Are you a boba lover on the hunt for your next fix? Well, I can’t really blame you! It’s the craze that has taken over the world of TikTok and Instagram!
Starbucks is no exception! That’s right, the coffee giant has jumped on the boba bandwagon. They recently added some bubble tea drinks to its menu, made with the chewy tapioca pearls that boba lovers know and love.
However, many people complain that it is not the same as the traditional boba shops! Also, it’s not available everywhere.
Well, what’s the real deal then? Do they really offer boba? In this post, I’ll give you the inside scoop on taste, price, and more about Starbucks boba options.
So, grab your straw, and let’s dive into the world of Starbucks boba!
Does Starbucks Have Boba?
To answer this question, you need to understand what boba is in the first place. Because Starbucks doesn’t mention any boba drinks on their menu!
Yes, Starbucks has boba. However, they aren’t calling it “boba” right now. They’re currently testing out their own version of boba-style iced coffee (starting from December 2021) in some locations, according to a business insider post.
On the 27th of December 2021, @markie_devo posted an Instagram video of an inside menu display at a Starbucks which listed two Coffee Popping Pearls drinks that had been spotted by the TikTok star @kirbssister.
She explained the taste of her drink as “oddly salty-sweet”!
Customers can customize their drinks to mimic traditional boba tea-style beverages.
Starbucks isn’t the first to hop into this bubble tea trend. Dunkin Donuts has started offering a popping boba drink using “popping bubbles”. Other fast-food chains such as Sonic, and Caribou Coffee also offer variations on bubble tea.
The Starbucks Boba Menu
As we mentioned, Starbucks is testing two new drinks with boba-style ‘coffee popping pearls’ in select locations.
The coffee-popping pearls have a texture reminiscent of tapioca pearls or boba and are made from cassava root.
The coffee-popping pearls are made of calcium lactate dissolved in distilled water and strained after 4 hours of rest time or overnight, explains Amaya Oke from Honest Food Talks.
Starbucks Boba is a combination of Starbucks coffee and bubble tea pearls, creating a sweet, cold milk coffee with an exciting pop of coffee-popping pearls.
Starbucks Boba Tea Prices
Both drinks come in the 16-ounce Grande size.
Coffee-popping pearls are similar to boba but made with coffee instead of tea.
Note that, Starbucks has not yet officially released the prices for these drinks, but they are expected to be comparable to other Starbucks beverages.
Starbucks Boba Locations
The move by Starbucks to add boba to its menu has been met with positive reception from customers. However, it is unclear if these coffee boba drinks will be available at other Starbucks locations and become a permanent item.
Keep an eye out for updates about the new drinks, and hope that the testing of them is successful enough for Starbucks to add them to your local store.
Starbucks Boba Nutrition Facts
The nutrition facts for Starbucks Boba drinks vary depending on the size and ingredients.
| Drink | Size | Calories | Carbohydrates (g) | Sugar (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In the Dark coffee-based | 16 oz (Grande) | 220 | 67.5 | N/A |
| Frappuccino | Standard | 420 | N/A | 66 |
For example, a 16-ounce Grande In the Dark coffee-based drink contains 220 calories and 67.5g of carbohydrates, while a standard Frappuccino contains 420 calories and 66g of sugar.
Check out the caffeine content in their venti-size drinks.
Generally, boba tea contains 272 calories, 0.8mg of sodium, 67.5g of carbohydrates, 0.7g of fiber, 2.5g of sugars, and 0.1g of protein per 76 grams or ½ cup, according to Very Well Fit.
How to Order Boba at Starbucks?
Boba tea fans shouldn’t write off their favorite coffee chain just because they don’t sell boba tea just yet.
Even while Starbucks doesn’t sell boba tea in all its stores, you may order drinks that taste similar to them thanks to the store’s extensive list of drink customization choices.
Coffee jelly is an alternative, but it doesn’t have the same chewy feel as pearl tea, so keep that in mind.
