A new outpost of a San Antonio boba mini-chain is bubbling up near Encino Park. Artea is renovating a space at 21114 US 281 with plans to wrap up in November.
True to its name, the brand is known for its visually appealing sippers like boba lattes and loose-leaf tea. Artea has previously gone viral for a bonsai milk tea decorated to look like a potted plant, but its everyday drinks are almost as kawaii.
Non-brewed beverages include smoothies, slushes, and frappes, and a few drinks not commonly found in Alamo City. One uses vibrant butterfly pea powder to give a drink a violet hue; another blends winter melon with Taiwanese aiyu jelly made from the pectin of creeping fig seeds.
Artea also serves a variety of pan-Asian snacks.Artea/ Facebook
Although drinks are the main draw, Artea has a much more extensive food menu than most tea shops. The pan-Asian offerings span Japanese ramen, crab rangoon, sushi rolls, and rice and noodle bowls.
Artea first opened at 6362 De Zavala Rd. in 2019, with a second outpost in the Culebra Commons shopping center following in 2022. A store employee previously confirmed a third location is in the works for 602 N.W. Loop 410 with plans to finish in May.
It’s a rare local player in a San Antonio beverage scene increasingly being dominated by rapidly growing franchises like HTeaO, It’s Boba Time, and Candy Cloud.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project details state that the 3,148 square foot storefront will begin construction in June and wrap up on November 11. State filings are subject to change without notice.
