Not every bubble of new boba in the area is part of a global chain. Hyson Boba is serving its creations from a former dessert cafe next to the E Madison Safeway and is causing a stir with a more local approach and dedication to organic, authentic, crafted, and home-made boba.
“The reason we decided to open a shop here is because we can actually stand out since it’s going to be organic and home-made boba,” Paul Nguyen told the city’s Office of Economic Development about Hyson.
Owners Nguyen and Derrick Chi are hoping to grow Hyson with the help of the city’s Accounting and Business Consulting Program.
The program provides up to 10 hours of “free one-on-one counseling to Seattle-based businesses.” The city says it launched this program in 2022 and has grown its offerings from four consultants to eleven. Services are available in multiple languages and range from bookkeeping and accounting guidance to marketing plan assistance.
Customers of Hyson are probably more interested in the house black sesame cream, fresh fruits, pandan waffles, and real ube.
“It’s a good feeling when a customer comes in and they notice,” Nguyen said. “It’s very touching because that’s what we want to do, expose people to the real, authentic boba.”
Hyson Boba is located at 2207 E Madison. Learn more at hysonbobateacafe.com.
HELP KEEP CHS PAYWALL-FREE
Subscribe to CHS to help us hire writers and photographers to cover the neighborhood. CHS is a pay what you can community news site with no required sign-in or paywall. To stay that way, we need you.
Become a subscriber to help us cover the neighborhood for as little as $5 a month.
Holy cow I can’t wait for these boba shops to go away. Just more useless and extremely niche storefronts in the neighborhood.
Niche is what makes a place unique.
Maybe you should broaden your horizons and try it? There’s a reason there’s so many bubble tea places and they’re all so popular :/ Hyson is a delicious, friendly, and welcome addition to the neighborhood!
Agreed, i’ve tried the lemongrass orange tea with house-made ube boba. Loved it. Hyson definitely delivered.
New concepts arrive, saturate, and cycle. Thai, Pho, Poke, frozen yogurt..fried chicken.. one or two might last and the others fade away and on to the next big idea. I don’t like bubble tea, hope for something else to capture our retail dollars in a few years.