Bubble tea shop opens in Crystal Lake

Residents have a new place to buy bubble milk teas, herbal teas, coffees and fruit juices.

Lam Nguyen recently opened Ding Tea at 230 W. Virginia St., Crystal Lake.

“A lot of people love it,” manager William Tran said.

He said bubble tea contains soft tapioca balls or crystals at the bottom of each ice-cold cup. The boba are slurped up through a wide straw and should be chewed, Tran said.

“A lot of people have never tried it before. ... We want people to try something new,” Tran said. “Around here, people [didn’t] have bubble tea.”

Employee Ally Keeler said the most popular item is the bright purple taro milk tea with crystal boba.

“It’s really sweet and simple,” she said. “I like the color.”

Economic development manager Heather Maieritsch said the city’s excited about the establishment.

“It’s a unique offering, and bubble tea has become really popular,” she said. “It’s amazing to see a demand for it in the community.”

Maieritsch said she was present at the soft opening May 16 and said the “place was packed.” The grand opening was June 2. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

Maieritsch said the shop is about 1,500-square-feet and is moving into a portion of the building that formerly housed Hancock Fabrics.

She said Pho Royal eatery and LT Nail Lounge will move into the two other vacant slots of the building in the coming months.

“It’s always amazing to get to the opportunity to fill a former big-box store,” she said.

Maieritsch said her favorite flavor is passion fruit with crystal boba.

“I’m hooked now,” she said.

This is the only Ding Tea in Illinois.

The California-based franchise was founded in 2004 by Xu Wei-xiang, according to the company website.

He hopes “more people will be able to become familiar with Taiwan’s tea beverage culture through the franchise,” according to the website.