Bubble tea has drastically evolved from being simple tea blends with tapioca pearls sold by your friendly neighbourhood aunties. Today, we have a variety of shops offering bizarre concoctions incorporating all manner of ingredients.
From the tame aiyu and konjac jellies to the bewildering cheese and apple vinegar, bubble tea has come a long way from their humble beginnings. This year alone, we have seen at least 24 new bubble tea shops opening in Singapore, each boasting unique products that are as intriguing as they are perfect thirst quenchers.
Your neighbourhood bubble tea is now hipster-friendly over at BCC Tea Studio, where drinks bear fluorescent colours and are served in minimalist cups. Start with their Brown Sugar Boba With Fresh Milk ($3.50), which combines the nutty sweetness of brown sugar with the chewy softness of black pearls.
If you’re game for a more unique drink, try their Fantasies Galaxy Blue ($4.20), a midnight blue-coloured mint soda that is not just pretty but a refreshing drink to beat the heat.
Read our full review of BCC Tea Studio here.
Address: 84 Bedok North Street 4, #01-29, Singapore 460084
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 10am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 11pm
Website
Image credit: Xing Fu Tang Singapore
If you can’t get enough of brown sugar, look no further than Xing Fu Tang 幸福堂 where brown sugar pearls are freshly made by hand daily. Try their signature Brown Sugar Boba Milk ($5.30) which comprises brown sugar powder, milk, and cream foam mix that’s blowtorched for a spot bit of caramelisation.
Their Mango Smoothie and Rabbit Panna Cotta ($6.90) also comes highly recommended with its fresh mangoes and pink cactus pearls. The crown jewel of the drink is the rabbit-shaped panna cotta that sits atop.
Address: 2 Tampines Central 5, #01-22, Century Square, Singapore 529509
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
A new concept by Tiger Sugar, Tiger Sugar Dessert moves away from the brown sugar concoctions of its parent to specialise in Taiwanese desserts.
Some of these desserts are served as drinks in cups, such as the Taiwan Taro Lava with Taro Pearl and Cream Mousse ($6.60). This decadent treat caters to taro lovers as it’s packed with taro paste mixed with tapioca balls, and topped with German cream mousse.
For something more fruity, try their Fresh Mango with Golden Crystal and Creamy Sago Milk ($6.90), comprising mango puree wedged between a bed of sago milk and crystal jelly.
Read our full review of Tiger Sugar Dessert here.
Address: 13 Stamford Road, #B2-32, Capitol Singapore, Singapore 178905
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Bubble tea is notorious for being unhealthy, but healthier options have appeared on the market recently, and one of these is Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt. As their name suggests, they specialise in yogurt drinks, allowing you to indulge and keep your gut happy at the same time.
Their signature drink is Yomie’s Purple Rice Yogurt ($5.60), where antioxidant-rich purple rice is used as a replacement for tapioca pearls. The rice is then mixed with huge scoops of blended yogurt to give rise to a delicious, healthy smoothie.
Read our full review of Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt here.
Address: 3 Gateway Drive, #01-09A, Westgate, Singapore 608532
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 8332 0535
Full list of outlets
Website
Image credit: @maomilkbar
If you’re bored with the usual fare of brown sugar milk teas, swing by MĀO Milk Bar for some of the more eccentric creations that they have on their menu. Their Cranberry Vinegar with Citrus Pearl (from $4.30) is a tart drink that’s guaranteed to wake you up on those groggy mornings with its sharp taste. For the more adventurous, try their unique take on the classic brown sugar milk drink, Brown Sugar Fresh Milk + Durian Pearls (from $5.50), that’s studded with rich durian pearls.
Address: 21 Tampines Avenue 1, #02-67, Sprout, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore 529757
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 8pm
Website
Image credit: @seannomnomnom
Easily recognisable by the majestic large-antlered deer in their brand logo, The Alley Luxe is best known for their Brown Sugar Deerioca Fresh Milk ($5.30). This drink comes with their signature handmade Deerioca tapioca pearls, which are steeped in au naturel brown sugar. If you’re not too hot on brown sugar, go for their fruity drinks instead. These include such the Snow Strawberry Lulu ($6.30) that comes with a creamy cheese foam.
