Bradenton business opens serving tasty, trendy foods and drinks with Vietnamese flair
Local entrepreneur Jennifer Tran recently opened Fresh Tea at 3209 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
It’s a business that offers many tea choices. And a lot of food offerings beyond what the establishment’s name might indicate.
Tran has tapped into the guilty pleasure food cosmos, including hot Cheetos corn dogs, mochi doughnuts, flavored teas and coffees and banh mi, the classic Vietnamese sub.
When exploring the menu, a good place to start is with the drinks.
Among the fresh teas are black, green and oolong. Flavored tea offerings include kumquat lemonade iced tea, as well as peach, lychee, mango and wintermelon flavors, among others.
Twenty flavors of milk teas, often called boba teas, are on the menu. Boba is a drink that originated in Taiwan and includes tea, milk, tapioca pearls, water and sugar. Flavors range from vanilla to chocolate and passion fruit and are available with a variety of toppings.
Also available: coffees, lattes and hot drinks (hot chocolate, lemon ginger tea, honey kumquat tea and more).
Finally, there are slushes and smoothies.
Tran and her father, Linh Tran, can also dial up or dial down the amount of sugar or ice guests want in their drinks. Just let them know.
Having her father work with her makes the business extra special, Jennifer said.
The father and daughter are originally from Da Nang, Vietnam, and there are reminders of their birthplace on the menu and throughout the store.
“Tea is a very important part of Vietnamese culture,” Jennifer said. Tea and coffee are both grown in Vietnam and are staples there.
Linh Tran said it makes him happy to be able to work with his daughter. And to be able to work so close to his American home.
Food items on the menu include spring rolls, banh mi, corn dogs (original, potato and hot Cheetos varieties), Hong Kong egg waffles, Taiwan silk tofu, churros and flan.
Also on the menu: mochi doughnuts.
While the Trans are the primary staff at Fresh Tea, students from nearby Manatee High School help out on weekends and after school.
Tran also owns a nail shop and previously owned 941 Tea House & Mochi Donuts, 3300 First St. W., Bradenton.
Fresh Tea is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
For more information, visit https://BobaTeaBradenton.com/ or call 941-789-6789.
