Three Tea Bowls - Pop-up Tea Bar

I'm so sad this was just a pop-up and closed back at the end of 2022! Wish I got to try this a couple more times before they closed. It looks like they're reopening in 2025 - fingers crossed that this comes true. I ordered the Taro Matcha Latte since those are my two favorite dessert flavors. Not only was the matcha strong, it was a tad bit bitter, which the sweetness of the taro balanced out. They also used real taro puree as opposed to just chopped taro or food coloring, so the earthiness of both flavors really shines through. Because they were a pop up located in Gadani, there's not much seating and we got it to-go. When they were still located there, the employees prepared our drinks in a way that really reminded me of the traditional Japanese way of serving tea - from the way they gently whisked the matcha, to the unhurried pouring of the whisked matcha over the milk. I hope they reopen soon so we can revisit and try everything on the menu!

Three Tea Bowls has been on my radar for awhile. Recently I was excited to finally have the time to drive across town to sample their tea. I arrived and there was no line. I chose an unsweetened hojicha latte and waited patiently for it to be prepared. (If you're a regular at Philz, the wait is commensurate. If not, it may seem lengthy even if yours is the only tea being made.)I'm an ardent and longtime hojicha fan. I love its nutty, roasty flavor. I regularly brew hojicha at home, and have had many hojicha lattes in Japan. The hojicha latte I had at Three Tea Bowls was fine but truth be told I was hoping for transcendent, particularly given the rave reviews. The flavor was pretty mild and some sips alternated between chalky and gritty. I missed the earthy, robust flavor of hojicha.

After reading reviews from other yelpers, I decided to try Three Tea Bowls' Uji matcha with black sesame. Per their menu, this drink contains: Uji matcha, oat milk, organic black sesame, organic unrefined cane syrup. You can substitute the oat milk with cashew milk, and get the drink hot, iced, or cold without ice. I ordered via their Square site for pickup, and opted to have my drink cold without ice. Sweetness level cannot be adjusted, but (for someone who gets their boba drinks with 0% additional sugar) I found the sweetness level perfectly fine. The black sesame concoction in the drink did have a similar sweetness level to the black sesame filling within Chinese desserts (like the black sesame filled mochi balls) but it was well complemented by the unsweetened matcha. I also felt that the matcha had a nice rich flavor. I definitely enjoyed their matcha much more than at Amausaan (matcha drink & dessert chain) up the street. It could be personal preference, but I find Amausaan items a tad too sweet, plus Amausaan uses a matcha concentrate.Three Tea Bowls are currently a pop-up within Gadani ice cream shop, and only available Fri-Sun. Hope they stick around, or open a more permanent location.

I really appreciate strong, unsweetened, high quality matcha and Three Tea Bowls did not disappoint. Matcha lattes are always so difficult to get right because it requires good quality matcha as well as good technique! There's a lot of variables. However, Three Tea Bowls does a good job. It is a great spot for quality matcha! The standout to me was the Hojicha affogato! The Hojicha had a nice, roasted flavor paired with a scoop of smooth and silky Hojicha ice cream! Absolutely lovely even on a cold and rainy day! There are so many unique matcha drinks that I still want to try! I wish I knew about Three Tea Bowls sooner as they will be leaving this pop up location at the end of the year! Even though parking is challenging in Berkeley, it's definitely worth coming over to try this pop up especially if you're a matcha fan!

Located inside of the egg waffle ice cream shop Gadani. This pop up has limited hours, so be sure to check beforehand.Great place for high quality matcha drinks. Other cafes in the area serve matcha lattes, but they usually use cheap matcha and taste like flavored milk. Three Tea Bowls isn't cheap, but you can clearly see and taste the difference in quality. The drinks come with oat milk rather than regular milk. Also, the cups aren't very tall.The menu is small but has variety. You can order hot drinks, iced drinks, sparkling drinks, matcha, hojicha, and affogatos.Service took a very long time. Estimated wait time was 30-40 min! I will give them a pass since it was the day of the Big Game and they might've been more busy than usual. There are a few seats on the inside, as well as some tables and public benches on the outside, but I wouldn't expect to sit if they are busy.Definitely one of the best matcha lattes I've had in Berkeley. If you're a matcha or hojicha fan, I think it's worth splurging at least once to try.