Address: 8 Grange Road, Cineleisure Orchard, Singapore 239695
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 10pm
Website
Image credit: @thewhaletea_official
The Whale Tea 琉璃鯨 swam into Singapore’s shores in November this year, bringing with them their range of ocean-themed drinks, complete with bright blue gradients. The Volcanic Sapphire Whale ($4.50) is one of their signature drinks, coming with a bright blue top, coconut milk, and peach gum jelly base. The blue is derived from spirulina, a blue-green seaweed-based superfood.
If you absolutely must have boba in your BBT, The Whale Tea 琉璃鯨 also offers drinks like Black Pearl Beluga Matcha Milk ($6) to satiate your boba cravings.
Address: 21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, #B1-25, Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, Singapore 689812
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Image credit: @milksha_sg
Popular amongst Taiwanese university students, Milksha made their way to Singapore this year, bringing with them a distinctive range of drinks. Their popular Earl Grey Latte with Honey Pearl ($4.80) boasts strong bergamot notes, coupled with the sweetness of their signature honey pearls.
Address: 107 North Bridge Road, #02-K07, Funan, Singapore 179105
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
True to its name, Yunique Tea delivers an eclectic range of drinks including Brown Sugar Bearioca, Dirty Cha, Volcano Lava, Cheezo, and Layered Tea Series.
A must-try here is The Yunique Speciality ($4.80), which mixes brown sugar pearls with fresh milk, whipped cream, and vanilla ice cream. As the final touch, a trio of black sesame, walnuts, and peanuts top this staggering masterpiece.
Read our full review of Yunique Tea here.
Address: 470 Toa Payoh Lorong 6, Singapore 310470
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Website
Hailing from South Korea, 19Tea SG opened their first Singapore cafe at Our Tampines Hub. While desserts are the mainstay attractions of their menu, the joint is also proficient at whipping up BBT. Their Signature Milk Tea ($5.10) is thickly veined with brown sugar, before being topped with golden pearls.
The Meringue Milk Tea ($5.90) is 19Tea SG’s more unique BBT offering, crowned by a glossy meringue that is partially caramelised with a blowtorch.
Read our full review of 19Tea SG here.
Address: 1 Tampines Walk, #01-82, Our Tampines Hub, Singapore 528523
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
While Emma Soft Serve is best known for their gravity-defying soft serves, they are also adept at mixing up delicious BBT drinks. Their Kuromitsu Kurogoma Latte (from $4.50) is a blend of at least 6,000 black sesame seeds and premium Hokkaido milk.
If you want something that is tea-centric, go for the Kuromitsu Houjicha Latte (from $4.50) instead, a fine blend of Japanese green tea and premium Hokkaido milk.
You can also opt for their Brown Sugar Bubble Soft ($5.80), where their signature Okinawan brown sugar pearls are mixed with soft serve.
Read our review of Emma Soft Serve’s soft serve desserts here.
Address: 68 Orchard Road, #B2-45, Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9019 5007
Website
Image credit: @paopaochoy
Started by local artiste Vivian Lai, Teabrary 小茶識 utilises a wide range of premium tea blends to make their drinks. Try their Garden Strawberry Green Tea Chessiato ($6.50), which is strawberry green tea topped by cheese macchiato foam.
Less complex options are also available, such as the Shizuoka Matcha Latte ($5.80) that has a creamy texture peppered with slight bitter notes.
Address: 90 Bras Basah Road, #B1-12, Esplanade Xchange, Singapore 189562
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 8:30pm
Website
Image credit: @ahlupz
A relatively new chain from Taiwan, The Moment 這一刻 offers the standard range of drinks you can find at a BBT store such as milk and fruit teas. The star item on the menu is The Moment Grey Milk Tea ($5.80) that sports an eye-catching grey hue, derived from mixing fresh milk with bamboo charcoal.
