A comprehensive guide to the best boba flavors, perfect for beginners and connoisseurs alike! The list includes popular bubble tea flavors, milk tea, fruity bubble teas and other boba recipes.
It’s no secret that boba tea has taken the entire world by storm! Also known as bubble tea, milk tea or simply boba, this delicious drink is super fun and easy to make. It comes in many different flavors and combinations, with various toppings, so the customization options are endless.
This comprehensive bubble tea guide is a collection of the best boba flavors, as well as specialty milk teas and fruity bubble tea flavors. They are perfect for beginners and proper boba connoisseurs, with easy to follow recipes and delicious flavors!
Make sure you also check out the bonus boba flavored recipes at the end.
Table of contents
Originating in Taiwan, classic bubble tea is made with a milky base, black tea and chewy tapioca pearls. The name “bubble tea” comes from the small tapioca pearls that look like bubbles at the bottom of the glass. Boba and bubble tea are exactly the same thing, with “boba” (波霸) being Taiwanese Mandarin slang used for tapioca pearls.
Nowadays, boba tea comes in hundreds of flavors, many with a western twist. From vibrant fruit flavors, to milky and even boba smoothies, the options are endless. In terms of toppings, you can choose between boba pearls (tapioca pearls), coconut or aloe jelly, grass jelly, popping boba and more.
Many bubble tea shops have their own menus with unique flavor combinations, but most will serve the most popular boba tea flavors found in this guide.
Why you'll love these recipes
- Delicious flavors: All of these recipes have been curated using the best recipes to create delicious boba. The boba pearls are cooked to perfection, with tea base made from scratch for the most authentic flavor!
- Natural: A lot of boba shops use premade powders or syrups, which create an artificial flavor. For the best boba flavor, the recipes below use only natural ingredients, with no artificial powders, flavorings or other additives.
- Easy to make: Not only are these the best boba flavors, but they’re also much easier to make than you think! These milk tea recipes are easy to follow, with simple instructions.
- Customizable: All of these boba tea recipes can be customizable by adding various homemade syrups, toppings or switching up the tea flavors. You can also have most of these milk teas either hot or cold.
The most popular boba flavors
The list below for the best boba milk tea flavors is ranked by popularity. Most bubble tea shops will have these flavors, but nothing tastes as good as homemade! All these recipes are made from scratch, for the most authentic and best boba tea flavor!
Tiger Milk Tea (Brown Sugar Boba)
Tiger Boba, also known as Brown Sugar Milk Tea, is the most popular and the best boba flavor for beginners. It tastes caramelized, sweet and has a silky smooth texture, with perfectly chewy boba. It’s made with only three ingredients: brown sugar syrup, milk and chewy tapioca pearls. You can also add heavy cream for a truly decadent flavor. Despite its name, Tiger Milk Tea does not contain any tea and it’s a great caffeine-free option.
Check out this recipe
Assam Milk Tea
This classic milk tea flavor is usually found in all bubble tea shops. Made with Assam black tea, it has a rich and earthy flavor, which pairs beautifully with the milky tea base. With its roasted malty undertone, Assam Milk Tea is the perfect choice for bubble tea beginners. It’s not overly sweet, and not too overpowering – it’s just right!
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Thai Boba Tea
If you love drinks with a twist, get ready to fall in love with this Thai Boba Tea! This recipe tastes really authentic, as it’s made with real Thai Tea. This refreshing drink has a sweet flavor is topped with brown sugar boba pearls for extra chewiness. Thai Milk Tea is a flavor that’s extremely popular all across the world.
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Taro Bubble Tea
Taro Bubble Tea is the purple bubble tea that’s become super popular in western countries over the last few years. Made with real taro root, it has a naturally sweet and vanilla-like flavor, which goes really well with coconut milk. This Taro Milk Tea recipe is entirely natural and it also includes tips on making your own taro boba from scratch!
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Jasmine Milk Tea
If you like a more floral and light flavor, then Jasmine Milk Tea is the perfect choice for you! Made with floral Jasmine green tea and milk, it has afresh and summery flavor, perfect for beginners that don’t like a bitter taste. Jasmine Bubble Tea goes really well with caramelized brown sugar syrup and makes the most addictive bubble tea flavor!
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Oolong Boba Tea
Oolong Boba Tea is for more adventurous bubble tea fans that like a deeper, more roasted flavor. Made with roasted black Oolong tea, it has a nutty flavor with earthy undertones. Milk takes away some of the richness of this black tea, making this boba flavor perfectly balanced, with moderate sweetness.
