One of mainland China’s largest dessert franchises is crossing the pond to San Antonio. According to a release, Feng Cha will open its first Alamo City store at 8055 West Ave #100 in the Castle Oaks Village shopping center on May 20.
Although the brand has only been in operation since 2016, it has become a global goliath with more than 1,000 locations scattered across Asia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New York, California, and Minneapolis. It has a significant presence in Texas, with shops in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston metropolitan areas.
Feng Cha specializes in customizable tea drinks brewed from real tea leaves. Toppings include boba, a variety of jellies, aloe vera, and milk foams in five profiles ranging from sea salt to cheese. It also serves various fruit refreshers in flavors like dragon fruit, summer melon, and kiwi basil. They couldn’t be more welcome as San Antonio prepares for hellish temps.
On the dessert side, Feng Cha specializes in cheesecakes. The mini delights cover all bases, offering American toppings like Oreos or strawberries and Asian favorites like matcha and taro.
Feng Cha Teahouse offers a menu of tea drinks brewed from real tea leaves, including a large array of fresh fruit teas made with real fruit. Their customizable milk foam menu includes over 12 tea bases and five milk foam varieties.
Though some of their offerings are similar, Feng Cha has a very different look than most of its stateside competitors. Instead of a bright poppy look, the brand’s interiors are typically bathed in neutrals with pale color accents and natural woods.
The soothing palette will form a suitable backdrop to an explosion of colors during the shop’s grand opening celebration on May 20. Among the attractions will be a traditional Vietnamese lion dance, karate demonstrations from Retro Sport Karate Group, and gift card giveaways.
SLAYCATION
Popular 33-year-old Hill Country food festival glows up with brand-new events
One of the Hill Country’s longest-running celebrations is calling in its glam squad. On April 24, the Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival, a highlight of the popular weekend destination’s busy calendar, announced a revamp, including a new look and enhanced culinary and beverage experiences.
Robert Oberhelman, the late owner of Bell Mountain Winery, founded the festival in 1991 to highlight local chefs and promote the then-nascent Texas wine industry. Originally a fundraiser for Marktplatz, the town’s central park, the party now supports several Central Texas charities.
Marktplatz's spoked property will remain the epicenter of the activities when the festival returns October 25-26. As always, the grounds will overflow with more than 25 booths by area chefs and 38 by local wineries, breweries, and distilleries.
Although the full schedule will not be announced for a few weeks, organizers have teased a variety of new activations. In addition to the grand tasting, the festivities include a special street dinner, an interactive brunch offsite, a yoga and wine session, a family friendly foodie event, and a curated sundry shop and sparkling wine garden.
This year’s event promises an unparalleled lineup of culinary talent, live music, and immersive experiences to foster authentic connections among Texas culinary and beverage enthusiasts,” said the fest’s producer, Hayley Wakefield, via a release.
Badges for the festival will go on sale in July. A VIP experience is available for those who want to amp up their experience. Prices have not been revealed yet, but traditionally it is one of the biggest bargains in the Central Texas food festival circuit.