Coffee & Tea, Foodservice Trends

Types of Boba

Last updated on Mar 20, 2023
Kevin Singhel

Boba has been a massive global trend in recent years, and many coffee shops and tea bars are adding the drink to their menus. Boba comes in many different forms and flavors, making it a versatile drink many can enjoy. With so many different types of boba to choose from, it can be challenging to decide what bubble tea drinks to include on your menu. We’ve created a guide covering the many different types of boba you can serve at your establishment, including how they’re made, what they taste like, and how popular they are among consumers.

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What Is Boba?

Boba, also known as bubble tea, is a flavored tea-based drink made with toppings such as tapioca balls or grass jelly. Typically served cold, boba is beloved for its sweet taste and unique flavored toppings. The drink originated in Taiwan during the 1980s but has recently exploded in popularity in the United States and around the world.

Boba Types

Boba types can vary in several different ways, including toppings, tea bases, temperature, and sweeteners. For example, although they’re both considered boba, standard cold milk tea boba with tapioca pearls can have wildly different tastes and textures than a warm green tea variety made with popping boba. That being said, there are a handful are common types of boba that you’ll frequently find at bubble tea shops. Below we cover some of the most common types of boba that you should consider adding to your beverage menu:

woman holding bubble tea with well lit night background

1. Milk Tea Boba

Milk tea boba is often seen as the “standard variation” of boba, making it an extremely popular variety. To make milk tea boba, chewy tapioca pearls are combined with black tea and frothy milk, creating a delicious concoction. Since milk tea boba is seen as the basic form of boba, you’ll likely be able to find it at any location serving boba drinks. Milk tea boba is seen as the variation that started the drink as a major trend, so expect this classic option to be one of the best-selling types of boba on your menu.

bubble tea topped off with crystal boba

2. Crystal Boba

Crystal boba is a unique type of boba known for its translucent appearance. Much like standard tapioca pearls, crystal boba has a chewy texture. However, rather than being made from tapioca, this topping is made from konjac plants, a type of plant found in Southeast Asia. Crystal boba's translucent appearance and tapioca-like texture have contributed to the drink's popularity, making the drink one of the most popular types of boba. Other names for crystal boba include white boba and crystal tapioca.

red popping boba in a white bowl on a wood table

3. Popping Boba

One of the most popular types of boba is popping boba, a drink made with a spherical gel-like topping created from molecular gastronomy. Although smaller than normal tapioca pearls, popping boba is filled with fruit juice and bursts when bitten into. In terms of texture, popping boba is vastly different than tapioca pearls, as they instantly burst in your mouth rather than having a chewy texture. Popping boba is also great for more than just bubble teas, as they pair nicely with several different types of frozen desserts. Since popping boba is typically filled with fruit juice, common flavors include strawberry, mango, kiwi, and blueberry.

two matcha green tea bubble teas placed on table

4. Green Tea Boba

As the name suggests, rather than being made with black tea, this type of boba is instead made from a green tea base like matcha. To make green tea boba, combine matcha green tea powder with milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls. The earthy flavor of the matcha powder differentiates this type of boba from other varieties, giving it a unique taste. Green tea boba is great for customers looking to switch things up a little more than just adding different toppings to their bubble tea.

holding a cup of bubble tea filled with jelly boba

5. Jelly Boba

Jelly boba includes grass jelly, a topping made from the Chinese mesona plant. Grass jelly doesn’t have a strong flavor profile, as it has a mild herbal taste with a hint of mint. These jellies can be dark and similar in appearance to tapioca pearls, but they have their own unique flavor. The mild herbal flavor of a grass jelly topping is best paired with sweet milk teas, making jelly boba a fantastic alternative to traditional milk tea boba.

boba made with egg pudding mix and tapioca pearls

6. Egg Pudding Boba

Egg pudding is a unique Asian cold dessert made from eggs, sugar, and milk. Utilizing egg pudding in boba drinks is becoming increasingly popular, as the two pair nicely together. To make egg pudding, combine ingredients before placing them in a double boiler until thickened. Next, chill your egg pudding for a few hours before use. When chilled, add the egg pudding with tapioca pearls and milk tea, creating a delicious boba drink. Just be careful with the consistency of your egg pudding, because if it’s too thick, customers may have trouble using a straw for their boba. Alternatively, egg pudding powder can be used instead, mimicking the flavor of the topping and allowing you to easily create egg pudding boba.

