CHAYAN 茶宴 UW

University Way NE, Seattle · $$

Chayan arrived from Vancouver and the UK with a single idea: milk tea should taste like the tea you're actually drinking, not a sweetened drink that happens to contain tea. They brew with whole tea leaves and fresh milk instead of powders, and let you calibrate sweetness to match. The University District location is small and fills up fast when UW is in session, which is a good sign.