Whether you’ve tried boba tea five times or one hundred times, you’ve probably found your favorite flavor combination. But don’t stop experimenting; there are so many delicious combinations! From milk tea flavors to bubble tea toppings, I’ve compiled an exhausting list of the best combinations for you here.
What Is the Best Boba Tea for a Beginner?
If you’re new to boba tea, your taste buds are in for a treat. Don’t overwhelm yourself with all of the options. Keep it simple, delicious, and classic. I suggest one of the following for first-timers:
- Taro milk tea. Don’t let the fact that taro is a root vegetable fool you. This drink is naturally sweet and topped with brown sugar tapioca balls, making it a perfect boba drink for beginners.
- Tiger boba tea. This traditional brown sugar milk tea is delicious and straightforward. It’s one of my go-to orders.
- Classic black milk tea with coffee jelly. This traditional and delicious recipe combines black tea, milk, sweetener, and coffee jelly.
Remember, tapioca pearls are the most common bubble tea topping, but there are many other options.
6 Most Common Boba Tea Flavors
Aside from the flavors listed above, here are some more advanced flavors that are top sellers in boba tea shops worldwide.
- Wintermelon
- Strawberry milk tea
- Thai milk tea
- Matcha green tea milk tea
- Jasmine green milk tea
- Vietnamese coffee
Though less common, I would be doing you an injustice if I didn’t mention these delicious flavors; if you haven’t tried almond milk tea, Oreo boba tea, cheesecake bubble tea, or a mango boba smoothie, I suggest you add them to your list.
10 Most Common Bubble Tea Toppings
Aside from brown sugar tapioca pearls, you could pair your tea with the following toppings:
- Golden boba (tapioca pearls soaked in honey instead of brown sugar)
- Rainbow jelly
- Coffee jelly
- Nata de coco
- Popping boba (with fruity flavors like passion fruit or strawberry)
- Grass jelly
- Lychee jelly
- Aloe jelly
- Egg pudding
- Fresh fruit
- Taro balls
Of course, you can use several other toppings, like red beans, ice cream, or chia seeds, but these are some of the most common ones you’ll find at a bubble tea shop.
10 Best Bubble Tea Flavor Combinations You Have to Try
Now that we have discussed popular fruit teas, milk teas, and toppings, it’s time to put them together. Here are some of the best bubble tea flavor combos that you must try:
- Caramel milk tea with a shot of almond syrup and mango popping boba. This deliciously sweet and nutty flavor combination is one you won’t want to miss.
- Classic black milk tea with coffee jelly and ice cream. This milk tea float has the added coffee flavor combined with the sweet taste of the ice cream, and the result is like a sweet latte.
- Brown sugar milk tea with cheese cream and egg pudding topped with chewy honeydew popping boba.
- Wintermelon milk tea with classic brown sugar tapioca pearls and cheese foam. Wintermelon has a distinct grassy flavor to it which provides freshness. Combining the sweet taste of the brown sugar pearls with the cheese foam gives this boba drink a delicious salted caramel flavor that isn’t too heavy.
- Passionfruit green tea with aloe jelly. This tea drink has a tangy, sweet flavor. Combined with the early flavors of green tea, it makes for a delicious treat. The aloe jelly adds a nice, subtly sweet chewy texture to it.
- Matcha latte with red beans and nata de coco. This deliciously simple drink combines different flavors to make this creamy, earthy, sweet drink.
- Earl Grey milk tea with grass jelly and vanilla ice cream. The strong tea flavor of Earl Grey pairs nicely with the earthy tones of the grass jelly and the sweet ice cream. This is a creamy and delicious tea drink for anyone.
- Strawberry cheesecake bubble tea with classic boba pearls and fresh sliced strawberries. This sweet treat combines fruit flavors with the creaminess of cheese foam with the sweetness of the brown sugar tapioca pearls.
- Oolong tea with lemongrass, coconut milk, and boba pearls. These flavor combinations create a floral, fruity flavor that is delicious in every way.
- Yakult with kiwi fruit juice and mango popping boba. This bubble tea drink is the perfect combination of the bitter taste of a fermented dairy drink with the sweet and fruity flavors of fruit juice and the mango-popping boba.
How to Create a New Boba Tea Flavor Combination
The versatility of boba drinks is half of their allure. There’s no rule book for mixing and matching and creating new flavors. Here is the best way to create a delicious boba tea flavor combination:
- Decide on a tea base. Think about the natural flavors this tea has. For example, jasmine teas are floral, matcha tea is earthy, and Assam and chai tea are spicy. Decide what type of tea flavors you want in your drink.
- Decide if you’ll add dairy and what kind. By using different creamers, you may change the flavor profile slightly. For example, coconut milk or sweetened condensed milk will make your drink sweeter, whereas full cream or whole milk will give it a creamier texture.
- Choose your sweetener. There are several to choose from, and they will all give your boba drink a bit of a different flavor. For example, brown sugar provides warmth, white sugar doesn’t add much flavor, fructose adds a sweet and fruity flavor, and flavored sugar syrups give your drink a completely different flavor profile.
- Decide which toppings to add. Think about your flavors and what type of texture you want. For example, fruity popping boba will give your drink a literal burst of fun. Using nata de coco or jellies will add a chewy texture with different flavor profiles. Fresh fruit adds a crispness with a mouthful of fruit flavor.
As I said, there’s no rule book; play around with different combinations of flavors and toppings. Be creative and have fun with it!