When Starbucks unveiled a series of new bubble tea beverages for the summer season, my interest was immediately piqued. As an avid bubble tea enthusiast, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give them a try, especially given their East Asian origins and widespread popularity in the U.S.
The coffee giant introduced three fresh concoctions: Summer Berry, Summer Berry Lemonade, and Summer Skies, each featuring raspberry boba pearls nestled at the bottom.
Having sampled Starbucks refreshers in the past, often brimming with real fruit chunks like strawberries and blackberries, I was intrigued to see how they’d incorporate boba—a sugary burst of flavor more reminiscent of candy than fruit.
What’s the Verdict on Starbucks’ Boba Drinks?
Opting for the Summer Skies refresher, crafted with coconut milk and boasting a blend of raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry flavors according to the website, I eagerly took my first sip. To my surprise, the experience was quite different from what I anticipated. Perhaps my palate was biased by my fondness for traditional boba establishments. As those who know me can attest, I’m a sucker for classics like taro milk tea with tapioca pearls or the ever-delightful strawberry milk tea with strawberry boba. The Starbucks rendition didn’t quite match either.
It’s possible the inclusion of coconut milk threw me off course. However, it’s worth noting that the Summer Berry refresher and Summer Berry Lemonade boba beverages do not feature coconut milk.
Despite my initial reservations, the raspberry boba pearls themselves were undeniably delightful, elevating the drink from forgettable to worth a shot.
That being said, there was a slight hiccup in savoring the boba pearls due to practical issues with the Starbucks cup design, which initially dampened my enthusiasm.
