Drink bubble tea in Austin! This post shares more about boba and where to get it.
If you’ve ever visited Taiwan or visited a Chinatown, you’ll likely recognize this popular Asian drink, bubble tea! If you’ve never heard of bubble tea, think of it as a coffee shop drink. Want to learn more and find out where to find it in Austin? Keep reading!
What is Bubble Tea?
Bubble tea is an iced drink from Taiwan that usually includes tea, milk, and toppings. It can also be called pearl tea, boba tea, milk tea, or boba. Since its creation in the 1980s, its popularity has spread internationally, especially to other Asian countries, Canada, and the U.S.
While tea is a popular component in these drinks, some shops have expanded to offer fruit smoothies. These drinks are a caffeine-free alternative that still allows you to enjoy the toppings. The toppings are the chunky stuff at the bottom of the cup, like tapioca balls or jelly.
In most bubble tea shops, you can adjust the amount of ice and sweetness level (percentage). To enjoy the toppings, you’ll have a fat straw, one wide enough to suck up the boba or whatever toppings you choose.
When you order you typically choose:
- Type of tea, juice, or smoothie
- Type of topping
What Toppings are in Bubble Tea?
The traditional topping is the black tapioca ball, boba, but topping varieties also include pudding, aloe vera, jellies, red beans, and ice cream. A newer topping option is cream cheese, also known as a cheese cap! Cheese tea has a foamy cream cheese and condensed milk mixture plopped on top.
What Bubble Tea Should I Order?
My order depends on my mood, time of day, and what I’m craving. I usually get a classic milk tea or jasmine milk tea with black tapioca balls. I usually start at 50% sweetness and decrease from there.
To give you more ideas, I asked some of the biggest boba tea enthusiasts I know to share their favorite orders.
- Wintermelon Tea with Grass Jelly
- Mango Green Tea
- Jasmine Milk Tea with Honey Boba
- Kiwi Fruit Tea with Aiju Jelly
- Strawberry Ice Blended with Lychee Jelly and Ice Cream
- Oolong Milk Tea with Boba, less sweetened
Best Bubble Tea Shops in Austin
Boba tea shops have exploded in the Austin area! We have places that are local shops and the franchises we are lucky to have are usually owned by locals passionate about bringing quality bubble tea to the masses.
If you’re looking for bubble tea in Austin, here are some places you should check out!
Coco’s Cafe
This locally owned restaurant is popular for its boba drinks (and their peppercorn chicken with rice). I recommend their milk tea and green milk tea! They also have selections of smoothies (with milk) and slushies (without milk).
Locations:
- 8557 Research Blvd Suite #118, Austin, TX 78757
- 1910 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705
Gong Cha
This international bubble tea brand comes from Taiwan, established in 2006. Since then, it has expanded to multiple countries, including coming to the U.S. in 2014. Gong Cha is currently in four U.S. states and in Texas, also in Houston and Dallas.
Locations:
- 2021 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705 (Dobie Food Court)
- 13201 Ranch Rd 620 N #206, Austin, TX 78717 (Anna Plaza)
- 3210 Esperanza Crossing, Suite 126, Austin, Texas 78758 (Domain)
Kung Fu Tea
What happens when you miss the authenticity of Taiwanese bubble tea? You find a way to create it in the U.S. That’s how Kung Fu Tea started in 2009 in New York. Four friends, one whose expertise running a bubble tea chain in Taiwan came in handy, now have an international brand and locations across the U.S., including plenty of locations in Texas!
Locations:
- 9070 Research Blvd #102, Austin, TX 78758 (Crossroad Plaza)
- 2001 Guadalupe St #A2 Austin TX 78705
- 905 E Whitestone Blvd Ste C Cedar Park TX 78613
Sharetea
The oldest bubble tea chain in the U.S., Sharetea is now in Austin. This chain started in Taiwan in 1992 and has grown to over 450 stores in 18 countries. Franchise owner Christine Nieh, who is a UT grad, loves bubble tea so much, it was fated that she open up her own shop. The shop also features a bubble tea mural by my friend, Kathyphantastic!
Location: 13343 US-183 #275, Austin, TX 78750
TeaHaus (temporarily closed)
While the international chains bring a lot of clout, it’s cool to see a local shop stand its own with its authentic drinks. Opened in 2014, TeaHaus was co-founded by four guys who became boba connoisseurs through their experiences. This shop has become a local favorite for its focus on perfecting craft with quality ingredients. (See my post about 101 by TeaHaus here.)
Locations:
- 10815 Ranch Road 2222 #207, Austin, TX 78730
- 101 by TeaHaus, 6929 Airport Blvd #131, Austin, TX 78752
Teapioca Lounge
How about a national bubble tea shop that started in Austin, TX? Teapioca Lounge is now in four U.S. states. When you visit, you may notice a slightly different terminology. Their “cream blastea” is their version of milk tea.
Locations:
- 1700 W Parmer Ln #210, Austin, TX 78727 (Scofield Farms)
- 10000 Research Blvd #137, Austin, TX 78759 (Arboretum)
- 9600 South Interstate 35 Frontage Road B-300, Austin, TX 78748 (Southpark Meadows)
- 2000 S Interstate 35 N-1, Round Rock, TX 78681
- 11301 Lakeline Blvd, Suite 220, Austin, TX 78717
- 1713 Farm to Market 685, Suite 140, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Conclusion: You Should Try Boba Tea
As you can see through the history and growth, bubble tea love is strong. You’ll find bubble tea shops expanding all over the country where Asian populations are greater, and Austin has gotten its fair share of expansion!
Have you ever tried bubble tea? What’s your order?
P.S. Want to see more food suggestions?
- Best Cold Treats in Austin
- Best Cupcakes in Austin
- Where to Find Chinese Dumplings in Austin
- Best Desserts in Austin
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