Top 10 Bubble Tea Toppings
Last updated on Sep 3, 2024Corrinn McCauleyInvented in Taiwan in the 1980s, bubble tea is now a globally beloved beverage. Also known as boba tea, bubble tea is made by blending tea with milk, fruit juice, and sweeteners and pouring the mixture over boba pearls. To enhance this basic formula, there is a wide range of toppings and add-ins boba shop owners offer so customers can enjoy diverse flavors and textures. We’ve rounded up the most popular boba tea toppings and provided suggestions on the best boba tea flavors to pair them with so you can create a gourmet boba tea menu.
Shop All Bubble Tea Toppings1. Coffee Jelly
Whether you're a coffee lover seeking a new way to enjoy your favorite beverage or looking to enhance the overall experience of your bubble tea, coffee jelly is a versatile and flavorful option. Coffee jelly is loved for its rich coffee flavor and soft, jelly-like consistency that adds a playful element to drinks. These translucent, brown-tinted jellies are typically packaged in a sweet syrup, offering a delightful contrast of flavors and textures. Thanks to its caffeine content, coffee jelly provides an extra boost of energy to your bubble tea creations.
- Coffee jelly tasting notes: Complex coffee flavor that is sweet, bitter, and milky
- Coffee jelly texture: Bouncy and chewy
- Best boba tea flavors to pair coffee jelly with: Black milk tea, brown sugar milk tea, Thai milk tea, coconut milk tea
2. Taro Boba
Known for its lightly nutty vanilla flavor, taro boba provides a delicious twist to the traditional bubble tea experience. Its chewy, jelly-like texture adds a fun element to each sip. Visually appealing, taro boba is translucent with a natural purple tint, making it an eye-catching addition to any bubble tea creation. Packaged in syrup, this topping not only adds flavor but also contributes to the overall sweetness of the drink. Taro boba is a versatile topping that pairs well with a variety of tea bases, allowing you to customize your bubble tea to suit your preferences.
- Taro boba tasting notes: Nutty, creamy, sweet, vanilla
- Taro boba texture: Soft, chewy, jelly-like
- Best boba tea flavors to pair taro boba with: Matcha tea, taro milk tea, coconut milk tea, brown sugar milk tea
3. Grass Jelly
Grass jelly, also known as leaf jelly or herb jelly, is a popular topping in bubble tea that adds a unique twist to the beverage. This jelly typically displays an herbal taste with a hint of mint, making it a refreshing addition to any drink. Its mild flavor makes it a versatile choice that pairs well with popular flavoring syrups, honey, and other sweet ingredients. Grass jelly drinks commonly include cubes or slivers of grass jelly, which create a visually appealing contrast with light-colored milk teas. These beverages are simple to make and offer a lower-calorie alternative to traditional boba tea.
- Grass jelly tasting notes: Herbal, minty
- Grass jelly texture: Gelatinous, chewy, thick yet soft
- Best boba tea flavors to pair grass jelly with: Black milk tea, matcha tea, wintermelon milk tea, coconut milk tea
4. Brown Sugar Boba
Brown sugar popping boba is made with real brown sugar, which imparts a rich and caramel-like flavor to the drink. Brown sugar-popping boba is a fun and unique addition to any bubble tea beverage. These small, chewy balls are filled with a burst of sweet brown sugar syrup that adds a delightful pop of flavor with every bite. Brown sugar boba is sure to elevate your bubble tea experience with its rich and indulgent taste.
- Brown sugar boba tasting notes: Creamy, sweet, caramelized, smoky
- Brown sugar boba tasting texture: The outer shell is bouncy and soft but bursts with sweet brown sugar syrup when bitten
- Best boba tea flavors to pair brown sugar boba with: Black milk tea, Thai milk tea, taro milk tea, coconut milk tea, matcha tea
5. Lychee Jelly
Lychee jelly is a popular and delightful topping choice for bubble tea enthusiasts looking to add a burst of tropical flavor to their drinks. Known for its unique texture and sweet taste, lychee jelly is a translucent jelly that comes in a sweet syrup. This topping is perfect for those who enjoy a chewy and refreshing addition to their bubble tea. The key characteristic of lychee jelly is its exotic lychee flavor, which adds a tropical twist to any beverage. Made from nata de coco (a natural coconut jelly), lychee jelly offers a combination of sweet and tangy notes that complement the tea base perfectly. The jelly's texture adds a fun element to the drink, creating a unique mouthfeel that enhances the overall bubble tea experience.
- Lychee jelly tasting notes: Sweet, strawberry, pear, hint of citrus
- Lychee jelly texture: Solid yet soft, bouncy, jiggly
- Best boba tea flavors to pair lychee jelly with: Coconut milk tea, mango tea, honeydew milk tea, wintermelon milk tea
6. Strawberry Boba
Strawberry bursting boba is a beloved bubble tea topping that adds a burst of fruity flavor to your beverage. Originating from the traditional Taiwanese style of bubble tea, these boba pearls are filled with juicy strawberry syrup that delivers an authentic and refreshing taste experience. Made with real juice, each boba is designed to burst with flavor when bitten into, creating a delightful sensation for your taste buds. 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. Egg Pudding
Typically containing eggs, sugar, a dairy or nondairy creamer, and thickening agents, egg pudding is a popular and delectable topping for bubble tea that adds a rich velvety flavor to the beverage. With its gelatin-like texture, egg pudding provides a delightful contrast to the chewy tapioca pearls commonly found in bubble tea drinks. The combination of the sweet and creamy egg pudding with the refreshing tea base creates a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that is sure to satisfy any bubble tea enthusiast. Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with other toppings, egg pudding is a versatile and delicious addition to any bubble tea creation. Its luxurious taste and smooth consistency make it a top choice for those looking to elevate their bubble tea experience.
- 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
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!
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.
