Why OMTea Boba & Bites Is One of Raleigh’s Most Unique Tea Shops
OMTea Boba & Bites in Raleigh, NC, offers a unique blend of freshly made boba, authentic Vietnamese coffee, and fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, setting it apart in the local tea scene. Discover how owner Tuan Lam brings a taste of his heritage to every cup.
The story behind the name — and the shop everyone’s talking about
Step inside OMTea Boba & Bites in Raleigh and you’ll notice two things right away: the place is spotless, and the drinks look insanely good. That’s exactly what owner Tuan Lam was going for.
“It’s our own concept, our own design,” he says. “We wanted to create a place where people — young, old, friends, family, even out-of-town guests — could come in, sit down, and just hang out in a clean, welcoming space.”
The name OMTea is a playful twist on “OMG,” with “tea” swapped in for the twist. It’s fun, memorable, and just like the shop itself, designed to catch your attention and invite you in.
Why their boba is different from every other shop in Wake County
If you’ve had boba in the past, chances are you were drinking pearls that came pre-made and packed with preservatives. At OMTea, that’s not how they roll.
“Our boba is made fresh on-site every day,” Tuan explains. “No preservatives, no food coloring, none of that. You can see the machine running when you come in — it cuts the dough, rounds it into pearls, and you can literally taste the difference.”
Their boba has a softer brown sugar hue and a chewy texture that actually complements the drink instead of sitting at the bottom like an afterthought. “It’s fresher, it’s better — and I don’t think anyone else in Wake County is doing it this way,” he adds.
The drinks that go viral — starting with sugarcane juice
One of the most unique things on the OMTea menu? Fresh-pressed sugarcane juice.
Yep — pressed right in front of you. They take raw sugarcane and juice it to order, then infuse it with tropical flavors like passion fruit, calamansi, and lemon.
Tuan says the idea came straight from his childhood. “In Vietnam, it was a necessity. We didn’t always have access to clean water, so sugarcane juice became the drink of choice. I grew up with it. I didn’t even know it was healthy — it was just what we had.”
Today, he sources cane from Colombia — a place he calls “cane country” — and presses it fresh at the shop. The result is a bright, vibrant green juice that’s sweet, refreshing, and loaded with health benefits. “We’re probably the biggest provider of sugarcane juice in Wake County,” he says.
More than tea: bites, Vietnamese coffee, and local love
OMTea isn’t just about drinks — they’ve got a solid lineup of bites too. Think lemon fries, crispy chicken, and other snacky sides that pair perfectly with a cold boba drink.
They also serve authentic Vietnamese coffee, brewed the traditional way using a phin filter. “It’s slow-drip, strong, and mixed with milk we try to source from local farms when we can,” Tuan shares. “We work with other small businesses, just like us.”
Whether you’re in the mood for a Brown Sugar Boba Milk, a fresh Cococane (sugarcane juice + coconut water), or a quick caffeine hit, this menu is stacked with things you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
Advice from someone who’s done it
Tuan’s advice to anyone thinking about opening a tea shop or small business? Start with passion— and a plan.
“You have to love what you do. But you also have to be ready to solve problems, every day,” he says. “Customer focus has to be at the core. If someone walks through that door, you want them to forget their bad day— even just for 15 minutes.”
He also doesn’t sugarcoat the financial side: “Opening something like OMTea takes serious investment. Know your numbers. Know your risks. Be prepared.”