Feb 13, 2026 - Food and Drink
Houston's Molly Tea delivers on its promise
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The straws are slim, almost like sipping through a few coffee stirrers. It slows you down. Photo: Shafaq Patel/Axios
Molly Tea in Dun Huang Plaza in Asiatown just opened this week, and I braved the lines to give it a try.
Dig in: Molly Tea is a fast-growing Chinese fresh tea chain founded in 2021. It's built a following for aroma-forward drinks — particularly jasmine tea.
What to order: The jasmine tea lives up to the hype. I tried a few different versions, all around $6-7.
- The premium jasmine milk tea is classic and a must-try. Deeply floral and strong, almost to the point of being bitter, but the milk and sweetness cut it.
- The snowy jasmine version has lightly jasmine-flavored whipped cream and pecans. It's sweeter and softer. The caramelized pecans bits are a nice add.
- There's also a coconut with pistachio cream flavor. The seemingly peculiar pairing works well and is light and refreshing. The pistachio leans nutty, not sugary, and balances the coconut.
- If jasmine isn't your thing, try the white champaca oolong milk tea. Still floral, but balanced.
If you go: 9889 Bellaire Blvd.