Want to know where to get the best bubble tea in Hong Kong?
After becoming a global foodie sensation in the past few years, Bubble tea has remained one of the most popular drinks worldwide, an industry valued at about 2.75 billion USD in 2022. However, if you ask any Hong Konger, the Taiwanese beverage’s popularity was recognised far before its international fame.
What is Bubble Tea?
Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is a popular Taiwanese beverage that has gained global recognition. It typically consists of a tea base, usually black or green tea, mixed with milk or fruit flavors. The distinguishing feature of bubble tea is the addition of chewy tapioca pearls, or “boba,” which settle at the bottom of the drink. Sipped through a wide straw, bubble tea offers a delightful combination of flavours, textures, and a playful experience that has captivated taste buds worldwide.
The Best Bubble Tea in Hong Kong
With this international phenomenon hundreds of new shops have popped up all over Hong Kong capitalising on the hype, we have collected 10 of the best places to satisfy your bubble tea craving this year.
COMEBUYTEA
Why Playtimes likes it: Comebuy Tea has a cool atmosphere and large glass containers of dried tea leaves. Teas are made fresh from scratch as you watch their five step process unfold in front of you using Teaspresso machines.
What to try: Evaporated Milk Roasted Oolong tea with QQ taro pearls
Price: $26 – $50
Address: Various locations in HK | 700 Nathan Road, Mong Kok (TOP This is Our Place shop)
Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
Milksha
Why Playtimes likes it: A Taiwanese company who pride themselves on the freshness and quality of the milk they use and lab-tested and curated tea leaves for their creations.
What to try: Earl Grey Milk Tea with Mochi
Price: $30 – $50
Address: Various locations in HK
Hours: 12:00 – 22:00
Mr Tea
Why Playtimes likes it: One of the newer and smaller stores, Mr.Tea has a line of great quality teas with a very cute and cosy atmosphere in store. It is one of the few places that we find does the cream cheese milk teas very well.
What to try: Cream Cheese Mango Milk Tea
Price: $23 – $42
Address: 2-10 Great Gorge Street, Causeway Bay
Hours: 12:00 – 23:00
蜜滋麻美 (Mizimamei)
Why Playtimes likes it: Mizimamei serves traditional style Taiwanese milk tea. Fantastic grass jelly options that leave a cooling icy effect in your mouth
What to try: Fresh milk tea with grass jelly and caramel pearls
Price: $29 – $45
Address: Aberdeen Street, Central
Hours: 11:30 – 20:00
Mother Pearl
Why Playtimes likes it: Taking ethical and organic products to a whole new level, Mother Pearl makes unconventional milk teas using locally sourced ingredients and plant based “Mylk” and is aiming to provide customers with an indulgent and ethically conscious experience.
What to try: Yeun Yeung 2.0
Price: $38 – $60
Address: Various locations
Hours: Varies from store to store
Tiger Sugar
Why Playtimes likes it: Tiger Sugar opened in 2018 and has proven very popular. It claims to be the “original and best brown sugar milk tea place in all of Hong Kong”. If you are able to beat the lines and watch the teamakers scoop ooey-gooey goodness of caramelised brown sugar pearls into your milk tea, you should count yourself lucky!
What to try: Brown Sugar Milk Tea
Price: $30 – $50
Address: various locations
Hours: varies place to place
Heytea
Why Playtimes likes it: A popular Chinese company that exploded into the Hong kong market. Now that the hype and lines have died down, Heytea has fantastic creative drink options, especially their famed cheese foam milk teas. Though they also have a wide selection of juiced and fruit tea beverages.
What to try: Very Grape Crystal
Price: $28 – $45
Where: Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
Ten Ren
Why Playtimes likes it: As well as selling wonderful milk teas with deep strong flavours, Ten Ren also sell their loose leaf tea separately, perfect for those who want to make the beverages at home.
What to try: Tieh Kwan Milk Tea With pearls
Price: $28 – $45
Where: various locations
Hours: varies store to store
Gong Cha
Why Playtimes likes it: One of the biggest international chains for bubble tea. Gong Cha is world renown for good reason, good tasting tea for a comparatively cheaper price and their sheer size means its never hard to find one
What to try: Taro Milk tea with pearls
Price: $20 – $40
Where: Various locations
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
Sharetea
Why Playtimes likes it: For those that like the convenience and accessibility of Gong Cha but have a sweeter tooth. Sharetea is great as no matter where you go in the world you can consistently get one of these dessert like drinks. A bit like the Starbucks of BBT!
What to try: Honey Black Tea with Mango Pearls
Price: $20 – $50
Where: Various locations
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
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