Just a seven minute drive from UTD, Manna Tea House sits in a quiet corner, inviting customers into a comfortable escape from the stress of daily life. Inside, the sweet aroma of boba blends with the sound of friends’ laughter, surrounded by quiet conversations. Formerly known as Rainbow Teashop, Manna Tea House has returned after a rebrand with a new name, a renewed identity and a delicious new menu.
Its soft opening, held from July 27 through Aug. 1, was just the first step for the shop to reflect its intended purpose. What began as an impulsive business venture turned into a reflection of self-identity and community.
The shop’s story began with Jacob Dong and Michael Chen, co-owners of Manna Tea House, who connected during their time at UTD. Even though both studied STEM-related majors, they shared a vision.
“If neither of us could find full-time engineering jobs, then we would start a restaurant together,” Dong said.
When both secured jobs respective to their fields, the idea was long forgotten. However, a year and a half after graduating, Dong learned that the owners of Rainbow Tea Shop, a couple looking to start a family, wanted to sell the business he frequented during his student years. He shared the opportunity for the business venture with Chen, and, with the help of their business partners Rebecca Dong and Aaron Chong, they took ownership of the business in December 2024.
“When I came into this business, it was like diving headfirst,” Dong said. “I had an engineering degree and I have a corporate job, but I didn’t really know how small businesses worked and I didn’t really know anything about the boba industry.”
As they learned to manage the business through a soft takeover, the owners recognized that the vision of Rainbow Tea Shop did not align with their goals and identity – a realization that sparked the rebrand.
“It was hard for us because it wasn’t authentic to who we were,” Dong said. “What are we doing all this work for? We advance someone else’s vision for what the space should look like and to not be authentic to what we wanted to provide.”
The transition into Manna Tea House began in October 2025, where they began redesigning the interior, perfecting the menu and creating a new brand. The name, inspired by the biblical term “manna,” is drawn from the question, “What is it?” For the owners, it represents providing a more comfortable environment and providing a space where people can have meaningful conversations with their community.
That vision is reflected in its cozy environment with its natural decor and comfortable seating arrangements for any guest. For the casual visitor, board games ranging from Jenga to Xiangqi, along with a claw machine are sure to entertain. For visiting students working on last-minute assignments, the shop offers a complementary printer, a whiteboard and free internet access.
The weeklong soft opening event was a quiet introduction to the new space with a buy-one-get-one-free promotion, which encouraged newcomers and frequent visitors alike to share a sweet drink with a loved one. The huge turnout was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise to the owners, who witnessed the community’s response.
“Having set our little soft evening kind of helped us to get all those things moving,” Rebecca Dong said. “So yeah, we’re really, really grateful for everybody who stopped by.”
For a generation that is constantly on the move, Manna Tea House offers a place of rest. For first-time customers like Sarah Aranda, supply chain management junior, the drinks stand out as much as the atmosphere.
“It’s such a hidden location so you wouldn’t expect the flavors to be that good, but it surprised me,” Aranda said. “It’s really good!”
Now, their next goal is to have a successful grand opening. The event is set to happen in October, where they are planning to launch their fall menu and welcome guests with exclusive giveaways, both additional perks to their 10% discount for university students.
“A lot of people wait for the perfect opportunity, wait for the perfect idea or wait for the perfect business partners,” Dong said. “But the deepest learning is getting your hands and feet dirty, and just going out there and working on what you hope to eventually bring as a business owner.”