Use the Starbucks App
The best way to order a boba-like beverage from Starbucks is to customize a drink via their app that has the basic elements of boba, minus the tapioca pearls.
This is a great choice for boba enthusiasts who want to enjoy their favorite drink while also taking advantage of the convenience and loyalty program offered by the app.
Raspberry Milk Tea
Starbucks offers fruit-flavored alternatives to boba or bubble tea. If you like the raspberry taste, the best-recommended option is the Raspberry Milk Tea from Starbucks.
This will produce milky, fruit-flavored milk teas that are comparable to the traditional boba, or bubble tea served in Asian teahouses since many boba tea beverages come with sweetened fruit syrup.
Here is the list of the customizations you may ask for (add or deduct according to your liking):
- Get me a grande iced black tea, no sugar, please!
- Ask for half milk and half water (you can also request dairy-free milk)
- Request to add 1.5 pumps of toffee nut syrup (or 2 if you’re using a venti)
- Put in 1.5 pumps of raspberry syrup (or 2 if you’re using a venti size)
- Add one more pump of traditional syrup (or a packet of brown sugar)
Another option is ordering a basic brown sugar milk tea, which includes a Teavana tea of your choice, your choice of milk, and brown sugar.
Iced Teavana Tea
Another way for Starbucks customers to enjoy a boba tea-like experience is by ordering a simple Teavana tea.
Starbucks offers a wide variety of Teavana flavors on its menu, and they can also be purchased at local grocery stores for making your own boba tea.
If these alternatives are not quite the same as traditional boba tea, customers can also create their own tapioca milk tea by ordering an iced tea in any of the flavors offered and then adding tapioca pearls at home.
Tips
- It may be best to place your order online to avoid any misunderstandings. If you decide to order in-store, make sure you are clear with your request, as this could be frustrating for your barista if it’s busy.
- Don’t be afraid to get creative with your order. You can swap out the toffee nut syrup for something else or opt for oat milk if you have lactose intolerance.
- You can also jazz up your bubble tea by adding cold foam, like the salted caramel cream cold foam.
DIY Boba Tea Recipes
As you may not find a boba to drink at your nearby Starbucks store, it’s best to make one yourself when you’re craving it!
There are a couple of ways to do this, one being to purchase a boba tea starter kit. These kits typically include tapioca pearls, tea (either in powder or loose-leaf form), boba straws, and reusable cups.
These kits often come with a variety of boba tea flavors to choose from such as pearl milk tea, classic milk tea, raspberry milk tea, taro milk tea, or jasmine green tea.
Another way to make boba tea at home is by starting from scratch.
It may not be as difficult as it seems! The best thing is that you have complete control over the flavors and customization options.
With so many different types of boba tea available, such as green tea or black milk tea, making it yourself ensures that you get exactly the taste you prefer.
DIY Boba Tea Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 bags black tea bags or 2 tablespoons of loose-leaf tea
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup milk dairy or non-dairy
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup tapioca pearls(boba)
- as needed ice cubes
Instructions
- Start by brewing your tea. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan or kettle. Once the water is boiling, add your tea bags or loose-leaf tea and let it steep for 3-5 minutes. If you are using loose-leaf tea, make sure to strain the leaves before proceeding.
- While the tea is brewing, let’s prepare the boba. Bring a separate pot of water to a boil and add 1/2 cup of tapioca pearls. Stir occasionally and let them cook for 5-7 minutes, or until they are soft and translucent.
- Once the boba is cooked, drain it and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. This step will also help to prevent the boba from sticking together.
- In a small saucepan, heat up 1 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir occasionally until the sugar is dissolved.
- Now it’s time to assemble your boba tea! In a glass, add a few spoonsful of cooked boba, then add ice cubes. Pour in the chilled tea and then add the sweetened milk.
- Stir everything together and enjoy!
Notes
Some people like to add other ingredients like honey or vanilla syrup for added boba tea flavors. You can also adjust the number of ice cubes based on your preference.
