It is easy to walk past the newly opened Sipatea cafe without even noticing it. The storefront is tucked inside an existing pho shop, and the only eye-catching thing about it is the white “Grand opening” banner draped across its roof.

Like its exterior, Sipatea’s dimly lit interior does not make an engaging first impression. Loud fan noises pierce the room and the dirty eating area is shared with the restaurant, failing to create a lively atmosphere. It does, at least, offer a coffee shop staple: free wi-fi allows for customers to be productive while enjoying a drink.

Luckily, a glance at the menu helps to overcome the initial perception of mediocrity. Fruit-infused “tea sips,” “snow sip” ice cups and “smooth sip” smoothies are available in many flavor combinations and come in fairly large serving sizes. The largest size cup, for instance, clocks in at 32 ounces and contains the volume of four soda cans –– a gracious portion that costs less than a 16-ounce Jamba Juice smoothie.

Sipatea claims it is the only tea shop that “strictly uses fresh fruit for every single fruit drink,” but we spotted sealed tubs of preserved fruit chunks behind the counter, and the Lychee Explosion tea tasted strongly of canned fruit and the sugar water it is packed in (even if it is fresh). That’s not to say that it tasted bad, though — the drink was sweet and boldly flavored, and generous lychee chunks were a nice twist from the classic boba pearls.

Other drinks that also pleased our taste buds:

The verdict:

Sipatea’s beverages are more creative than those of Tapioca Express and other PMT baristas, but it’s offerings are not enough to make up for the atmospheric setback.

Sipatea is located on 1089 S De Anza Blvd. Operating hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10 am to 11 pm, and Friday through Saturday from 10 am to 12 am.