The owner’s father has spent the past several months renovating the space for Oou Cha | St. pete Rising

A new tea cafe serving imported matcha, hojicha, and oolong teas alongside Vietnamese comfort food opens tomorrow in Pinellas Park.

Oou Cha, located at 6251 34th Street North, will celebrate its grand opening on June 11th in the former Moonlight Boba space.

Unlike many cafes, Oou Cha will not serve coffee, instead focusing exclusively on specialty teas sourced from Japan and China.

The 1,300-square-foot cafe is owned by sisters Tammy Lien and Kim Vo, both 19, who launched the concept with support from their parents, who have extensive hospitality experience.

“We’re Vietnamese and we love the Vietnamese style of coffee, but there are already a lot of places to get that around here,” Lien said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

“We grew up drinking tea and watching our parents drink tea every day,” Lien continued. “We felt there was an opportunity to introduce people to something a little more niche and complex.”

Oou cha’s Strawberries and Cream Matcha latte made with handcrafted strawberry sauce and salted cold foam | Oou Cha

The menu centers on premium teas, including single-cultivar matcha and hojicha imported from Kagoshima, Japan, as well as Dan Cong oolong tea sourced from China’s Guangdong Province.

Unlike matcha, hojicha is a roasted Japanese green tea known for its nutty, smoky flavor profile and lower caffeine content.

“We’re really trying to experiment with flavors and highlight the floral, citrus, and sometimes woody notes that naturally occur in tea,” Vo said.

Among Oou Cha’s signature beverages are the Strawberries and Cream Matcha Latte made with house-made strawberry sauce and salted cold foam; the Banana Hojicha Latte, which contains caramelized banana puree and toasted hojicha; and the Wintermelon Mountain Cap Tea Latte, which combines roasted oolong tea, wintermelon syrup, fresh milk, salted cold foam, and candied pecans.

Oou Cha, a new tea cafe, opens June 11th in Pinellas Park | St. Pete Rising

Other offerings include a Pandan Matcha Latte, Coconut Matcha Latte, Floral Jasmine Tea Latte, Peachy Oolong Tea Latte, and a Matcha Einspanner, which is Oou Cha’s tea-based take on the traditional Viennese beverage typically made with espresso and whipped cream.

Beyond drinks, Oou Cha offers a menu of Vietnamese dishes, including pho made with a 100% bone broth base, Trieu Chau egg noodles with shrimp and pork tenderloin, slow-braised beef stew served with toasted baguette, crispy shrimp with tamarind sauce, chicken wings, and egg rolls.

The sisters said the business is deeply personal, down to the smallest details.

Their father, who also has construction and engineering experience, spent the past several months renovating the space, reconfiguring the layout, and upgrading the kitchen.

The cafe’s warm, earth-toned interior was inspired by traditional Chinese tea ceremonies, with teapots and other tea accessories displayed throughout the space.

Even the business logo carries a personal touch, featuring an illustration of the sisters’ childhood dog.

Oou Cha’s Pear-Lime Jasmine Pure Tea is a Floral Jasmine tea with a blend of crisp pear and zesty lime | Oou Cha

The sisters plan to expand the menu over time with seasonal beverages and additional food offerings inspired by family recipes and their Cantonese-Vietnamese heritage.

“We know we’re still young and have a lot to learn,” Vo said. “But we also think we bring a different perspective. Tammy and I have something special that we want to share with our guests. This business is very personal for us and we’re very fortunate to have our parents supporting us.”

Oou Cha’s grand opening will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 11th. The first 120 customers will receive a gift box from the newly opened business.

Regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, and closed Tuesdays.

Be sure to follow Oou Cha on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest offerings.