Does Starbucks Sell Boba Tea? Try This Instead!

There is no replacement for the sweet taste of the Boba tea paired with tapioca pearls. 

What’s more, the aesthetic appeal of the tea is also unmatchable! For this reason, it has gained massive popularity over the last decade. 

So, what to do if you are badly craving a cup of Boba tea? Does Starbucks sell Boba Tea? Keep reading to find out!

Does Starbucks sell Boba Tea

Does Starbucks Sell Boba Tea?

Sadly, Starbucks has never sold Boba tea at any of its branches. 

Since Starbucks is a multinational coffeehouse chain, everyone expects it to have Boba tea on its menu.

However, the restaurant only sells its own tea and beverages, and there is no Boba tea on the menu. So, you can get drinks that are very similar to them. 

But, if you are really craving Boba tea, you can easily get it from any Asian or Chinese restaurant. Other than that, it is also available at a variety of specialty tea shops.

Related Blog: Is Boba Healthy?

Will Starbucks Ever Serve Boba?

There is a possibility that Starbucks might sell Boba tea in the future. For example, there have been many discussions about selling Boba tea at some restaurants near college campuses.

That’s because it is trendy among students, and they go crazy for Boba tea.

Moreover, the Boba tea industry is trending everywhere and becoming quite profitable these days. Nowadays, it is available at almost every tea shop.

As a result, Starbucks might be attracted to add it to its menu too. So, keep your fingers crossed!

Why Doesn’t Starbucks Have Boba Tea?

Starbucks does not sell Boba tea at any branches because it is too expensive for the business.

For example, Starbucks will need huge storage space for the ingredients, as cooked tapioca pearls require a lot of space. 

Additionally, the cost of setting up the equipment required to prepare Boba tea is insanely high. Imagine how much it would take to set it up in every single store!

Moreover, the restaurant will also have to train its staff to prepare Boba tea which means additional costs. Due to this, Starbucks decided to steer clear of selling Boba tea for the time being.

Where Can I Get Boba Tea?

You can easily get Boba tea from various specialty tea shops and Asian & Chinese restaurants.

However, you must remember that, unlike Starbucks, these restaurants might not be available at your nearest location.

So, you will have to search for them in the mall or a different neighborhood. To save yourself from the trouble, we suggest you first check out the restaurants selling Boba tea online.

There is also a rumor that Dunkin Donuts will serve Boba tea soon. But, this is not confirmed yet. So, keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best!

How to Make Your Own Boba Using Starbucks Tea?

If you want to make your own Boba using Starbucks tea, you will need Starbucks tea and tapioca pearls.

For those who do not know, you can easily get tapioca pearls from an Asian grocery store. If there is no Asian grocery store nearby, you can also go to any large grocery store.

Tapioca pearls will most probably be located in the International Foods section of these stores.

Once you get your hands on Starbucks tea and tapioca pearls, you need to boil the pearls in the water until they gain a chewy consistency.

Next, you need to add the tapioca pearls to your Starbucks tea, and your Starbucks Boba tea will be ready. Easy, isn’t it?

What are Alternatives to Boba Available at Starbucks?

You can get the same taste as Boba tea at Starbucks with fruit-flavored, milky, black, green, and iced tea with herbs and fruits. 

Besides that, the restaurant also offers a variety of Teavana iced drinks that taste almost the same.

So, even if Starbucks does not sell Boba tea, you can buy any of the drinks mentioned above for a similar experience.

What is Boba Tea?

Also known as bubble tea, Boba tea is a Taiwanese drink that is a combination of milk tea and tapioca pearls.

It is an incredibly addictive drink whose popularity has skyrocketed in the last decade. You will be surprised that McDonald added Boba tea to its German branches in 2012 due to its popularity. 

When the sweet taste of the tea is paired with tapioca pearls, you get a unique flavor. 

Other than that, you can also get a variety of toppings on your Boba tea. Some examples are jelly, chia seeds, aloe vera, cream, and Popping Boba.

Even though drinks like juice and iced coffee offer the same constant texture, they do not taste like Boba. 

In fact, Boba tea has 30 different flavors and 10 different types of toppings. This means you can have a different drink almost every day of the year. 

What is Tapioca Pearls?

Tapioca pearls or tapioca balls are edible balls derived from the cassava root known as tapioca.

Previously, they were known as a cheaper substitute for sago in Southeast Asian dishes.

However, they have their own identity now. Their use is prevalent in preparing Boba tea as they give the drink its unique texture. 

You must cook these balls in sugar and water to add them to the Boba tea. But make sure that they first reach a chewy consistency.

Final Thoughts

To cut it short, Starbucks does not sell Boba tea at any of its branches. But, there is a possibility that the restaurant will be introduced at its branches near a college campus. 

Starbucks does not sell Boba tea because the cost of setting up the equipment and maintaining the ingredients is extremely high.

However, the restaurant offers a variety of drinks that taste a bit like Boba tea, including fruit-flavored tea, milky tea, black tea, green tea, and ice tea.

But, if you are still craving Boba tea, you can easily get it from any specialty tea stores or Asian and Chinese restaurants. 

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