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Rose Milk Tea Boba
If you love really floral and delicate drinks that smell as good as they taste, then Rose Milk Tea is the perfect choice for you! This Rose Boba is fragrant, sweet and light, with a natural aroma. Made with real roses, it’s entirely natural for the most perfumed smell and refreshing taste. Rose Bubble Tea is perfect for hot days, served with plenty of ice cubes!
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Earl Grey Boba Tea
If you love a mean cup of English-style black tea with a dash of milk, then Earl Grey Boba is definitely for you! Made with Earl Grey black tea, this milk tea flavor is rich and dark, with refreshing hints of bergamot citrus. It has a full-bodied and malty taste, with light floral notes, perfect for boba enthusiasts that like a well-balanced bubble tea!
Check out this recipe
Almond Milk Tea Boba (Vegan)
Almond Milk Tea Boba is a lighter alternative to classic bubble tea. It’s made exactly the same, but instead of cow’s milk it uses almond milk. Almond Bubble Tea is really popular for vegan and lactose-intolerant diets, as it’s entirely dairy-free. It has a light nutty flavor from the almond milk, without being too overpowering.
Check out this recipe
Chocolate Boba Tea
Do you always find yourself ordering hot chocolate instead of coffee? Then this Chocolate Bubble Tea is the perfect choice for you! It’s basically like a decadent, silky-smooth hot chocolate with perfectly chewy tapioca pearls. What’s not to love?! This recipe is entirely natural and uses real chocolate for flavor.
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Specialty boba tea flavors
These bubble tea flavors are more unique and are usually found in the specialty section of boba shops. Despite their special status, they are super easy to make and are truly decadent. Let’s get into the best boba flavors for specialty recipes:
Ube Boba Tea (Purple Yam Bubble Tea)
Ube Boba Tea is hands down one of the best boba flavors because of its unique taste. Made with real ube purple yam, Ube Milk Tea is a creamy milk tea with hints of sweet earthiness. Coconut milk is used as a base for a refreshing flavor, which pairs perfectly with ube.
Check out this recipe
Okinawa Milk Tea
Although mainly found in specialty Japanese bubble tea shops, Okinawa Milk Tea is hands down the most unique flavor choice. It has a deep, rich caramelized flavor that comes from kokuto sugar, also known as Okinawa brown sugar. Kokuto is considered to be one of the healthiest types of sugar, so this boba recipe is really special. This recipe makes the most authentic Okinawa Bubble Tea!
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Hokkaido Milk Tea Boba
Hokkaido Bubble Tea is one of the smoothest and creamiest boba tea flavors out there, as it’s made with velvety smooth milk. The main emphasis in Hokkaido Boba Tea is placed on its milky taste, so the boba is not too sweet or too intense. It’s subtle, light and extra creamy, made with perfectly chewy boba pearls. Follow this unique recipe to make the most authentic Japanese Hokkaido Milk Tea.
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Hojicha Bubble Tea
If you love unique Japanese flavors and roasted aromas, Hojicha Milk Tea is the perfect choice! Made with roasted green tea powder known as Hojicha, this boba tea is rich and creamy, with a unique deep flavor. The rich roasted flavor is reminiscent of coffee, so if you want a drink that tastes like coffee but with less caffeine, this boba is ideal.
Check out this recipe
Matcha Boba Tea
Matcha Boba Tea is a lighter version of Hojicha Milk Tea, made from fresh green tea powder. Without any roasting, matcha has a vibrant fresh and herbal aroma, without being grassy or bitter. So if you love coffee shops Matcha Latte, this Matcha Milk Tea is perfect for you!
Check out this recipe
Coffee Milk Tea Boba
Are you one of those people that can’t wake up unless they have a freshly brewed cup of coffee? Then this Coffee Milk Tea Boba will keep you coming back for more! It’s like a cup of creamy latte, with a hint of caramel flavor and delicious chewy boba pearls. What’s not to love?!
Check out this recipe
Butterfly Pea Flower Boba (Blue Boba)
Do you just love vibrantly colored drinks but hate artificial coloring? Then this Blue Milk Tea is the one for you! Made with butterfly pea flower powder, this unique boba has a vibrant blue color and a light and floral flavor. So you get all the good stuff with only natural ingredients!
Check out this recipe
Fruity bubble tea flavors
Fruity boba teas are incredibly popular in summertime, because they are refreshing and usually served with plenty of ice. In this category, best boba tea flavors are made with real fruit for the most natural aroma.
