Tpumps is all the rage

Offering hot tea, flavored iced teas, milk teas and smoothies, all using tea brewed from loose-leaf tea leaves, the business has taken a new approach to the popular milk tea franchise by making it an individual, made-to-order experience with quality ingredients.

The business at 106 S. B St. opened in June 2011 and has since garnered the many patrons from all over the Bay Area, from San Francisco to San Jose said manager, Yvonne Liu. The popularity has stemmed from the use of real tea leaves for brewing and freshly cooked boba, small tapioca pearls that are added to many of the drinks.

"Some of my friends told me I had to go,” said Vita Castaneda-Morgan, a Foster City resident who found out about Tpumps after she saw friends tagging themselves at the business on Facebook. Word of mouth has been by far the best promoter of business, said owner Alex Su, thanks to his focus on sharing quality tea.

"I’m happy and grateful that people enjoy the drinks,” Su said.

The tea leaves they use, with many varieties from green and black tea to oolong and tin kwan yin, come from Taiwan and new batches are brewed regularly, along with the tapioca pearls that are cooked by the hour and only used on the day they are made. The tea leaves from Taiwan are higher quality, Su said, and it is important to him that customers drink tea that is smooth and fulfilling.

"The cost is higher, but I want to assure good quality tea,” Su said.

This effort resonates with many of the customers who value the care and detail put into making the tea. It is these touches that separate Tpumps from other businesses and make it unique, said Jonas Fernandez, from San Francisco.

"A lot of boba places use powder. It [Tpumps] is a lot classier. They actually brew their tea,” said Fernandez. "It tastes a lot better.”

Fernandez, 18, who works near the business, said he usually comes twice a week and appreciates not only the teas and flavors, but also the price. A regular 24 ounce drink is $2.50 and their large 32 ounce size, the "pumbo,” is $3.50.

"You get a good portion for your money,” Fernandez said.

Another staple is the customization. One can request a certain tea and mix it with any number of flavors and even adjust the sweetness of the drink. This ordering method is comparable to Starbucks, said Liu, with the order written on the side of the drink.

"I think this is the secret,” said Castaneda-Morgan. "You can customize it so everyone feels special.”

Their popular drinks are regular milk tea and peach milk tea, Su said, and passion green tea and lychee green tea are big hits during the summer, Liu said.

Milk tea drinks originated in Taiwan and have become increasingly popular in the Bay Area. A milk tea usually includes tea, creamer and tapioca pearls. However, it wasn’t Su’s initial plan to start Tpumps as a milk tea venture.

Before opening his first business, Su, 39, worked in the shipping business for 10 years in Burlingame. He was at the time a heavy coffee drinker, but realized that it was too much, and so decided to switch over to tea. He developed an interest in tea and originally had the idea of selling loose tea leaves as his main business. Yet, the hot tea drinks led to trying milk tea drinks and those became popular as well, so he decided to continue on with crafting the many drinks for which Tpumps is known.

Tea, though, is still the focus of all the drinks, Su said. It has become his passion to serve the best quality tea he can find and to brew it just right.

"Tea is like wine. [It takes] the right brewing and timing,” Su said. "It’s something I love to do.”

Those who choose to follow the line into Tpumps will find themselves entering a narrow space with an ornately decorated ceiling reminiscent of an upscale dining room. Fans blow from each corner to cool down eager customers who wait to receive their drink from a busy eight-person staff that prepares drinks a in a tight, 500-square-foot kitchen. Refreshing samples are provided to those in line, especially when it begins to trail out the door. The whole drink-making process is visible for customers to see, a reassurance of the quality that is key for the business.

The staff has grown since it started last year in June when the entire staff consisted of Su and a fellow coworker. Seven to eight employees can be found in the kitchen at one time, including recent Aragon High School graduate Summer Kang. After frequenting Tpumps during her last year of school, she took her first job there and has enjoyed it.

"It’s pretty cool because you’re working with people your age. Everyone is friendly,” Kang said.

Kang is part of the age group that Su said are most of customers he receives, mainly ranging from 15 to 35. To increase awareness, Su has done sponsorships with Bay Area high schools like San Mateo High, Aragon High, Mills High and Crystal Springs Uplands schools by getting students to come try his drinks while giving back a percentage to fundraising or charity.

It is all part of Su’s motivation to not only make tea drinks, but also provide enjoyment for people.

"If I wanted money, I would just do shipping,” Su said. "When I see customers enjoy tea, I feel much happier. I get a good feeling from serving customers who are enjoying the tea.”