Bubble tea, also known as boba milk tea, hails from Taiwan. It is mainly made with chewy tapioca balls, but you will find some with grass jelly, egg pudding, coconut jelly, aloe vera, eve red bean, and oreo.
When the first Bubble tea shop opened in 2011, it quickly found its way into the heart of Londoners. Today, there are over 50 bubble tea stores and restaurants in London selling this sweet and addictive drink.
But which one makes and sells the best bubble tea in London? You are just about to find out.
Best Bubble Tea London
Bubbleology
Bubbleology was the first bubble tea shop to open in London in 2011. Today, they can be found in multiple locations scattered across London, the most popular being the bubble tea in Soho. They serve 100% organic tea leaves, but you are more than welcome to customize your boba tea here as there is no such thing as a standard drink at Bubbleology.
Besides milk and fruit teas, at Bubbleology, you will find alcoholic bubble tea, which is not very common in other bubble tea bars. Luckily, there are six Bubbleology locations across London: Soho, South Kensignton, Angel, Westfield, Bloomsbury, and Notting Hill.
CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice
CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is one of the biggest bubble tea brands, not just in London but the world too. Hailing from a small village in Taiwan, today you will find 4500 stores all across the globe, including 20 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice bubble tea stores boast an extensive bubble tea menu, from Yakult, slush & smoothie, to tea latte and cloud. Expect to find some of the finest bubble tea in London at this adorable cafe, but also a new drink every time you go. All of their drinks are 100% gluten and gelatin free.
To start, you can try their Roast Tea Boba, a rich smokey flavor to pair well with your regular tapioca pearls and milk, or their Lava Pearl Latter, black sugar-coated tapioca with fresh milk.
CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is available at four locations in London: Soho, Brent Cross, British Museum, and O2.
Biju
Biju Bubble Tea Room brings you organic matcha from Kagoshima, Japan, in the heart of London. Growing up in Singapore, the founder and owner, Nick, had the luck to sample some of the best bubble tea in the world. In 2014 he brought some novelties to the bubble tea scene in London.
At Biju, they only use fresh, organic milk and only freshly brewed tea to order, never as a batch. They always create new drinks, and you can order vegan and non-dairy options. From hundreds of cups of bubble tea prepped each day, including their specials Hong Kong Milk Tea and Milo Chocolate Dinosaur, you will surely find your flavor at Biju.
Biju has four stores across London: Soho, Shoreditch, Camden, and South Kensington.
Also Read: 13 Best Tea Shops in London
Cuppacha
Cuppacha is one of the best bubble tea London Chinatown can offer its visitors. Their extensive and affordable menu offers anything from milk and fruit teas to ombre teas and texture juices. Their signature Cuppacha Pearl Milk Tea, made with the finest black milk tea with tapioca, is a must-try for all boba newbies.
Cuppacha accepts online orders, which can be customized with many different options. Once it’s ready, you can go and pick it up. No waiting in line here!
Cuppacha bubble tea stores can be found in Soho and Sheffield.
Kissaten
Kissaten is a Japanese tea house and dessert bar specializing in handmade tapioca and bubble tea. What makes them special is the way they incorporate the traditions of Japanese tea culture into the bubble tea culture. This combination creates a unique boba drinking experience for all boba fanatics out there.
Kissaten owners like to make things themselves. So while there, don’t miss out on trying their handmade white boba pearls with a unique texture.
The hipster boutique tea shop offers a variety of build-your-own boba tea. If you’ve had your fair share of sweet boba, why not try their Matcha Cheese Tea? Sweet, salty, and creamy, you get the best of all flavors in this beverage.
Kissaten has the best bubble tea Soho can offer visitors. Don’t miss it!
Yunique Tea
What’s so unique about Yunique bubble tea in London Chinatown? Well, besides the excellent variety of flavours and the fact that you can add or remove ice and sugar to suit your tastebuds, this place delivers to your door.
A panda bear wearing a cap is their mascot and makes their bubble tea recognizable across London and South East Asia. The small store on Newport Street opened in 2019 and has seen long queues ever since.
If you want to refresh, go for their ice lemon tea, but if you prefer something with milk, try their famous brown sugar milk tea. Prices are a bit on the higher end, but not unreasonable, given the central location.
Woo Tea
Bubble tea in London Chinatown can be found on every corner. But the Woo Tea bubble store will certainly “woo” you with their unique boba flavours. Although small, and with no seating available, the artisan bubble tea at Woo Tea will make you come back for more.
Woo Tea are known to be the pioneers of handmade Oolong artisan tea in London. When you combine the unique and tasty flavours of Woo Tea bubble tea with their eye-catching cups, you know you’ve come to the right place for your boba.
Their menu is pretty extensive, from lychee tea and watermelon tea frap to coffee milk tea with pearls and moose smoothies. Prices are reasonable, about £6 for their signature Woo Tea.
MooBoo
MooBoo is a bubble tea franchise and can be found in multiple locations, not just in London but in other major cities in the UK. They claim to have the best bubble tea on the market, but you’ll have to be the judge of that. They do, however, offer an array of flavours and combinations for you to make your perfect boba.
From strawberry, watermelon, and lychee tea to honeydew, matcha, and creme brulee milk tea, the options are endless. You can have them hot and cold, with or without ice, and select up to four toppings. You can even pair your boba with a dessert like the MooBoo Bubble waffle, topped with roasted almonds and chocolate sauce.
Like many bubble tea stores, you can order in advance through their “Click & Collect” option and pick up your boba when it’s ready without having to wait in long queues.
Xing Fu Tan
Xing Fu Tan brings you the flavours of Taiwan in the heart of London’s Chinatown. They are known for making the best hand-crafted brown sugar boba from Taiwan, using traditional methods of stir-frying. Opened since 2017, they quickly expanded to over 70 locations worldwide.
Today Xing Fu Tan bubble tea chain store has shops in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Australia, USA, and the UK.
While there, don’t miss out on trying their signature brown sugar boba milk made with freshly cooked tapioca pearls. They pour the brown sugar on top and caramalize it so you get the brown sugar fragrance with each sip. If you prefer a refreshing drink, you can go with their lemon black tea or Damascus rose tea with lemons. You won’t go wrong with any of the choices on their menu.
Ding Tea
Ding Tea is a bubble tea franchise that has been in business since 2004. Today they have stores worldwide including the USA, Canada, Japan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and the UK.
There are multiple locations in London, some are pick up only, others are seat-in or delivery, so make sure you choose the right one.
The Taiwanese bubble tea store offers a wide selection of bubble tea. If you are new to boba, then you must try their signature milk tea, made with Taiwan premium Assam black tea, fresh-brewed every 2 hours with non-dairy creamer. This place is heaven for lactose-intolerant boba fans as they offer milk alternatives with almond, soy, coconut and oat milk.
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Final Thoughts
There you have it. Whether you are new to boba or have tried most of the flavors, there is a bubble tea store in London where you’ll find the perfect boba for you.
While most of these bubble stores are located in Chinatown, you will find many places around London serving delicious boba. To skip the long queues, you can order online through the store’s app or website and pick it up when it’s ready. Most of them have available seating, but some offer only delivery or pick-up service.
Prices of the bubble tea vary depending on the preferred toppings, flavors, ingredients, and other extras, but location and store too.