Cloudy Co. Tea

Cloudy Co. Tea was a somewhat mystifying tea shop located in Irvine’s Heritage Plaza, only doors down from Orobae and across the street from Omomo. Opened in 2020, Cloudy Co. felt almost like a placeholder business with little to no interest in hospitality: The industrial space was decidedly underdecorated, using unfinished wood planks in place of some tables, and not bothering with cushioned seats despite having more than enough space to accommodate guests. Interactions with staff tended to be only slightly more engaging on a human level than buying and receiving a drink from a vending machine, essentially the exact opposite of Phin Smith.

The drinks were, depending on who you asked, good to okay. Cloudy Co’s menu offered 20-some tea choices, including tiramisu, cheese, and “cloud” foams, the latter not really described until later in the restaurant’s run.

One of us really enjoyed their highly distinctive Ceylon Tiramisu Tea, coming back to order it multiple times, while another found the Brown Sugar Boba Milk to be solid. A third person was disappointed by their bland Uji Matcha Latte, ordered topped with their signature “cloud” foam, which turned out to be plain whipped cream with pecan shavings.

Cloudy Co. abruptly closed in 2024, right around the same time as almost-neighbor Orobae, which had cited staffing issues before pulling the plug. The dual closures were shocking in that both places had fans – Orobae seemingly more – and continuous lines at Omomo across the street demonstrated plenty of local interest in these sorts of drinks. It remains to be seen whether Cloudy will return, and if so, whether it will change its formula at all.