I was really excited about this place but was sad when the matcha didn't come through in any of the drinks. For a spot that specializes in matcha, it's surprising the other flavors overpowered the matcha. The drinks weren't bad but I expected to taste the matcha especially at this price point.Taro Matcha Latte ($6.75) - only comes iced. It's sweeter than I expected so I would want to try this unsweetened. The taro was definitely overpowering the matcha.Black Sesame Matcha Latte ($6.85) - comes iced or hot but opted for the hot since it was a rainy day. It tasted like the black sesame dessert you get at Cantonese restaurants or at HK dessert cafes. Again, I couldn't taste the matcha since the black sesame was overpowering.

From the interesting twists to their matcha offerings to the simplistic yet aesthetic design, Three Tea Bowls definitely caught my attention the moment I discovered it. DRANKS:* Black sesame matcha latte: a bold combination, and a must for black sesame lovers! My bf really enjoyed this drink, though I thought the black sesame was overpowering the matcha taste.* Rose matcha latte: it's pink but it's not strawberry like a hundred of other boba places? Sold! The rose syrup added a nice floral flavor. However similarly to the black sesame matcha, I did wish the matcha was more prominent in the drink. SERVICE/AMBIANCE* We ordered ourselves using their ordering booth, and the drinks came out relatively quick afterwards.* Owner(?) was super nice and friendly! We asked her about the pretty wooden board displayed on the table and she happily told us where she got it.* Ambiance was chill with IG-worthy decoration. Really small space with limited seating. PARKING/LOCATION * Berkeley street parking, would recommend going now (aka summer time, students on break) for more parking and less crowd.* Look for Gadani since it's a pop-up shop within Gadani. OVERALLI would come back to try their regular matcha latte and affogato. Love that their menu/design are minimalistic, only oat milk available, minimal decision paralysis!

Matcha lovers heaven! And approved my a matcha connoisseur. This pop-up is located inside Giardini. MATCHA: They have a pretty large variety of matcha drinks ranging from lattes, affogatos, sparking drinks, pure matcha & mixed matcha drinks. My BF and I got: - ultra matcha fizz: sparking matcha + scoop of vegan matcha ice cream. I like to eat my sweets AND love sparking drinks & am obsessed with all things matcha, so this was the perfect drink for me! - taro matcha latte: usually w/ these drinks, the taro can overpower the matcha, but not with this drink. The taro is subtle in a good way! VIBES: The shop is very small with limited seating. You order on the screen and wait for your drink to be presented at the very cute mini counter :)

Heard about this place through TikTok and had to give it a try! Items ordered: ~Matcha Latte: opted to get the +$.75 without ice. The matcha was very creamy and rich. I finished the drink in less than 5 minutes. ~Ceremonial Matcha: We drank this sitting inside near the window while watching the pouring rain outside. A vibe

Three Tea Bowls isn't a cafe but rather a religious site, because their matcha made me see God. I'm not kidding. I've been to Third Culture, a plethora of boba cafes, and other places that "specialize" in matcha, but they all pale in comparison to Three Tea Bowls. Three Tea Bowls is a completely woman-owned operation shared by three sisters, and we had the pleasure of one sister prepare our drinks in a manner I could only describe as "lovingly." For real, I could compare her drink preparation to performance art from the way she delicately whisked the matcha with such attention and diligence to the unhurried pouring of the vibrant tea over milk. Her dedication to the matcha craft is evident in the out-of-body experience you get from that first sip. The rose matcha latte is TO DIE FOR. The taste is almost strawberry-esque with its delicately sweet and strong (yet not overwhelming) floral flavor. My friend got the black sesame matcha latte which is perfectly nutty and also so SO delicious. Next time, we'll definitely try their new taro flavor!!This pop-up is a Berkeley gem and a far cry from your typical boba establishment. You'll be remiss if you pass up on this cafe. My only qualm is that they are a pop-up, so they'll only occupy the Gadani space for a limited time. This is a must-visit!! Don't miss them while they're still here!!