UCLA to get taste of Relaxtation
By Daily Bruin Staff
Jan. 13, 2002 9:00 p.m.
 KEITH ENRIQUEZ/ Daily Bruin Workers put the finishing
touches on Relaxtation, the new Boba restaurant that opens in
Ackerman Union today.
By Debra Marisa Greene
Daily Bruin Contributor
A cup of tea with tapioca balls and a thick straw ““ did
someone say “Boba”?
Relaxtation, a restaurant specializing in Boba, opens today on
the first floor of Ackerman Union next to Wetzel’s Pretzels.
Colombo, the yogurt vendor which once inhabited the site now leased
by Relaxtation, has moved across and into the central service
station with Tropix.
While Boba is sold in four other locations at UCLA, Pat Eastman,
the executive director of the Associated Students of UCLA, said an
outside company serving Boba can better serve students’
needs.
“We feel an outside company that specializes in Boba can
provide a wider product line than in our coffee houses and can stay
on top of trends,” Eastman said.
Traditionally, Boba is Chinese black tea with milk, sugar and
tapioca balls. It originated in Taiwan 15 years ago.
Boba became popular after its introduction at UCLA two years
ago, said Robert Williams, director of food operations.
“It expanded into different flavors and is a good addition
to the campus,” Williams said.
Dali Yu, the owner of Relaxtation and a 1994 UCLA alumna,
founded the company three years ago. It provides coffee, tea and
fruit Boba drinks. UCLA will be its fourth location.
Many people like Boba because of the health benefits of the tea
and fruit drinks, Yu said, adding that it’s an alternative to
coffee.
Yu said she wanted to bring her restaurant to UCLA since she
began the company because it is a good location for students.
“Our clientele is largely students and young
professionals,” Yu said.
Fifth-year anthropology student Shahin Banayan said that the
drink appears unique.
“It’s a fun thing to do, and it tastes good,”
he said.
First-year communications student Lindsay Mullins agrees that
the novelty of the drink makes it appealing.
“Everyone likes it because it’s different,”
she said.
Boba is also sold at Tsunami, Northern Lights, Kerckhoff Coffee
House and Jimmy’s Coffee House.
