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Bubble Tea Supplies List

Last updated on Dec 12, 2024
Thanks to its variety of flavors, textures, and colors, bubble tea continues to spread across markets. Whether you are opening a bubble tea shop or you're looking to add bubble tea to your coffee or tea shop, this boba tea supplies list will go over the essential tools, equipment, and ingredients needed to make boba tea. For a quick reference, check out our printable bubble tea equipment and supplies list.

Shop All Bubble Tea Supplies

Use the following links to explore the bubble tea supplies you will need for your shop.

  1. Bubble Tea Machines
  2. Bubble Tea Ingredients
  3. Bubble Tea Disposable Supplies
  4. Bubble Tea Shop Equipment
  5. Miscellaneous Bubble Tea Supplies

1. Bubble Tea Machines

Bubble tea machines are ideal for shops looking to serve high volumes of boba tea and milk tea. While specialty bubble tea machines are not necessary to purchase if you're looking to add bubble tea to your menu, they help streamline the drink-making process so that you can serve your customers consistently great-tasting bubble tea while saving on labor costs. The 3 most common specialty bubble tea machines you will find in a bubble tea shop are fructose dispensers, shaking machines, and sealing machines.

Restaurant Equipment

Bubble Tea Sealing Machine

A bubble tea sealer machine uses plastic film to seal the cup of bubble tea, which the customer can then poke a hole through with their boba straws. Not only does this enhance the bubble tea drinking experience, but it also helps prevent tampering and spills. You can even use a sealer machine to seal other drinks and food like yogurt and parfaits ahead of time for easy grab-and-go service!

Bubble Tea Fructose Dispenser

A bubble tea fructose dispenser is ideal for use with liquid fructose or sugar syrup. It accurately dispenses the sweetening ingredients, so you can ensure the consistency of sweetness with every cup and also maintain accurate nutritional information.

Bubble Tea Shaking Machine

A bubble tea shaking machine eliminates the need for manual shaking to save on time and labor. It offers 360 degree rotation during shaking to effectively combine ingredients for the perfect bubble tea.

 

2. Bubble Tea Ingredients

Bubble tea ingredients include a base of tea or juice and the addition of flavorings, milk, and sweeteners. Additionally, they can include add-ins and toppings like tapioca pearls, popping boba, and flavored jelly. Use this comprehensive list of boba ingredients to ensure you have all the main ingredients, toppings, and add-ins you need to serve delicious bubble tea!

Restaurant Equipment

Tea

Whether you are looking for tea in loose-leaf, powder, or individual sachet forms, make sure you have a variety of tea types, such as black, oolong, bubble tea, matcha, and herbal tea, to offer both classic and trendy drink items on your menu.

Bubble Tea Powder

In addition to flavoring, most bubble tea powders also contain creamer and sugar to cut down on the number of ingredients needed to make your beverages. Able to be prepared iced, blended, or in hot beverages, the powders are great for making bubble teas, milk teas, smoothies, slushies, and other specialty beverages.

Bubble Tea Syrup

Bubble tea syrups and sweeteners are ideal for bringing flavor and sweetness to milk teas, smoothies, and slushies. Having an assortment of flavoring syrups is an ideal way to create a diverse menu selection that appeals to a wide customer base.

Bubble Tea Creamer

Bubble tea creamer adds a rich and creamy texture to milk tea and boba tea. It comes in powdered form, so it can be stored at room temperature. Most bubble tea creamers are dairy free, making them a safe alternative for lactose intolerant guests.

Restaurant Equipment

Tapioca and Crystal Boba

A classic addition to bubble teas, tapioca boba pearls and crystal boba add a delicious flavor and chewy texture. Tapioca pearls are easy to prepare; all you need is boiling water, a pot, and a stovetop! Once they're cooked, they can be sweetened with the sweetener of your choice.

Popping Boba

Popping boba features a jelly coating that is made of seaweed extract and contains juice that bursts with flavor when bitten into, giving a dynamic texture to your beverage or dessert. 

Jelly

The flavored jelly toppings are made from the inside layer of a coconut to obtain a jelly-like texture and are sweetened with flavored syrups. Providing an exciting alternative to traditional tapioca pearls or crystal boba, use jelly to top your bubble teas and smoothies.

Smoothie Paste

Fruit/smoothie pastes feature real fruit pulp to create thick smoothies that won't separate out. They are also ideal for adding flavor and texture to fruit teas, bubble teas, and other specialty beverages.

