Behind the Bite: He He Cha, Your New Campus Happy Place!

Courtesy of Jia Yi Chen

At He He Cha, bubble tea is more than just a drink, it’s an experience—and a happy one at that. There are a lot of boba and milk tea places around New York City, but none of them are quite like He He Cha. Most importantly, He He Cha is at the heart of NYU’s campus, located at 42 University Place. A 2-minute walk from NYU’s Brittany, Rubin, or Weinstein residential halls, He He Cha is the perfect pit stop on your daily commute.

With a growing bubble tea market that has garnered significant attention, New York City is witnessing the opening of new bubble tea shops across the city, and He He Cha stands out among them. Over the past couple of months, the bubble tea market has taken this city by storm, sparking a lot of attention from whom? Food influencers, students, finance bros, and celebrities alike. With seemingly new storefronts popping up on every corner, what makes He He Cha stand out amongst the rest? Their unwavering dedication to deliver the natural-sourced drinks that can keep up with the aesthetics of the cutthroat NYC boba scene.

Courtesy of Jia Yi Chen

When asked about what inspired the start of He He Cha, the owner, Sky Zhao, says, “We moved here to start our first restaurant. This one is from China.” He He Cha manufactures its ingredients in China and also has a location there. Even though some of their ingredients have to travel the world to be in your boba, He He Cha incorporates high-quality tea leaves and uses real fruit instead of artificial flavors.

Beyond sourcing quality ingredients, He He Cha’s true strength lies in their customization skills, so you can drink something truly tailored to you. He He Cha gets you because their drinks are super customizable and will have you coming back for more. Whatever the customer wants, the customer gets: “Some customers coming in here saying ‘Starbucks and they have lavender with water’ but we can make it for you too,” Zhao tells us. So if you are looking to change it up a bit or want to support a local business, know that He He Cha is ready to make whatever drink will make you the happiest. 

Courtesy of Jia Yi Chen

But unlike other boba shops, their menu is more than tapioca pearls and sweet milk teas; they have ice cream-infused drinks that will blow you away. “We have ice cream. I didn’t see any other shop that have ice cream with their drink,” says Zhao. He He Cha is more than just refreshing; it cools you down in a heat wave and can sweeten your sour mood on a bad day. You don’t just get boba because you’re thirsty; you get it because you want a drink that will make you happy.

This attention to your taste shows up in their most popular drinks, including the mango slush, the passion fruit drink, and the flaming brown sugar milk. On hotter days, you might prefer a refreshing fruit slush, like the strawberry ballet with strawberry ice cream, milk, and, of course, real strawberries. That is why both Bite Club and He He Cha are committed to making sure every student receives a warm welcome back to campus with these two custom NYU drinks. One of these drinks is out of this world, the HEHE galaxy with lychee, lemon juice, and butterfly pea tea. This drink, along with the classic milk tea with boba, are specialty NYU-themed items that can help you celebrate your Violet pride as this semester kicks off! 

For the owner, Sky Zhao, the He He Cha drink that makes him happy is the pineapple lychee ball drink, with ingredients that are not easy to find: sparkling water, crystal boba, tasty lychee ice cream, and the best part, the pineapple. So if you are feeling adventurous and are willing to change up your routine, try Zhao’s favorite drink.

Courtesy of Jia Yi Chen

He He Cha gets a lot of foot traffic on University Pl, since the shop has become a hub for Greenwich Village locals and students alike. From NYU to the New School to even high schoolers, any of these students can get 20% off their order by simply showing their school IDs, which explains why He He Cha consistently has a line out the door with all sorts of students. It is easy to find if you are a new student still finding your way around campus, so be sure to pop in when you can and take advantage of your new ID and the discounts it can get you. For NYU’s Welcome Week, you’ll see He He Cha at some welcome parties, on various club Instagrams, and staff working different events. To show how much they understand their customers, right now He He Cha is offering a free Sonny Angel with a drink purchase, so be sure to get yours before this promotion ends.

In a city packed with bubble tea options, He He Cha’s combination of authentic ingredients, endless customization options, and genuine care for their student community makes them more than just another campus spot. Owner Sky Zhao’s goal is simple: to make you happy with every drink. As he puts it, “If I get this drink, I have a happy mood wherever I am.” Next time you need a study break, skip the usual suspects and see what Zhao and his team are brewing!