Combine sweetened tea with creamy milk, ice and chewy tapioca balls, and what do you get? Boba tea, that's what.
In the U.S., boba tea has become a huge craze over the past decade. In other parts of the world, its deliciousness is nothing new. Milk tea first became popular in Taiwan in the 1980s. Tea drinking was already a cultural staple, and someone had the bright idea to combine it with sweetened tapioca balls and shaved ice — two of Taiwan's most popular desserts. The resulting beverage became known as boba tea.
As the bubble tea drink continues to boom in popularity, unique flavors are popping up around the world, which means your taste buds can travel somewhere new with each one. These are some of our all-time favorite boba flavors, from the original milk tea to spicy, India-inspired chai. Enjoy.
Almond Boba
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: The Mediterranean. Almonds are native to Iran, although they're now also grown in California. We love combining almond boba and vanilla boba for an extra treat.
Where to try it: Bing's Boba Tea, Tucson, Arizona
Blueberry Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: The Pacific Northwest. Washington State is the top producer of blueberries in the nation. There's nothing quite like eating them fresh off the bush, but blueberry boba is amazing in a different way.
Where to try it: The Zone Nutrition, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Brown Sugar Milk Tea Boba
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Taiwan. Brown sugar milk tea is one of the first boba flavors. It's commonly known as Tiger sugar milk tea because the brown sugar drips down the side of the cup like tiger stripes.
Where to try it: The Alley, multiple locations around the country
Chai Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: India, where chai tea originated. Chai tea is traditionally made with black tea, robust, earthy spices, milk and sugar. Chai boba tea is exactly the same, just with chewy tapioca to make it even more addictive.
Where to try it: Teapioca Lounge, multiple locations
Coconut Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: The Caribbean, of course! What flavor is more tropical than coconut? Just add pineapple, and you're basically on vacation.
Where to try it: Kung Fu Tea, multiple locations
Coffee Boba
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: A better Monday morning, hopefully! Coffee is an obsession literally everywhere, although it's primarily grown near the equator. Coffee boba isn't technically bubble tea, but who cares? It's amazing, and the caffeine boost is appreciated.
Where to try it: Sharetea, multiple locations
Earl Grey Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Britain. Where else would a tea named Earl Grey be from? It's a black tea flavored with bergamot oil, and it's one of our all-time favorites. Earl Grey boba is perfect when it's not too sweet so you can fully appreciate the flavor of the tea.
Where to try it: Surreal Creamery, locations around the country
Gingerbread Milk Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Santa's workshop. Let's be honest, no matter where gingerbread came from, at this point, it just reminds us of the holidays. After all, boba can be enjoyed any time of year.
Where to try it: Boba Tea House, Riverside, California
Hokkaido Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Japan. Hokkaido milk tea is traditionally produced using milk from the Hokkaido region of Japan. The island is known for its dairy products. Hokkaido boba tea is also sometimes called royal milk tea.
Where to try it: Sunright Tea Studio, multiple locations in California
Honeydew Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: South America. Honeydew melon popularity has dipped sharply in recent years, but it's actually the sweetest fruit of its kind. Honeydew boba might be what convinces us to bring this fruit back in a big way.
Where to try it: Boba + Chill in Pembroke Pines, Florida
Horchata Boba
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Mexico and Spain. Horchata was originally invented in North Africa, but a variation of it became popular in Spain during the eighth century. If you've never tried it, imagine rice pudding with vanilla and cinnamon, only drinkable.
Where to try it: Tea Lyfe Drinks, two locations in California
Jasmine Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: The Himalayas. The Jasmine plant originated there, although India is also known for using jasmine as a seasoning. The light, floral taste is surprisingly refreshing.
Where to try it: Tira Tea House, Garden Grove, California
Lavender Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Southern France, particularly Provence. There, the summer countryside is painted in waving rows of purple for most of July. Lavender is popular in aromatherapy for its relaxing qualities. During a stressful work day, skip the coffee and try lavender boba instead!
Where to try it: Sugar Milk Boba & Dessert Bar, two locations in Florida
Lychee Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Southern China, where lychees have been grown for around 2,000 years. Lychee fruit is very popular in Chinese cuisine. It has a slightly floral flavor. Some people compare it to the scent of a rose combined with the texture of a grape.
Where to try it: Oasis Tea Zone, Seattle, Washington
Mango Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Mexico or Peru. Mangos are a South American staple. Try sprinkling a little chili powder on top to match the flavor of traditional spicy mango candies.
