Cha Redefine
Extra-large cups of strong tea and fruit juices, topped with foams and filled with boba
Founded in Pasadena in 2020, the tea shop Cha Redefine currently has four locations, including one in South Coast Plaza. Opened as part of the second wave of Collage Culinary Experience tenants in 2023, Cha Redefine operates a large counter on the basement floor, sharing seating with its neighbors. No matter how many times we visit, the name and logo continue to strike us as a little off, but we really like their drinks.
Strong fruit teas are either iced or ice-blended, with basic but pure fruit flavors: lemon, strawberries, mango, orange, or watermelon, each combined with jasmine green tea. Ceremonial grade green tea is used across five different matcha drinks, ranging from a cream foam-topped latte to a blended smoothie with taro paste to versions with blueberries, spirulina, and wheatgerm. Basic coffees and teas are also available, as are soybean, rice mochi, and coconut milk drinks.
We’ve tried a handful of drinks at Cha Redefine over the year and a half it’s been open, and they’ve always been at least good, sometimes great. Cups often arrive overflowing with whipped cream or otherwise conspicuously showing off their layers and ingredients, each of which has the taste and texture we’d expect – there typically aren’t big surprises here after you receive your first cup and realize that it’s large enough to justify the prices (tall drinks tend to go for $7+, normal ones for $6+).
Service has always been good in our experiences, and orders made fairly quickly, without mistakes. We definitely plan to return for more in the future.
Stats
Price: $
Service: Counter
Open Since: 2020 (CA), 2023 (OC)
Addresses
3333 Bristol St. BL05
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
657.218.4394
Instagram: @charedefine