Burlingame Avenue’s newest matcha cafe, Cere Tea, has quickly become a popular after-school spot for students. The cafe’s wide selection of appealing drinks and calm, ambient atmosphere draws many students after a long day.

Located next to Tuna Kahuna, Cere Tea opened in Burlingame on Sunday, Nov. 2, expanding on its two existing locations in Saratoga and Milpitas. We visited Cere Tea on Tuesday, Nov. 18, and found the shop to be relatively quiet despite the flow of customers. Popular music filtered through the speakers, adding energy to the otherwise tranquil atmosphere.

After trying four drinks, here’s what we thought about each one.

The Sunny-Side Up Matcha Einspänner exceeded my expectations as a matcha lover, with a unique flavor profile and balance throughout the drink.

An einspänner is a Viennese drink typically made with espresso — or in this case, matcha — and topped with whipped cream. This version consisted of mango chunks and puree at the bottom, matcha beautifully layered above the milk, and a generous heaping of whipped cream on top. The drink was finished with a “sunny side up egg” design, made from another pillowy dollop of whipped cream and a mango puree jelly in the center.

Before I tasted the einspänner, I had high hopes: the matcha should be clear and present, the cream light and not overly rich, and the mango adding sweetness and a subtle flavor without overpowering the matcha.

I expected the drink to be pretty sweet, but it turned out to be a near-perfect balance between the mango and the sharp contrast of the matcha’s bitterness. The only thing that made the drink sweet was the cream on top and the mango at the bottom. Because of this, I appreciated how much matcha flavor emerged as I enjoyed the drink. The mango flavor was very subtle, but I wish there were more mango added to the drink.

As someone who has tried matcha einspänner in the past, this unique flavor approach made it more enjoyable than other matcha drinks I previously had. Additionally, I chose to order the drink at 25% sweetness, which allowed the flavors of all the components to come together and blend into a cohesive drink.

While I do recognize that matcha isn’t for everyone, the Sunny-Side Up Matcha Einspänner is worth the price and experience. I would recommend this drink to anyone who enjoys creamy matcha drinks and is willing to try a slightly less popular matcha flavor combination. I would definitely order this again, and with no hesitation, at 25% sweetness. However, if you have a bigger sweet tooth, I would suggest ordering the drink with a higher sweetness level. For these reasons, I would rate the Sunny Side Up Matcha Einspänner a 9/10.

Looks can be deceiving.

That holds true for the Blueberry Short Cake Matcha. It was beautifully presented, with creamy foam, a healthy sprinkle of biscuit crumble, and a drizzle of blueberry syrup.

Unfortunately, that’s where all the budget was spent.

The combination of blueberry shortcake and matcha was, admittedly, a success. The sweet blueberries and slightly bitter matcha complement each other, but when well-mixed, the flavor of the blueberries gets lost in the matcha. The biscuit crumble becomes soggy and clumped together if you don’t drink it right away, but it is a necessary source of sweetness for the otherwise subtle bitterness of the matcha. It’s a lose-lose no matter what you choose to do with the crumble.

The foam had a taste reminiscent of cream cheese and was slightly salty. Everything about this drink contradicts itself. The drink needs to be thoroughly mixed in to achieve a consistent sweetness all around, but the blueberry flavor gets overpowered, and the crumble clumps up and gets soggy too quickly. The foam makes the drink creamier and smoother, but also leaves a salty aftertaste.

Needless to say, this drink did not fulfill my expectations. It definitely had potential, and probably appeals to others, but it’s not a flavor combination that works for me.

If I had to, I would drink it, but it’s definitely not my first choice. I would rate the Blueberry Short Cake Matcha a 6.25/10, but I would recommend everyone try it out for themselves.

Unique, unexpected, and balanced.

That’s how I would describe my first sip of the Black Sesame Hojīcha Einspänner. The drink was layered with a hojīcha-infused milk base, topped with a generous layer of a thick yet fluffy black sesame whipped cream, and a dollop of additional whipped cream sprinkled with black sesame seeds.

I had never tried hojīcha before, so I was very curious and excited for this drink. Hojīcha is a Japanese roasted green tea, heated at high temperatures to achieve its distinct brown color.

This einspänner’s presentation was not as vibrant as the Sunny-Side Up Matcha Einspänner, but the overall taste of the drink made up for its plain presentation. Before trying the drink, I had hoped the black sesame flavor would be very present, and the hojīcha would not be too bitter, but not too sweet either.

I was definitely surprised by how much I enjoyed this einspänner. The hojīcha with the black sesame cream offered a novel, unique flavor pairing for me. The thickness of the black sesame whipped cream added richness to the drink, and the extra sesame seeds on top added a toasty, warm flavor to complement the lightness and creaminess of the whipped cream topping.

Similar to the matcha einspänner, the low sweetness level allows the flavors to develop more, especially because I find that sugar tends to be overpowering. This drink introduced me to a unique mix of flavors I don’t have the opportunity to try very often at a typical cafe.

I personally would not get this again because after trying it, I realized I am not a huge fan of hojīcha. However, if I were to order this again, I would order it with a higher sweetness level because the drink was on the bitter side. If you’re someone who prefers natural flavors over a sweeter drink, then 25% sweetness is just right.

Overall, I’d give the Black Sesame Hojīcha Einspänner an 8/10 for its unique flavor combination but dull presentation.

If the Blueberry Short Cake Matcha was questionable, the Hibiscus Strawberry is a flat-out no. The second I laid my eyes on the drink, I already knew it would be below standard.

The color was a dark, pomegranate red that looked very different from your typical strawberry juice. With roughly diced strawberry chunks topped with a suspicious layer of foam, this tea looked underwhelming compared to the other three drinks

Appearances aside, the drink has two settings: overpoweringly sweet or extremely sour — no in-between. The hibiscus aroma is practically nonexistent, while the flavor of slightly artificial strawberry coats your mouth. The foam was bitter and contributed absolutely nothing. At best, this drink is one-dimensional. At worst, it is a shame to all fruit teas.

I’d rate the Hibiscus Strawberry a 4/10. You would not catch me recommending this tea to anyone. If it were offered to me for free, I wouldn’t turn it down, but this drink is subpar on multiple levels, and I would not choose to spend my money on it.

If you’re someone who enjoys matcha drinks, lattes, or einspänners, Cere Tea is the place for you. Its expertise and usage of ceremonial-grade matcha create stunning, decadent drinks.

If it couldn’t be more apparent already, this is not your typical boba shop. Instead, it acts more like a high-end matcha cafe where anything on the menu is slightly different from your usual order and could surprise you. To ensure a pleasant experience, we know what you are in the mood for, stick to their specials, and enjoy!