Tiffany Velazquez / Daily Nexus

Tiffany Velazquez / Daily Nexus

Somewhere on popular Pacific Blvd. in downtown Huntington Park lies Tierra Mia. The coffee shop opened its second location here roughly six years ago, offering Latin flavors and outdoor seating to those out shopping on the busy street.

While its prices are roughly the same as a typical coffee chain, Tierra Mia offers a nice reprieve from the typical assortment of coffee drinks. With a menu consisting of Latin-inspired drinks such as the Horchata Latte and the Chocolate Mexicano Frappe, it is no wonder it has been referred to as being “like a Mexican Starbucks.”

I made a visit to Tierra Mia on my last trip home. The overcast Sunday afternoon made for a long line. Despite the crowd, the line moved fairly quickly, the cashiers were patient and worked efficiently with the number of people waiting. The Horchata Latte is, without a doubt, their best and most popular item, available also in the form of a frappe or muffin. I opted for the Horchata Latte due to the colder weather and, upon inspecting their bakery selection, ordered a butter croissant. My cashier was friendly, offering to warm up my croissant and quickly going off to prepare my drink.

With drink and pastry in hand, I managed to secure one of the few empty tables that day. I dug into my butter croissant, both flaky and delicious. My Horchata Latte, which had been prepared with a foam heart, was topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. I found the drink to be immensely satisfying. The drink is creamy with a cinnamon taste that was in no way too sweet. The drink left me feeling warm and cozy with a sense of home.

If you ever find yourself in Huntington Park or in any of the four other Southern California locations, I recommend heading over to Tierra Mia and trying one of the many Latin-inspired drinks they have to offer.

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Tiffany Velazquez
Tiffany is the On The Menu Co-Editor and has been at the Nexus since spring of her freshman year. When not working on the paper, she is the literal embodiment of an English major and can survive on coffee alone.