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3. Bubble Tea Disposable Supplies

There are a few essential disposables you will need to have in your bubble tea shop. For instance, because of the large boba pearls that are in bubble tea, it is important to have straws that are wide enough in diameter to properly sip up your add-ins. Plus, there are a couple ways you can seal your drink, either by lid or by sealing film, which will depend on the level of presentation you'd like your bubble tea to have.

Restaurant Equipment

Boba Tea Straw

Boba tea straws feature a pointed tip that is specifically designed for piercing through film as well as a wide diameter that makes it easy to sip up add-ins.

Plastic Cold Cup

Plastic cold cups are offered in all different sizes, materials, and colors. To ensure your cups hold up to add-in ingredients and smoothies, you will want to look into cups made with a heavier-duty material, such as PET plastic.

Restaurant Equipment

Dome Lid

Dome lids can be used as an alternative to sealing film on boba cups. Use the extra space to top off the drink with flavored foam, whip cream, or extra toppings! Be sure to confirm the compatibility of the lid and cup prior to purchasing.

Sealing Film

While sealing film functions as a spill-resistant cover for your drinks, it enhances the boba experience by providing customers with the satisfaction of piercing the seal with their boba straw. Sealing film can come in either paper or plastic and compatibility between the film and cup should be confirmed prior to purchasing.

4. Bubble Tea Shop Equipment

In addition to bubble tea machines, make sure your bubble tea operation is running smoothly with the below pieces of equipment that are necessary for cooking and storing your boba tea ingredients.

Restaurant Equipment

Automatic Tea Brewer

Automatic tea brewers allow you to make large batches of loose-leaf tea at once to streamline your operation. Automatic tea brewers feature simple controls that allow you to adjust the time, volume, temperature, and other brew functions so that you can best extract the flavor of the tea leaves.

Blender

You will need a blender if you are offering smoothies, milkshakes, or blended drinks on your menu. Using a blender with a sound enclosure will help minimize the noise level so as to not disturb your guests. If you are opening a juice or smoothie shop, boba smoothies are a great way to capitalize on the growing bubble tea trend.

Restaurant Equipment

Range

Since tapioca pearls come uncooked, you will need a range to cook them on. The type of range you will need will depend on your volume and if you plan to serve other menu items besides boba tea. If you are only serving bubble tea, you may only need a stock pot range or countertop range. However, if you plan to offer food on your menu a more traditional restaurant range may be necessary. 

Refrigerator

Having refrigeration equipment in your boba shop is imperative for keeping ingredients fresh. The type of refrigeration you will need will depend on your menu and demand. You may only need a reach-in refrigerator for your perishable products or you may need additional equipment, such as a refrigerated prep table for build-your-own orders and a display merchandiser for to-go orders.

5. Miscellaneous Bubble Tea Supplies

Below you will find other milk tea tools that are essential to running a bubble tea shop. If you are adding these trendy drinks to your existing menu, you may find that you already have most of these supplies in your prep area!

  • Shaker Cups: If you will only be serving bubble tea as an additional menu item to your main food or beverages, a shaker cup may be all you need instead of a shaker machine. However, if you have a shaker machine, it is still a good idea to have a few shaker cups on-hand for high-volume establishments that may need to keep up with peak hours.
  • Stock Pot: Make sure you have a stock pot that is large enough to cook the amount of tapioca pearls you desire at a time. Cooked tapioca pearls expand to almost twice their original size, so be sure that you account for this when choosing the sizes you need.
  • Strainer: You will need a strainer to drain the water from the cooked tapioca pearls and give them a final rinse.
  • Measuring Cup: Measuring cups and scoops are essential to have on hand for easily portioning your powders, boba pearls, and toppings to ensure consistency.
  • Mixing Bowl: You will need a mixing bowl during the tapioca pearl cooking process. Once the pearls are drained and rinsed, transfer them to a mixing bowl to add in your sweeteners.
  • Food Storage Container: Use airtight food containers to store cooked tapioca pearls and other products until they’re ready to use.
  • Syrup Pump: Use syrup pumps to dispense consistent portions of your most popular syrups. They help streamline your prep area and make dispensing syrup a quick and easy task.
  • Thermometer: If you will be brewing tea on-demand, then a thermometer is essential to ensure an accurate brew temperature to properly extract all the flavors from the tea leaves.
  • Food Scale: Use a food scale to accurately portion out your ingredients.
  • Water Filtration System: Quality bubble tea first starts with quality water. Ensure your drinks taste their best and your tea brewing equipment is protected from contaminate build-up by using a high-quality water filtration system in your establishment.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Please refer to our Content Policy for more details.

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