boba Cucue to be everyone’s happy place.
“Everyone’s welcome,” she said. “You can’t walk in here and be unhappy. It’s not possible, so we’re so glad we can bring something like this to our community.”
Boba Cucue
8225 N. Courtney Page Way, Marana
9420 E. Golf Links Road, Tucson
bobacucue.com
