CHAGEE Century City: The Tea Empire Has Landed (And It's Good. Like, Really Good)

CHAGEE just opened their very first USA location, and where else would they debut but the ultra-glossy, ever-evolving Westfield Century City? You’ll find it perched on the second floor, near the old Pink Taco spot, overlooking Santa Monica Boulevard with that “we’ve arrived” energy.

*Tea mongers brewing up a storm at CHAGEE Century City Mall*

I had never heard of CHAGEE before today—and now? I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon. They’re not just a tea shop. They’re a tea movement. With over 6,400 stores globally (mostly across Asia), CHAGEE is aiming to be the Starbucks of tea—and honestly? They might pull it off. They recently filed their IPO in April 2025 (ticker symbol: CHA, which made me smile because… of course it is).

*Two lattes with their tiny straw.*
*CHAGEE’s branding has been compared to* *DIOR, hence why it’s so eye-catching?*

I asked their branding agency where the next U.S. location is going to be, and got a polite “mum’s the word.” Understandable. They’re probably waiting to see how Century City performs, especially with the ever-shifting landscape of U.S.-China trade relations and potential tariffs affecting tea imports. But if this is their test market—consider me very into it.

So, what makes CHAGEE different from the bajillion other tea spots?

Three things:

1. Whole leaf tea + fresh milk = flavor magic.
They’re not messing around with syrupy tea bases or chalky powders. This is real tea—steeped to perfection and blended with fresh milk for a latte that actually tastes like tea. Imagine that.

2. The straw.
Not your average straw. It's three ultra-thin tubes fused together (think thick coffee stirrer vibes), and they encourage you to drink your tea with this special straw. I was skeptical… and then? Blown away. The straw actually makes a difference. I could taste the tea 5x more—especially the subtle floral notes and natural sweetness. Mind = blown.

3. Precision-engineered tea drinks (automated!).
They’ve got this wild proprietary machine—staff scan a barcode, and the drink gets made with pinpoint precision. Steeping, timing, temperature—the staff and their high-end machines have it dialed in. They brew what they call “tea espresso,” and it's the base of each tea drink. The result? Consistently incredible flavor in every cup. It's like the Nespresso of tea, but better.

4. How’d they make their tea taste so good?

CHAGEE uses large-scale tea extraction technology—fancy words for a supercharged brewing process that grinds whole tea leaves and uses high pressure and heat to pull out the richest, most complex flavors. Think of it like tea, but leveled up. This method unlocks hidden notes that traditional steeping can’t touch—bringing centuries-old tea flavors into a bold, modern light.

Which signature drinks did I try?

They invited me to sample their three classic iced milk teas:

🍑 Peach Oolong Latte – This one leans sweet and fruity. If you like bold, juicy flavors, it’s your go-to.
🖤 Black Tea Latte – Classic and cozy. Milky, balanced, and not overly sweet.
🌸 Jasmine Tea Latte – The star of the show. My friend and I both agreed: this one stole our hearts. Floral without being perfume-y, subtly sweet, and packed with flavor.

None of the drinks were bitter or artificial-tasting. Just smooth, rich tea-forward flavor. As someone who’s sampled many a boba shop in LA, I can confidently say: CHAGEE is different. You can actually taste the tea. It’s not just a sugar bomb in disguise.

Do they serve food?

*Farmshop baked goods at CHAGEE in Century City Mall*

Oh yes—and it’s not just any random snacks. They partnered with Farmshop, the LA farm-to-table bakery powerhouse. I tried:

A chocolate chip cookie the size of my face (buttery, crispy-edged, soft-centered heaven)
A jasmine cream-filled cruffin — a hybrid croissant-muffin filled with dreamy green tea cream. I almost didn’t share it with my friend. Almost.

Honestly, I’d come back just for the cruffin + tea combo. My friend lives across the street and said, “Thank god they’re on the far end of the mall or I’d be here every day.” Mood.

*Baked goods at CHAGEE Century City, by Farmshop*

*The Menu as of May 2025, at CHAGEE Century City*

But Wait, No Oat Milk?

At the time of writing, CHAGEE only offers regular milk in their drinks and lattes. No oat, no almond, no soy, no 2%, no 1%, etc.

As someone used to the LA milk-alternative life, I was surprised! That said, they do offer non-milk teas for those avoiding dairy, so not all hope is lost. I still highly encourage you to try this new tea shop out!!

Final verdict?

CHAGEE is not your average tea spot. It's a high-end, high-tech, tea-lover’s dream with global ambitions—and now, an LA address.

If you’re a real tea drinker—or just curious about elevated tea drinks that aren’t sugar bombs—it is absolutely worth the visit. It’s refreshing (literally and figuratively) to find a tea shop that takes their tea seriously, without being pretentious (other than their own tea drinking straw, which I totally respect).

Whether you’re a tea purist or just craving something new, this is one place worth sipping your way through.

Pro Tip: Get the Jasmine Latte. And a cruffin. You're welcome.

Welcome to LA, CHAGEE. Glad you’re here.

*They have a custom mural of LA + CHAGEE in the store; gorgeous*

*CHAGEE branding is modeled after an operatic story, and their logo is the lead female operatic character!*

📍 CHAGEE, now open at Westfield Century City – Second Floor

10250 Santa Monica Blvd Suite #2020, Los Angeles, CA 90067

About Linhda (aka Elle)

Linhda thrives on being a tourist in her own city, generously sharing over 10 years of Los Angeles knowledge with fellow enthusiasts!

An enthusiastic bike-to-work cyclist, also known as a commuter, Linhda has recently embraced the world of roller skating. If you have any questions about LA, drop her a line, or simply say HELLO! Meeting new people brings her immense joy. Cheers! linhdy@outlook.com

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