Before February break came to a close, we decided to go to Main Street Cupertino for some dessert. After strolling around the plaza and walking through the streets, we noticed a small, bustling shop called NaiSnow Tea and Bakery.
We noted the energy as employees as they enthusiastically served pastries.
NaiSnow Tea and Bakery, a popular patisserie and drink shop with almost 2,000 locations in China, recently expanded to the U.S., currently sporting three locations in New York and their first California location in Cupertino. With classic French patisserie desserts such as eclairs, tarts and mousses, NaiSnow had its Cupertino grand opening on Feb. 1.
We went there at 3 p.m. on a Saturday. While waiting in line, we were able to get a good view of all the pastries behind a glass window.
The inside of the shop was a bit awkward because it was packed with customers. In addition, the loud noise of workers shouting out numbers and signaling customers to pick up their order made for a chaotic environment.
After five minutes of waiting, we ordered a caramel egg tart, a coffee tiramisu tart and a strawberry maritozzo at a self-serve kiosk. Due to the packed crowd within the small shop, it took around 10 minutes before our order was ready.
Caramel Egg Tart
The first item we tried was the caramel egg tart ($3.90). The pastry was filled with a soft and sweet custard with hints of egg, and it had a crispier outer edge with a creme-brulee top.
The crust was crispy and a bit salty, while the inside had a fluffy texture, creating a nice contrast, with each of the opposite flavors complementing each other. Along with the creme-brulee top, which was light but still flavorful, the thinner crust allowed the custard to take the spotlight.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Falcons
Coffee Tiramisu Tart
The next item we decided on our plate was the coffee tiramisu tart, which shared the same base as the caramel egg tart, but topped with coffee powder and cake, adding 60 cents to the price at $4.50.
The excessive amount of coffee powder ruined the rest of the flavor; we coughed most of it up as we ate the pastry. The whipped cream was sweet, but the coffee cake was bland and had no flavor.
The original egg tart stayed tasty, but the additional toppings honestly took away from the flavor rather than add to it.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Falcons
Strawberry Maritozzo
The last item we decided to eat was the strawberry maritozzo ($4.60). A maritozzo is originally a brioche bun sliced in half and filled with whipped cream. This rendition of the popular Italian dessert used strawberry-flavored bread and sliced strawberries on top.
The whipped cream and strawberry created a soothing combination, as the the tanginess of the strawberry and the sweeter vanilla of the whipped cream perfectly complemented each other.
The filling and toppings on the pastry make up most of the taste, but the tough bread lacked a lot of flavor and took away from what could’ve been a perfect dessert.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Falcons.
Mango Sago Fruit Tea
Along with the pastries, we also tried the Mango Sago Fruit Tea, which was made with coconut milk and diced mangoes and cost $7.90 for a large. The sweet and slightly chewy diced mangoes worked well with the creamy taste of the milk, and the refreshing drink worked well to wash down the heavier pastries.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Falcons.
NaiSnow Tea and Bakery, at least for now, is so popular that the atmosphere is a challenging one to be in, with the chaotic sounds making it hard to focus on the food. Nevertheless, it offers many high-quality and interesting menu options for reasonable prices, making it worth the trip. All things considered, we give it 4 out of 5 Falcons.