Strawberry Boba Tea
There’s nothing quite like deliciously fresh strawberries for a true taste of summer. Strawberry Milk Tea is one of the best boba flavors because it tastes like summer in a cup. It’s made with real strawberries for the most natural and fresh flavor and it tastes deliciously fruity and creamy, with extra sweetness from homemade strawberry syrup. This Strawberry Boba Tea recipe is really easy to make and perfect to enjoy iced on a hot summer day.
Check out this recipe
Wintermelon Milk Tea
Wintermelon Milk Tea is an incredibly popular Taiwanese boba flavor. This boba iced tea is made with fresh wintermelon or ash gourd for the most authentic boba tea drink. This flavor is perfect for hot summer days because it’s naturally refreshing and cooling, with a gentle sweetness. Make sure you serve it with plenty of ice!
Check out this recipe
Mango Milk Tea
Do you love tropical flavors and smoothies are your favorite thing ever? Then this Mango Milk Tea is definitely right up your alley! It’s refreshing, naturally sweet and has a delicious tropical flavor. Made with real mango fruit juice, this recipe is super easy to make and tastes even better than store-bought boba.
Check out this recipe
Passion Fruit Boba
Here’s another delicious boba recipe for tropical flavor lovers! Passion Fruit Boba Tea has a creamy texture, is refreshing and has a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Made with real passion fruit puree, this boba is entirely natural and tastes divine!
Check out this recipe
Lychee Bubble Tea
Lychee Bubble Tea has been growing in popularity with fruity boba tea lovers because of its unique tropical flavor. This fruity bubble tea is ultra-refreshing and sweet, with a playful tropical flavor. Made with real lychee, it adds lots of flavor and texture alongside the chewy boba pearls.
Check out this recipe
Blueberry Bubble Tea
No fruity boba collection is complete without the beloved Blueberry Bubble Tea. Made with real blueberries, green tea and milk, this boba tea is fruity and delicate. No artificial flavoring is used, so you can enjoy the delicious flavor without any additives.
Check out this recipe
Other fun bubble tea recipes
We’ve talked all about the best boba flavors, but I want to share some unique and fun desserts and treats that go really well with them. You can use bubble tea flavor to make cakes, ice creams, snacks and more!
Brown Sugar Syrup for Boba
No bubble tea recipe is complete without the iconic Brown Sugar Syrup for boba! This recipe makes the most foolproof syrup that has the right flavor and texture for boba tea. It’s perfectly caramelized, sticky and delicious! This syrup recipe easy to make and ensures the Brown Sugar Syrup is completely smooth, without any sugar crystals. Plus, you can make it in advance and use it for bubble tea for weeks! You can also use it on pancakes, waffles, ice cream and cakes.
Check out this recipe
Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bars
Ever wanted to turn a cup of brown sugar bubble tea into an ice cream bar? Well, you’re in luck! These Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bars are like a cup of bubble tea on a stick. They are delicious, milky and caramelized, with homemade ‘boba’ pearls. The recipe makes the most delicious homemade ice cream, with perfectly chewy boba even after freezing.
Check out this recipe
Strawberry Mango Boba Smoothie
This Strawberry Mango Boba Smoothie is the perfect marriage between bubble tea and a healthy smoothie! Made with fresh mango, strawberries and coconut milk, it has a refreshing tropical flavor that adds natural sweetness. Served with chewy boba pearls, it’s the perfect boba smoothie for breakfast!
Check out this recipe
Bubble Milk Tea Panna Cotta
If by now you can’t get enough of boba milk tea, might as well add it into your desserts as well! This luscious Bubble Milk Tea Panna Cotta is extra creamy and light, topped with chewy tapioca pearls. So if you want to impress your boba loving friends, this sweet treat is definitely a showstopper!
Check out this recipe
Watermelon Boba Popsicles
Looking to turn your boba game up a notch? This Watermelon Boba Popsicles recipe is ideal for fruity tea lovers, and perfect for hot summer days. This recipe is really easy to follow and entirely natural.
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Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream with Boba
For all my coffee lovers, this Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream with Boba is an absolute treat! And the best part? It’s super easy to make and no churn. Boasting a rich milky coffee flavor, this ice cream has added chewiness from tapioca pearls. What an absolute treat!
Check out this recipe
Boba Cake (Vegan)
When you taste this Vegan Boba Cake you’ll be absolutely shocked that it’s vegan! It’s creamy and soft, with all the bubble tea flavors we know and love. Topped with chewy boba pearls, this Bubble Tea Cake is ideal for all year round celebrations.
Check out this recipe
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