Inside YOTEA: New fruit tea shop in Richmond

Shenzhen-founded fruit tea brand YOTEA has opened their first Canadian location in Richmond at Continental Shopping Centre.

YOTEA is known for their fruit tea drinks made with real fruit that you can see and chew and tea bases, served in their signature square cups. The brand mascot is RUARUA, a small hedgehog mascot that appears across their packaging and bottles.

The menu includes Square Cup Fruit Tea Series, which highlights whole fruit with tea bases; the Cold-Pressed Fruit Tea Series featuring pure juice options; the Milk Tea Series with fruit and dairy-based drinks; and the Pure Tea Series for those who want tea without added fruit.

The Signature Cube Cup section showcases their house fruit teas, combining black, jasmine, or oolong tea with fresh fruit such as mango, watermelon, citrus, and mixed tropical blends.

Vit C + Lemon Tea focuses on bright citrus flavours, pairing fragrant lemon or triple lemon with different tea bases including phoenix oolong, ruby black, and jasmine green.

The YO! Fruit Slush series offers blended fruit drinks such as mango, watermelon, and coconut variations, including options topped with cheese foam.

For something lighter, the Cold-Pressed Juice selection includes orange, passion orange, kale orange, and watermelon, with no added sugar.

Milk-based options appear in both the Organic Milk Tea section, featuring brown sugar milk and classic boba teas, and the Coconut Milk series, which uses coconut water and coconut milk with fruits like mango and watermelon.

There is also a Pure Tea category for those who prefer straightforward brewed tea, with choices such as phoenix oolong, jasmine green, and ruby black, with or without cheese foam.

All drinks can be customized by sweetness, ice level, size, and a wide range of toppings including boba, agar, coconut jelly, pudding, and cheese cream.

Drinks are available in four sizes: Small Cup, Large Cube, Max Cube, and the RUARUA Bottle.

Some of the fruit that they use is flown-in from abroad including the Fragrant Lemon from Guangdong which is a specialty citrus variety known for its intense aroma, thick rind, and lack of bitterness.

I enjoyed the following:

– Signature Black Fruit Tea served in their Signature Cube Cup
– Phoenix Oolong Fragrant Lemon Tea in their Large Cube Cup
– Mango Coconut Milk in a Small Cup
-Cold-Pressed Passionfruit & Orange in the RUARUA Bottle

Phoenix Oolong Fragrant Lemon Tea, Square Cup Fruit Tea Series

This drink uses Phoenix Oolong, a tea with a roasted aroma and mild bitterness. Hand-punched Guangdong lemon adds citrus fragrance and light sweetness. The tea remains noticeable, with the lemon offering freshness without covering the oolong.

Mango Coconut Milk, Milk Tea Series

Ripe mango is combined with coconut milk for a smooth, lightly sweet drink. The mango pieces add natural fruit flavour, while the coconut milk gives the drink body without feeling rich.

Cold-Press Passion Orange, Cold-Press Fruit Tea Series

Served in the RUARUA Bottle, this drink features passionfruit and orange with visible pulp. The flavour is tart and refreshing.

Signature Black Fruit Tea, Square Cup Fruit Tea Series

Built on a black tea base, this option has a stronger tea presence. The added fruit brings sweetness and aroma, while the black tea keeps the drink from tasting overly sugary.