Boba tea—also known as bubble tea, pearl milk tea, or 珍珠奶茶（zhēnzhū naichá)—is a notorious delicacy that has taken the world by storm. Particularly in Blaine, where Mía & More, a sugar cane juicery, has recently opened.
Originating in the 1980’s, boba tea’s popularity has skyrocketed—not only in Taiwan, but also across the world. It has become common to find a boba chain sprinkled somewhere throughout the Twin Cities.
Traditionally, boba is made with a delectable concoction of black tea, milk, sweetener, and, of course, tapioca pearls. However, over the years, many others have added a variety of flavors and toppings. For example, fruit milk teas, popping boba, grass jelly, and crystal boba are just a few of the many ingredients in boba today.
But one shop in particular, Mía & More, has introduced a new ingredient to the wide selection of boba tea flavors: sugar cane juice. In fact, “Mía” means sugar cane in Vietnamese. Hence, the name “Mía & More.” In Southeast Asia, it is common to find a sugar cane juice stall along the streets of Southeast Asia. But, what is sugar cane juice?
Sugar cane juice is made from sugar cane, a tropical grass. One way it’s enjoyed is by peeling and cutting it into small increments, then chewing on it to draw the liquid out. Another way to enjoy sugar cane is to extract the juice in large amounts. Typically, sugar cane juice is extracted and pressed through a machine.
Mía & More, a sugarcane juicery, does just that. Although it looks like a normal boba shop, it has much more to offer than just selling boba. Upon entering, a worker is running a machine and extracting the liquid from fresh stalks of sugar cane. As it’s extracted, the juice is collected in a jug, and the leftover stalks are deposited in a bin.
Mía & More has a wide selection of boba menu items, ranging from cold pressed sugar cane juice, to traditional Vietnamese desserts. I chose to go with two drinks. First, I ordered the dragon fruit strawberry cane with crystal boba. Second, I chose a Vietnamese classic, sinh tố bơ (also known as an avocado smoothie).
After I went to the cash register, my order did not take long to come out. The dragon fruit strawberry cane, on the more fruity side, had a vibrant fuschia color. As I sipped, I could taste the distinct flavor of sugar cane juice: refreshing, but not overbearingly-sweet. Once I chewed the crystal boba, I tasted the pleasant hint of strawberry. When I moved on to the avocado smoothie, I had high expectations. Upon sipping, I immediately felt the smooth texture melt in my mouth. Although the sweetness level was not as much as I would’ve liked, I was pleasantly surprised by the texture.
Overall, I highly recommend ordering the cold pressed sugar cane juice at Mía & More. Mía & More is a Vietnamese-owned boba shop that offers the perfect blend of creativity and authenticity. If you’re suddenly hit with the craving for boba and want to support a local business, Mía & More is the perfect place to meet up with your friends and enjoy fresh sugar cane boba. Make sure to stop by!
Address:
12341 Aberdeen St NE
Blaine, MN
https://www.miaandmoreminnesota.com/
