Boba Flavors We Can & Can't Get Behind
Originating from Taiwan, this beloved drink has made waves all across the world. Whether people love it for its fun toppings, contrasting textures, or wide variety of flavors, there's something for everyone when it comes to boba. While many shops have started to become more experimental in the past couple of years, we do think there should be a limit to how far people are going. After all, some of these flavors just don't work (in our opinion). Here are 10 flavors we aren't a fan of and 10 that should always be on the menu.
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1. Cheese Foam Tea
We're not sure if the logic "cheese goes on everything" applies to boba. Unless you like your drinks a little bit salty, this is probably something you want to avoid. The thought of having something cheese-flavored in our drink already makes us shiver.
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2. Pudding Milk Tea
Tasting extremely artificial, pudding milk tea often comes in its classic chocolate or vanilla flavor. While it might sound appealing, it tends to be overly sweet and heavy. A couple of sips and you won't want to finish your entire cup.
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3. Coconut
While the idea of a coconut drink might sound good, the reality is, coconut is a flavor that tends to be too overpowering. One sip and you'll be knocked out by the strong smell and taste of coconut. We're not sure if you'd want an entire cup of that.
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4. Watermelon
Yes, watermelon is a popular fruit and there's nothing more refreshing in the summer, but trust us when we say watermelon drinks tend to be a bit bland. It might just end up tasting like a watered down drink mixed with chewy pearls.
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5. Durian Milk Tea
We're pretty sure the word durian is going to be enough to scare you off. This polarizing fruit has got everyone loving or hating it. Known for its incredibly stinky smell, we're pretty sure a majority of the population aren't a fan of this one. It's certainly an acquired taste.
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6. Bubble Gum Milk Tea
Unless you've got a massive sweet tooth, we can't see people enjoying bubble gum flavored milk tea. What would that combination even be like? The sweetness of the bubble gum mixed with the earthiness of the tea puts our head in a loop.
7. Cotton Candy
And if bubble tea flavored milk tea wasn't sweet enough for you, cotton candy will certainly do the trick. We have a feeling that drinking an entire cup of this would make our teeth melt. But hey, to each their own!
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8. Herbal Teas
We're not sure who came up the idea with mixing herbal, earthy flavors with a sweet drink like boba, but in our humble opinion, it doesn't work. And if you get the balance wrong, the bitterness becomes too overpowering, turning your dessert drink into medicine.
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9. Rose-Flavored Tea
Getting the balance right for rose-flavored drinks can be incredibly difficult. You want the taste to be present, but you don't want it to be overpowering to the point that it feels like you're eating a flower. Generally, these teas come out way too florally.
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10. Oreo Milk Tea
Hear us out! Before you start commenting that oreo is your favorite flavor and that this cookie can never do us wrong, think for a moment about how sweet and strong it can be. It's not just about how sugary this drink is, it's about how little of it we can take in one go! Does boba come in extra small sizes?
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1. Classic Milk Tea
No matter what you're eating or drinking, you can never go wrong with the original flavor. When it comes to boba, classic milk tea is a go to for everyone. The creamy, sweet milkiness of this drink just pairs perfectly with the chewiness of the pearls.
2. Taro Milk Tea
Not as sweet as you'd expect, taro has a distinct nutty and earthy flavor to it that mixes so well with the milk tea. It's so creamy and delicious to drink. Not to mention, it's got the most beautiful purple color that already makes it look appetizing to begin with.
3. Brown Sugar Milk Tea
Growing in popularity over recent years, brown sugar milk tea has become a staple in the boba world. By cooking the boba in brown sugar, it creates this rich, caramelly flavor that mixes into the milk. The result is a satisfying drink that has surprisingly complex flavors.
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4. Thai Milk Tea
If normal black milk tea isn't strong enough to your liking, we'd definitely recommend you Thai milk tea. Sweetened with condensed milk which gives it that unique flavor, you'll fall in love with this deliciously spiced drink.
5. Matcha Milk Tea
The matcha craze has been going on for years and it hasn't slowed down, it's only gotten bigger. So of course, matcha made its way into the boba world, giving these drinks an earthy bitterness that tastes so addictive when done right. The key is finding the right balance. You don't want it to taste too much like grass, but you still want the matcha flavors to seep through.
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6. Mango
Perfect in the summer, mango is always a hit whenever it's in season. You best believe that when June comes around the corner, mango-flavored drinks are flying off the shelves. It's not hard to see why though; this tropical fruit brings such a refreshing flavor to the boba line up.
7. Honeydew
With honey already in the name of this fruit, you can expect a delightfully sweet drink when you pick this flavor. Honeydew is a surprising top pick when it comes to boba. It's creamy, fruity, refreshing, and that slight touch of honey really pulls everything together.
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8. Wintermelon Tea
If you've never heard of wintermelon tea, you're missing out! It doesn't get more refreshing than this boba flavor. Think cucumber water but sweeter with a slightly herby flavor. It's perfect for people who don't want something too strong as wintermelon tends to be a mild flavor.
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9. Strawberry
Given that strawberries are one of the most popular fruits around, it makes sense that it's one of the most popular flavors too. Slightly tart, slightly sweet, and oh so fruity, strawberry boba always hits the right spot. It's actually quite the complex flavor, and it's amazing when shops nail the balance between sweetness and acidity.
10. Lychee
A hidden gem in the boba world has got to be lychee. This sweet tropical fruit is slightly floral but so vibrant on the palette. It's perfect all year round and is difficult to mess up. Which is a good thing, meaning you can likely enjoy this flavor no matter what shop you're at.
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