And don’t forget to use a straw with a wider diameter to enjoy the tapioca pearls.
What Are the Other Famous Drinks from Starbucks?
Despite not offering boba tea, Starbucks has a variety of popular drinks on its menu, such as the vanilla latte, white chocolate mocha, Chai latte, Java Chip Frappuccino, and more.
A vanilla latte is a good option for those looking for a healthier drink, while the white chocolate mocha is currently considered one of the best-tasting cold beverages at Starbucks.
The Iced White Chocolate Mocha contains 49 grams of sugar per 16-ounce serving; it’s made with white chocolate mocha sauce and vanilla syrup as sweeteners. It’s one of the strongest coffees at Starbucks.
The Java Chip Frappuccino is a blend of coffee, ice, and milk, topped with whipped cream and mocha drizzle, providing a delicious caffeine boost. However, drinking too much coffee might lead to weight gain.
Boba Coffee Is Gaining Popularity!
It’s not surprising that Starbucks is considering adding boba, or bubble tea, with coffee to their menu as it’s a popular trend in the market.
There are already various boba drinks that include coffee such as boba latte, Vietnamese iced coffee with boba, and even Dalgona Coffee with boba.
However, these drinks do not currently use coffee-popping boba.
Starbucks appears to have identified a gap in the market and they may likely introduce different types of coffee-popping boba pearls with different types of coffee and roast levels in 2023 and going forward.
This could include options like Pike Roast popping coffee boba or a decaffeinated version of their boba pearls.
FAQs
Why doesn’t Starbucks introduce boba tea on its menu?
One of the main reasons why Starbucks has not added boba tea to its menu is because it would be costly for the company.
Introducing boba tea would require significant financial investment (in form of equipment, machinery, and ingredient) as the process of making boba tea is more complex than making coffee.
Additionally, smaller shops have the boba market down well and Starbucks may not be interested in entering that market.
How big is the bubble tea market?
How big is the bubble tea market?
The global bubble tea market size was estimated to be USD 2.17 billion in 2021 according to Fortune Business Insights. Allied Market Research estimates it to be $4.3 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 7.80% from 2020 to 2027.
Does bubble tea have caffeine?
Yes, bubble tea typically contains caffeine, as it is often made with tea as the base ingredient.
The amount of caffeine in bubble tea can vary depending on the type of tea used and the serving size. Some bubble tea shops also offer decaffeinated options for those who are sensitive to caffeine.
What can replace tapioca pearls in bubble tea?
Yes, bubble tea typically contains caffeine, as it is often made with tea as the base ingredient.
The amount of caffeine in bubble tea can vary depending on the type of tea used and the serving size. Some bubble tea shops also offer decaffeinated options for those who are sensitive to caffeine.
Why doesn’t Starbucks introduce boba tea on its menu?
One of the main reasons why Starbucks has not added boba tea to its menu is because it would be costly for the company.
Introducing boba tea would require significant financial investment (in form of equipment, machinery, and ingredient) as the process of making boba tea is more complex than making coffee.
Additionally, smaller shops have the boba market down well and Starbucks may not be interested in entering that market.
How big is the bubble tea market?
The global bubble tea market size was estimated to be USD 2.17 billion in 2021 according to Fortune Business Insights. Allied Market Research estimates it to be $4.3 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 7.80% from 2020 to 2027.
Does bubble tea have caffeine?
Yes, bubble tea typically contains caffeine, as it is often made with tea as the base ingredient.
The amount of caffeine in bubble tea can vary depending on the type of tea used and the serving size. Some bubble tea shops also offer decaffeinated options for those who are sensitive to caffeine.
What can replace tapioca pearls in bubble tea?
Alternatives to tapioca pearls in bubble tea include grass jelly, young coconut meat, blueberries, jelly strips, jelly boba, crystal boba or white agar pearls, arrowroot, potato starch, cornstarch, rice flour, cassava flour, all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour and gluten-free flours such as almond flour, coconut flour, and chickpea flour.
