Boba, bubble tea, pearl milk tea or jaan ju lai cha, however you may call it – the last few years has seen quite the craze for this traditional Taiwanese tea-based drink with toppings of tapioca balls. Here’s our guide to the best bubble tea joints in the city. 

Tiger Sugar

Tiger Sugar is known for two things: brown sugar milk boba tea with cream and long, long lines. The tea is served in a specific way – the brown syrup is smeared on the sides of the cup first before the tea is poured in. This creates a gorgeous beige-to-brown colour gradient that won them viral popularity on Instagram. Be prepared to queue as a result. The heavy dose of brown sugar is flavoursome and not too sweet, while the frothed cream mousse mounted atop the drink makes for a full-bodied creamy drink. The boba here is a little tougher than other spots, the price a little higher than others and the wait, a little longer. But still, this is one you should try at least once.

36 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, 2614 1717; facebook.com/hktigersugar

Bubble Tea Work

Located in the corner of the maze-like Kwai Chung Plaza is this tiny hidden gem serving up one of the most creative boba we’ve tried in the city. Their most popular brown sugar pearls latte has a strong tea flavour that has won them a cult following. But what really makes this place memorable is their unique flavours of tapioca bubbles that includes osmanthus-flavoured pearls, black sesame pearls, sweet potato pearls, brown sugar pearls and sakura pearls.

Shop 2009, 2/F, Kwai Chung Plaza, 7 Kwai Foo Road, Kwai Fong, 2353 5336

Flamingo Bloom

Looking for a dairy-free option? Flamingo Bloom’s signatures are appropriately fruity, with smashed strawberries and jasmine green tips with boba topping their bestsellers list (and always being sold out by the afternoon). For milk tea traditionalists, opt for the salted milk cap, french rose and highland oolong and don’t forget to add-on the boba. Their boba has one of the freshest, chewiest textures we’ve tried, and is made with a special sugar, reminiscent to Okinawa black sugar, giving them a lovely caramel-y aftertaste. 

G/F, Shop B, World Trust Tower, 50 Stanley Street, Central, 5177 8255; flamingo-bloom.com

Cha Long

Does it count as bubble tea if it doesn’t have any bubbles? Whatever your definition of boba tea, Cha Long has quite a following in Hong Kong for their great focus on the actual tea (rather than the bubbles). Their signature nitrogen cha features jasmine green or roasted oolong tea with a creaminess achieved by infusing nitrogen into the tea. This makes for a full-bodied drink without any use of milk. But what really makes this tea memorable is their very convenient location. If you live in Hong Kong, chances are you’ve probably seen their big wolf logo at the bottom of the Mid Levels escalators. On hotter days, there’s nothing as satisfying as a large icy cup of Cha Long tea as you head up the escalators.

TP Tea

TP Tea is a Taiwanese import known for their stronger tea flavours. The menu is pretty straight forward with the shop’s focus on their high quality tea leaves. The prices are a bit more expensive, but for tea-lovers it’s totally worth it. The black tea latte with pearls is the conventional choice but their more seasonal drinks such as the mango latte and kumquat latte seem to be gaining popularity with locals.

Shop A3, G/F, 151-155 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2391 9006

Tenren’s Tea

One of the pioneering bubble tea joints in the city, Tenren takes pride on their quality Chinese tea leaves, fresh milk and honey. The best part of Tenren’s bubble tea is the actual boba – they’re honey-infused, soft and flavoursome without feeling too rubbery. Go for the 913 King’s oolong tea latte with an add-on of pearls.

Shop 2A, G/F, Nam Ning Street Aberdeen, 29979089; facebook.com/TenRensTeaHongKong

Coco

Coco is a local boba joint with a reasonable price point. Their milk tea with pearls isn’t much cheaper than other places, but the cups are huge. You get your bang for your buck. It’s their taro milk tea with pearls that got them quite the cult following in Hong Kong. The sweetness of the taro is well-balanced with boba pearls that aren’t as sweet as other places.

84 Hennessy Rd, Wan Chai, 2528 3110; facebook.com/cocoteahk