two cups of bubble tea topped with cheese cream

7. Cheese Foam Boba

Cheese foam is a frothy mixture of cream cheese, whipping cream, milk, sugar, and salt. The topping is known for its rich texture, making it the perfect pairing for drinks like boba. Cheese foam can be a versatile topping, as it can either be layered on top of a boba drink or mixed in to create a creamy texture throughout the beverage. Cheese foam is known to have a similar flavor profile to cheesecake, making it a great topping for customers looking for a sweeter type of boba.

two cups of bubble tea topped with cheese cream

8. Mini Boba

As the name suggests, mini boba is a type of boba drink that consists of smaller-sized tapioca pearls. In terms of flavor, mini boba is often identical to that of standard milk tea boba, as there is not much difference outside of the size of the pearls. Some customers may have difficulty with the size of normal tapioca pearls in milk tea boba, finding that they are too chewy to enjoy. If these customers don’t want to branch out and try something different like popping boba, a mini boba drink is a perfect solution.

view of a hand holding a saucer of clear boba over several fruit tea drinks

9. Clear Boba

Clear boba is a topping made out of starch from a cassava root, a plant native to South America. Unlike most other boba toppings, clear boba is relatively flavorless. However, clear boba is great at absorbing flavor from the milk and tea it is served with, taking on a similar flavor profile to bubble tea. For customers looking to add a topping that will enhance their bubble tea without introducing any overwhelming new flavors, clear boba is a fantastic option.

mango flavored tapioca pearls topping off bubble tea

10. Flavored Boba

Flavored boba consists of traditional tapioca pearls that have been coated in another form of flavoring. Typically these pearls are coated in common fruit flavors like blueberry and mango, but more exotic flavors such as dragon fruit and pomegranate are available. Flavored boba is a great option for customers looking for a topping with flavor, but still want the texture of standard tapioca pearls. This topping can also be used for much more than just bubble tea, as the taste and texture of flavored boba lend themselves perfectly to topping desserts like yogurt and ice cream.

Understanding the various types of boba is key to successfully integrating these trendy beverages into your drink menu. Part of the main appeal of boba is the drink’s versatility and customizability, allowing the customer to tailor their order to their flavor preferences. The ability to be flexible and create boba orders from various bases and toppings will improve service and give your establishment a major advantage over coffee shops and other businesses that can’t offer the same. As boba continues to trend and become more popular, offering a wide selection of boba types has the potential to be a huge boost to your business.

