Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is experiencing a surge in popularity in Britain, with a Taiwanese chain poised to open 500 new branches across the UK to capitalize on this growing trend.
Originating in Taiwan in the 1980s, bubble tea is a sweet, milky beverage known for its chewy tapioca balls, or ‘boba’, which are slurped through oversized straws. Served hot or cold, the drink offers endless customization options, with bases ranging from black, green, or oolong tea to innovative options like brown sugar milk. Aficionados can further personalize their drinks with various types of milk, including cow, almond, and condensed milk, as well as a wide array of additional flavors. The visually appealing brews have become a sensation on social media platforms like TikTok, where the #BubbleTea hashtag has garnered over 8.3 billion views.
Justin Goes, UK and Ireland development director at Taiwan-based franchise Gong cha, notes that bubble tea’s highly customizable and visually appealing nature makes it particularly appealing to Gen Z consumers and students.
Despite its popularity, concerns have been raised about the high sugar content of some bubble tea preparations. To address this, vendors are increasingly offering sugar-free options, natural sweeteners, and fresh fruit teas to cater to health-conscious consumers.
The bubble tea industry shows no signs of slowing down. A report from Fortune Business Insights predicts that the global market will grow from $2.46 billion (£1.94 billion) in 2023 to $4.08 billion (£3.22 billion) by 2030.
The trend is also gaining traction in China, where milk tea brands have a wide appeal. Jason Yu, managing director at consumer research group Kantar Worldpanel, highlights the versatility of bubble tea, noting that it has evolved beyond traditional milk tea and can now be infused with a variety of flavors and ingredients.
