Boba is a college staple and many campuses have developed late-night drink run traditions. Although some students can't get past its chewy texture or bitter flavor, others enjoy a good milk tea or slush in lieu of a typical latte. There are at least five different boba shops around my school, Biola University, and I've tried all of them. I also grew up in San Diego County and sampled the variety of shops in Mira Mesa. As a result, I've become very picky about boba and always look for new places to visit.
My friend Aili and I went on another research outing this week for our journalism class to Little Saigon. After seeing glitzy photos throughout my Instagram feed for Zero Degrees in Westminster, I knew we had to check out the trending boba place, located in Little Saigon Village, during our trip.
We started at the menu for a good two minutes, stumped by the array of options on the LCD screens in front of us. Strawberry horchata, or matchata? I couldn't decide for the longest time. The fruity flavor sounded great, but then I decided the sweet horchata would compliment the bittersweet matcha flavor. Aili and I both ordered matchatas. After the baristas called our names, I sipped the drink and tasted the bittersweet flavor I imagined. The horchata half contained just the right amount of cinnamon and the matcha half was smooth and bold. Words could not describe the unique flavor, but Aili claims it tastes like cinnamon toast crunch. I agree with her conclusion.
The boba suited my preference — firm, yet chewy and with mild honey notes. However, some of the pearls were smaller than the rest, making it difficult to grab through the straw and leaving me with leftover pearls in the end. Regardless, our drinks tasted great and I plan to try another creation such as the mangonada, when I visit Zero Degrees again.
Love to customize? Have at it. Zero Degrees lets customers purchase drinks in a mason jar, add a tamarind straw (which gives the chamango drink a spicy kick), grass jelly, sea salt cream, egg pudding, and extra chamoy. Feeling adventurous? Try one of the raindrop cakes ( a dessert made with mineral water and agar served with soybean flour and kiramitsu syrup).
The interior design also pleased my inner artist. I loved the wing graphic on the wall and the typography nestled in between the two sides. Apparently other people love it too because it appears in many Instagram photos. I also appreciated the slate, charcoal, white, and wood color palette consistent throughout the store. 
They also sell signature boba sundaes — soft serve with boba and various toppings or sauces . The flavors include chamango, potted sundaes, smores, milk and cereal, and milk and honey. Scooped ice cream is also available and you can choose from fruity flavors and more exotic options like green tea or taro.
