Cha Redefine, 400 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
As a regular customer of the original Cha Redefine in Pasadena, it’s nice to see that they’ve expanded to the OC, downtown LA, Rowland Heights, and now the Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia. They’re in the outdoor area, across from Meet Fresh.
Cha Redefine only uses high quality loose leaf teas sourced from Asia (with the exception of their matcha). The drinks include tea with foam, tea, fruit tea, matcha drinks, tea lattes, and tea chappuccinos (milk tea). The teas are brewed with a machine that looks like an espresso machine.
This location also has soft serve ice cream (two flavors: matcha and Sri Lankan milk tea).
You can specify the amount of ice and sweetness level. They don’t have as many toppings/add-ins because they will only serve high quality add-ins. A medium chappuccino is $4.95.
They also have a few pastries (croissants, danishes, cannelles).
Mango mango ($7.50, $6 during the soft opening): Fresh mango, grapefruit, agar boba, coconut milk, jasmine tea, 25% sweetness. Ice is blended with the mango and tea. The jasmine tea and coconut milk dilute the mango flavor, so even though this drink is called Mango Mango, it didn’t have a strong mango flavor. The grapefruit pieces were fresh and slightly sour. The agar boba is more about texture (firm, chewy), than flavor (it has little flavor). The drink was fresh and high quality but not as flavorful as I had hoped. The plastic cup felt thick and higher quality.
Sri Lankan milk tea soft serve: the sample was looser and not as firm as I was expecting but it did have a strong tea flavor.
The space was bright and clean with white walls and a pale wood counter. They sell loose tea, Cha Redefine merchandise, and tea brewing accessories.