Our Mission
Our mission is to cultivate our passion for tea throughout the community – bringing people together one cup at a time.
AS FEATURED ON:
Best Boba Shop of 2021 by Yelp
Best Boba from Fine Dining Chefs by Chicago Reader
New School Approach to Boba by Chicago Reader
Our Story
Our journey began in the vibrant streets of Chicago’s Chinatown, where Peter Li’s childhood was filled with joyful moments spent at bubble tea cafes. Inspired by these early experiences of meeting and creating new friends at bubble tea cafes and his adventurous travels to discover the different bubble tea scenes outside of Chicago, Peter set out to bring a unique, high-quality boba experience to Chicago, blending the cultural richness of his heritage with innovative tea-making techniques seen throughout his explorations.
In 2014, Peter embarked on a quest to find the perfect bubble tea, traveling through California, New York, Toronto, and other major cities with vibrant boba scenes. His journey involved extensive taste testing and sourcing premium local tea and boba suppliers. Despite his initial efforts to open a shop being thwarted by challenges and the fact that he had just graduated with an Accounting degree, this period deepened his understanding of crafting exceptional tea. Peter spent the next five years continuing his career in Accounting.
However, in February 2019, a chance travel experience reignited his passion. Stranded in California due to a winter storm in Chicago, Peter found himself at a small boba shop where he connected with the owner. This encounter provided the inspiration and motivation Peter needed to revive his original vision. Determined to see it through, he sought a location at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and partnered with a restaurant to share their space. Within nine months of this pivotal moment, Peter’s bubble tea shop officially opened its doors in November 2019.
Authentic Sourcing
At Gathers, authenticity is at the heart of our offerings. We prioritize direct sourcing to ensure the highest quality ingredients:
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We procure our matcha from tea farms in Uji, Kyoto, renowned for producing some of the best matcha in the world. This commitment to sourcing directly from the source guarantees freshness and exceptional flavor.
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Our menu features a curated selection of teas from Taiwan, India, China, and Japan, each chosen for its unique characteristics and contribution to our diverse tea collection.
“This exploration revealed a rich tapestry of tea variations and quality differences within the same tea types, opening up new possibilities for our craft.”
Our pursuit of authentic tea sourcing began as we grew and sought the best possible teas, driven by an unrelenting quest for perfection. Initially, our shop specialized in Taiwanese bubble tea and Matcha, sourcing from local suppliers due to limited resources and high shipping costs for large orders. This approach offered only a glimpse into the true quality of bubble tea and was designed more for convenience than excellence, placing us on par with many other bubble tea shops in Chicago.
As our business expanded, so did our understanding of tea. Through travel, cafe visits, and attending tea-specific trade shows, we realized that local suppliers only scratched the surface of bubble tea quality. We learned to distinguish between good and bad teas and recognized that many teas in the U.S. market often suffered from extended shelf lives and improper storage, affecting their flavor and quality.
With a desire for better quality, we began sourcing from U.S. suppliers, which allowed us more variety and improved our tea offerings. However, we still faced issues with tea quality due to storage concerns. This motivated us to delve deeper into direct sourcing.
We engaged with online forums, tea groups, and international trade shows to connect directly with tea farmers and producers. This exploration revealed a rich tapestry of tea variations and quality differences within the same tea types, opening up new possibilities for our craft. Over the years, we’ve explored everything from diverse Jasmine green teas to high-grade Japanese matcha from various regions. Now, we’re excited to bring these unique and refined tea experiences to Chicago, offering something truly distinct to our community.
Give the gift of joy.
Creative Innovation
We love experimenting with new ideas and flavors to keep our menu exciting:
Seasonal and Special Blends: From Thai Tea with blended spices to Ube-Taro Monster, our creative blends celebrate both tradition and innovation.
Non-Caffeinated Delights: Our exploration extends to mocktails and specialty non-caffeinated drinks, offering a refreshing twist on classic favorites.
Bridging Cultures
Gathers is more than a tea shop; it’s a cultural experience. We blend authentic Asian flavors with American favorites, such as our House Spiced Chai and Pumpkin Spice, to craft a harmonious fusion. Our unique creations, like the yuzu (Japanese lemon) and osmanthus oolong tea (Taiwanese floral oolong), offer a distinctive take on a citrusy, sweet "lemon iced tea."
Community & Connection
At Gathers, our mission extends beyond bridging cultures; we strive to unite people from diverse backgrounds through the universal pleasure of tea. We are dedicated to creating memorable experiences with each visit, fostering connections, and celebrating cultural diversity through our thoughtfully crafted drinks.
