7 LEAVES CAFE, CAMPBELL AND OTHER LOCATIONS
How popular is 7 Leaves? For years, Northern California families were known to bring along ice chests on their treks to SoCal, where the company was founded, so they could bring back half-gallon jugs of their favorites.
Now, with three locations in the South Bay — the newest in Campbell — it’s easy to stock up or just stop by for a pick-me-up.
About 16 drinks are offered, most of them teas and all of them iced. The menu is intentionally simple, 7 Leaves execs say, because it’s a labor-intensive enterprise, with all of the drinks crafted on-site — from cooking the taro and mung beans to squeezing the passion fruit to brewing the tea.
THE SIPS >> The house coffee ($4.25), sweet and creamy with a touch of hazelnut, is the bestseller on that side of the menu, although we can’t resist 7 Leaves’ version of Vietnamese coffee. Tea drinkers gravitate to the mung bean milk tea with pandan leaves and the sea cream jasmine tea. For a summer refresher, check out the summer mint, with freshly squeezed orange juice, passion fruit and mint.
THE EATS >> It’s all about the macarons. These French confections, baked by 7 Leaves, are still the only non-liquid treats offered. While you’re sipping your tea or coffee you can nibble on one of eight flavors ($1.75 each): green tea, Earl Grey, pistachio, rose water, sea salt caramel, chocolate, strawberry and vanilla.
DETAILS >> Open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends at the new location, 330 E. Hamilton Ave., Campbell. The San Jose/Berryessa location stays open later, until midnight Friday-Saturday; the San Jose/Saratoga Avenue location closes earlier, 10 p.m. daily; 7leavescafe.com.