Good grades, graduations and winning home games are reasons Loana Perez, owner of Teacupfuls, has received an abundance of business from the Bend community. Restless after Perez sold her cleaning business in 2017 and inspired by her kids’ love for boba, the wild Teacupfuls was born. Perez opened the boba business with the intention to create a space where kids could hang out after school and relax with a treat.
Teacupfuls is known for its eye-catching milk teas, often decorated with “big tops” – bright blue cotton candy, rainbow lollipops, marshmallows and chocolate pretzels to name a few.
Classic boba options are also available, including Thai, green and black tea with warm, fresh tapioca pearls. Beyond drinks, Teacupfuls sells a variety of Asian treats, like Pocky biscuits, Hello Kitty candies and Hi-Chews, along with souvenirs like boba plushies, cups and keychains.
“You don’t have to come in and get crazy. One thing that I’ve found is that a lot of people hear about our brand and they think sugar, which isn’t always true. I’m not a huge fan of sugar,” Perez shared. “You can adjust the level of sweetness of the drinks. I will do the level one, or I won’t do any flavor in my teas at all. So there’s something for everyone,” Perez beamed.
She imagined the boba specials, bringing her elaborate visions to the brand. Now, every couple of years, Perez and her team get together for a tasting party, where they pitch, brainstorm and taste new ideas for drinks.
“I think we are bringing culture to Bend. When we first started, a lot of people were unfamiliar with boba, and I still find that a lot, especially at our east side location. Being next to the hospital, we’re getting a lot of the older generation that’s coming in. It’s not for everybody, but we are hoping that we can convince them otherwise.”
Teacupfuls has been so well received from the community that it became a franchise in 2022, with 26 stores currently under development in Michigan, Texas and Nevada. “We want to be able to help other entrepreneurs complete their dreams and spread the joy of our brand,” Perez says.
Bend has three Teacupfuls locations: downtown, on the west side and the east side.
Runner Up: Boba Tea Bend
Teacupfuls
Downtown: 744 NW Bond St. Ste. B
West side: 1288 SW Simpson Ave. Ste. B2
East side: 1500 NE Cushing Drive. Ste 120
teacupfulsonline.com
This article appears in Best of Central Oregon 2025 and the Source August 21, 2025.
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