If kosher boba tea was on your Great Neck to-do list, you’ll want to update your plans. Yaaas Tea at 62 Middle Neck Road has lost its kosher certification following a change in ownership. According to the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, the new management has decided not to renew the hashgacha. As of now, Yaaas Tea in Great Neck is not kosher.
For the kosher community in Great Neck and on Long Island, this one stings a little. This wasn’t just a boba shop that happened to be certified — it was a genuinely exciting milestone for the area, and losing it leaves a real gap.
A Brief History: How Yaaas Tea Became a Kosher First
When Yaaas Tea opened its kosher-certified Great Neck location back in early 2024, it was a big deal. The chain, which had already built a strong following with multiple Long Island locations and had been voted the best bubble tea on Long Island for several consecutive years, was not previously available to the kosher consumer. The Great Neck location changed that, becoming the first dedicated kosher-certified boba tea shop on Long Island — and one of the very few in the entire New York area.
The timing made sense. Great Neck is home to a large and active Orthodox Jewish community, and the Middle Neck Road corridor is exactly the kind of high-foot-traffic, kosher-friendly strip where a spot like this could thrive. The shop quickly became a go-to for the community, offering a full menu of milk teas, cold brews, iced teas, lattes, baked goods, and of course, boba — with fresh tapioca pearls made every hour. The Vaad Harabonim of Queens (VHQ) held the certification, and it was the only Yaaas Tea location in the chain to be kosher-certified.
That run is now over. A change in ownership brought new management, and that management made the call not to continue with the VHQ. The certification has lapsed, and Yaaas Tea Great Neck is no longer kosher. Always verify current certification status before visiting any establishment.
Where to Get Kosher Boba Tea in the New York Area Now
The kosher boba scene in New York has never been particularly robust, so losing the Great Neck location does meaningfully thin the options. That said, here’s where you can still get a kosher boba fix in the area:
Uncle Mochi – Cedarhurst: Right in the heart of the Five Towns kosher corridor, Uncle Mochi serves kosher boba tea and is a convenient option for Long Island kosher consumers looking for a certified bubble tea fix without heading into the city.
Bean and Berry – Lawrence: Also on Long Island, Bean and Berry in Lawrence is a kosher-certified spot offering boba tea alongside acai bowls, smoothies, and other beverages. Another solid Five Towns-area option worth knowing about.
Gshmak – Williamsburg, Brooklyn: This popular Williamsburg bakery and café in the heart of the kosher community carries boba tea alongside its well-known lineup of Hungarian-inspired pastries and baked goods. It’s a full-service spot with a lively atmosphere and long hours most of the week.
Beyond those dedicated spots, a number of kosher restaurants and cafés in the tristate area have added boba drinks to their menus as an add-on item — but a full kosher-certified boba shop as a standalone concept remains rare in the New York market. The loss of Yaaas Tea’s kosher chapter is a reminder of just how thin that segment still is.
If you’re aware of any current kosher boba options in the area that we’ve missed, drop them in the comments. And as always, verify certification directly with any establishment before visiting — kosher status can change quickly, as today’s news makes clear.
Find kosher restaurants near you by downloading the KosherNearMe app at YeahThatsKosher.com/app.
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