Where to try it: U:Dessert Story, two locations in California
Matcha Boba
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Japan, where matcha products are most popular. Matcha has numerous health benefits, including lowering your risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease, so drink up!
Where to try it: Omomo Tea Shoppe, multiple locations in California
Milk Tea Boba
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Taiwan. This is the original milk tea flavor, straight from the birthplace of boba itself.
Where to try it: Tea Latte Bar, multiple locations in Texas
Mint Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Mint boba is a universal flavor, as mint grows naturally on almost every continent. Drinking mint boba always reminds us of the holidays, particularly when topped with peppermint candy.
Where to try it: Urth Caffe, multiple locations in California
Nutella Boba
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Italy. Nutella was originally made after World War II in Piedmont, Italy. It was invented due to a shortage of cocoa; by combining cocoa with ground hazelnuts and sugar, the cocoa lasted longer. As we know, it was also sinfully delicious.
Where to try it: Get Koi Tea in Stafford, Virginia
Oolong Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: China, where oolong has been produced for over a thousand years. It actually means "black" and "dragon," referring to the shape and color of oolong leaves. If you've never tasted it, oolong has a floral, fruity taste.
Where to try it: Tidal Tea, New York, New York
Passionfruit Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Brazil, where passionfruit was first discovered. The fruit is sweet and seedy, and the flavor of passionfruit has become synonymous with summer.
Where to try it: Sherry Blossom, Long Beach, New York
Peach Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Georgia. Georgia has been known for its peaches for decades, even though South Carolina and California both produce more peaches annually. Peach boba is just Georgia's thing.
Where to try it: Happy's Sip & Dip, Gainesville, Texas
Pineapple Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Hawaii. Something about the freshness of pineapple reminds us of sitting on a white sand beach catching some rays.
Where to try it: The Sweet Cup Desserts, Boba & Coffee, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Pistachio Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: The Middle East. The pistachio tree is indigenous to Iran. Now, pistachio flavor is popular around the world, with pistachios grown everywhere from Greece and Italy to California. Fans of pistachio ice cream need to try a blended pistachio smoothie with boba. Let's just say, it's an experience.
Where to try it: Boba Square, three locations in California
Pumpkin Boba
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Indonesia. Pumpkin spice wasn't invented by Starbucks. The flavor was described on pieces of pottery found in Indonesia thousands of years ago. More recently, it has turned into an American holiday staple. Maybe save the pumpkin spice boba for fall?
Where to try it: Luu's Cafe, Seattle, Washington
Red Bean Milk Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Taiwan. There, red bean paste is a dessert topping made from ground, dried red beans and sugar. It's somewhere between sweet and earthy, and it's delicious with boba.
Where to try it: iTea, multiple locations in California
Rose Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: England. If you ever wanted to know what a quaint rose garden tastes like, this is it.
Where to try it: HH Tea, Baltimore, Maryland
Strawberry Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: A summer picnic on the grass. Refreshing, nostalgic and sweet.
Where to try it: Drink It Milk Tea House, Garden City, Kansas
Thai Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Thailand, of course, where Thai iced tea has been served with condensed milk and spices since the mid-1800s. Thai tea boba is just an ordinary (if you can call it that) Thai tea but with chewy tapioca pieces at the bottom of the cup.
Where to try it: Urban Bru Cafe, Guymon, Oklahoma
Taro Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Taiwan, where taro boba was one of the original flavors of bubble tea. What does it taste like, you ask? Taro is a purplish root plant with a flavor similar to that of a sweet potato. We never wanted to drink a sweet potato so much until this very moment.
Where to try it: Bubble in Paradise, Denville, New Jersey
Toffee Milk Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: England, the home of sweet, sticky, English toffee. The caramel flavor goes incredibly well with boba. Pro-tip: Order one toffee boba and one coffee boba, then mix them together to make your very own caramel latte boba tea.
Where to try it: Urban Ritual, San Francisco, California
Vanilla Milk Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: The Caribbean, where vanilla beans are natively grown. If plain vanilla is too boring, mix it with strawberry or pineapple.
Where to try it: Celsius Poke Bowl & Boba Bar, Fresno, California
Wintermelon Boba Tea
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Where this boba tea flavor takes you: Southeast Asia, where wintermelons are popularly made into savory soups or sweetened drinks. It's one of those flavors you have to try to get it. It's similar to the flavor of a cucumber in the best way.
Where to try it: Gong Cha USA, multiple locations