Colorful illustrated infographic explaining the different types of boba
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In addition to their delicious taste, these boba pearls also add a visual appeal to your bubble tea with their beautiful red color, making them a popular choice among bubble tea enthusiasts. Strawberry bursting boba tasting notes: Juicy, sweet strawberry Strawberry bursting boba texture: The outer shell is bouncy and soft but bursts with sweet and juicy strawberry flavor when bitten Best boba tea flavors to pair strawberry bursting boba with: Strawberry milk tea, matcha tea, coconut milk tea, honeydew milk tea, mango tea 7. Mango Boba Mango bursting boba features ripe, juicy mango flavor and bright orange color. These small, chewy balls burst with real juice flavor when bitten, creating a splash of sweetness that complements the tea base. The dynamic texture of mango-bursting boba adds a fun element to the drink, making it a delightful treat for customers of all ages. One of the key advantages of mango bursting boba is that it is caffeine-free, making it a versatile topping option that can be added to a variety of tea bases without altering the caffeine content. This makes it an ideal choice for customers looking for a refreshing beverage without the stimulating effects of caffeine. Mango bursting boba is also steeped in tradition, as it is a classic Taiwanese topping that adds a tropical twist to the drink. Mango bursting boba tasting notes: Ripe, juicy mango Mango bursting boba texture: The outer shell is bouncy and soft but bursts with sweet and juicy mango flavor when bitten Best boba tea flavors to pair mango bursting boba with: Mango tea, honeydew milk tea, coconut milk tea, strawberry milk tea, wintermelon milk tea, matcha tea, taro milk tea 8. 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Egg pudding tasting notes: Creamy custard Egg pudding texture: Silky smooth flan-like texture Best boba tea flavors to pair egg pudding with: Thai milk tea, black milk tea, brown sugar milk tea, taro milk tea 9. Passion Fruit Boba Passion fruit bursting boba is a popular bubble tea topping that adds a burst of flavor and texture to your beverage. These boba are packed with real juice, providing a fresh tropical passion fruit flavor that customers love. Passion fruit has a dynamic taste known for its citrusy essence and hints of kiwi, melon, and pineapple. The soft orange color of the boba adds visual appeal to drinks, making them even more enticing. When bitten into, passion fruit bursting boba releases a refreshing liquid, adding a complex mouthfeel to each sip. This unique topping enhances the overall drinking experience, making it a favorite among bubble tea enthusiasts. Passion fruit bursting boba tasting notes: Juicy citrus, kiwi, melon, and pineapple Passion fruit bursting boba texture: The outer shell is bouncy and soft but bursts with sweet and juicy passion fruit flavor when bitten Best boba tea flavors to pair passion fruit bursting boba with: Mango tea, honeydew milk eta, strawberry milk tea, wintermelon milk tea, coconut milk tea 10. Aloe Vera Jelly Aloe vera jelly is a crystal-clear, jelly-like topping that offers a clean aloe flavor with a hint of sweetness from the syrup it’s stored in, providing a delightful contrast to the tea base. One of the key characteristics of aloe vera jelly is its pleasantly chewy texture, which adds a fun element to each sip of your drink. Beyond its texture and flavor, aloe vera jelly is marketed for its health benefits. Aloe vera promotes hydration and is believed to support healthy digestion. Incorporating aloe vera jelly into your bubble tea menu can be a trendy and convenient way to offer customers a refreshing and nourishing option. Not only does it cater to the growing health food market, but it also adds an ethereal visual element to your beverage with its translucent appearance. Aloe vera jelly tasting notes: Subtly sweet, citrusy, slightly bitter Aloe vera jelly texture: Silky smooth flan-like texture Best boba tea flavors to pair aloe vera jelly with: Matcha tea, wintermelon milk tea, coconut milk tea, honeydew milk tea Back to Top Boba Tea Topping Brands Now that you’re familiar with the most popular boba tea toppings, it’s time to make purchasing decisions. Whether you’re just starting your bubble tea business or are unsatisfied with the quality of the brands you have purchased from in the past, we’ve rounded up the top boba tea topping brands operators should know. Each brand is highly rated and offers a wide range of bubble tea products. Bossen Bossen brand, a division of Leadway International, Inc., was established in 2010 by Haber Tu and Edward Shen. Situated in the San Francisco Bay area, Bossen initially focused on creating high-quality dessert and beverage items, such as bubble tea supplies and frozen yogurt toppings. Over time, Bossen has evolved into a prominent wholesale provider of bubble tea products for foodservice establishments throughout the United States. They offer a wide range of affordable bubble tea toppings that save on costs without sacrificing flavor. Types of Boba Tea Toppings: Canned toppings, crystal boba, fruit pastes, jelly toppings, mochi, popping boba, pudding powders, tapioca boba, whipped cream toppings Sizes Available: 10.6 oz. to 6 lb. sold individually or in cases See what our customers are saying about Bosson bubble tea toppings! Fanale Since 2014, Fanale has provided genuine Taiwanese bubble tea products made right here in the United States. Fanale's bubble tea and boba items are carefully selected from The U.S. Boba Company, the pioneering boba producer outside of Taiwan. By switching from tea powders to loose-leaf teas and artificial syrups to homemade purees, Fanale has set new benchmarks for quality in the bubble tea sector. Types of Boba Tea Toppings: Crystal boba, fruit pastes, jelly toppings, popping boba, pudding powders, tapioca boba, whipped cream toppings Sizes Available: 2.2 to 10 lb. sold individually or in cases See what our customers are saying about Fanale bubble tea toppings! Back to Top Experiment with a variety of bubble tea toppings that cater to a diverse range of tastes, from sweet options like strawberry and mango bursting boba to more unique flavors such as aloe vera and grass jelly. By incorporating the top 10 boba tea toppings and add-ins, you can appeal to a wide audience and help customers of all ages find a flavor they enjoy. Whether you want to build a brand new menu or update your current selection, including these popular toppings can increase sales.