Address: 51 Telok Ayer Street, #01-06A, Singapore 048441
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 8pm, Sat 10am to 3pm
Tel: 9654 5289
Website
Image credit: @juliuslim
Gracing the streets of Haji Lane is Little Po 小坡 which has a standard selection of coffee, and milk and fruit teas. Their Japanese Matcha Strawberry ($7.90) stands out as one of the more aesthetically pleasing drinks, coming packed with three distinct layers—green matcha, white milk, and red strawberry jam.
Milk teas are also available here including the Lapsang Souchong Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Bubble ($5.50) and Hong Kong Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Bubble ($5.50). The former has a malty taste that’s close to Ovaltine while the latter is subtly sweet.
Address: 67 Haji Lane, Singapore 189260
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 5:30pm, Sat-Sun 10:30am to 6:30pm
Website
Image credit: @truedansg
Hailing from Taipei’s Shilin Night Market, 珍煮丹 Truedan expanded to Singapore this year, offering their popular Brown Sugar Boba Milk (from $5.20). The pearls here extremely chewy and boast a strong caramelised flavour. Don’t miss out on their Brown Sugar Boba Milk with Oreo ($5.50), which blends fresh milk and sweet crème with crumbled Oreo cookies for a burst of rich flavour.
Address: 1 Raffles Link, #B1-13, CityLink Mall, Singapore 039393
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Image credit: @chunyangtea_tw
Another popular brand hailing from Taiwan, Chun Yang Tea 春陽茶事 pride themselves on the quality of the tea leaves used in their drinks, which are formulated with the aid of traditional recipes Their Honey Lemon Oolong Tea (from $5.90) comes highly recommended, with the smooth honey lemon and mellow oolong serving as the perfect thirst quencher for a hot day out.
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #03-207, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Image credit: @chichasenchen.sg
If you’re bored with the usual BBT flavours, head over to CHICHA San Chen 吃茶三千 which lets you customise your own drink—including tea base and toppings.
Choose from their extensive tea bases ($3.20) such as green tea, osmanthus oolong tea, and Cassia Black Tea. You can then choose to add milk and/or fruits before selecting your toppings. Those who are overwhelmed by the myriad of choices can opt for drinks on the menu instead, such as their zesty Fruit Tea ($5) and grassy Dong Ding Oolong Fresh Milk Tea ($4.70).
Address: 313 Orchard Road, #03-41, 313@Somerset, Singapore 238895
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Image credit: @winnies.sg
Get a refreshing fruit tea over at Winnie’s, which comes packed with fresh fruit puree for a boost of flavour and texture. The crowd-favourite Lychee Rose Nectar (from $4.10) is studded with aloe vera bits to give the drink a delicious crunch with each sip. Another must-try is the Organic Fuji Apple Green Tea (from $4.90) where an entire apple is used in place of sugar to naturally sweeten the drink. In addition to that, the drink is topped with cubed apples for a flavourful crunch.
Address: 1 Fusionopolis Place, #01-34, Galaxis, Singapore 138522
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9652 5358
Website
Image credit: @beauteasg
Run by a Song Joong-ki-look-alike, Beautea is a stall located at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre. Here, you’ll find your favourite drinks at wallet-friendly prices such as the Brown Sugar Pearl Fresh Milk Green Tea which will only set you back $2.80. The drink comprises the usual brown sugar syrup swirled in a cup loaded with green tea milk, giving you a creamy flavour with bitter undertones.
If you’re a fan of fruity concoction, get the Dirty Mango Fresh Milk ($2.50) which is loaded with mango puree for a mix of tart and sweet flavours.
Address: 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-43, ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, Singapore 150006
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 9pm
Website
Image credit: @qiuuing
Yanmi Yogurt offers a healthier alternative to calorie-heavy BBTs with their purple rice yogurt drinks. These drinks contain purple rice grains that’s loaded with protein, calcium and are also friendly to your gut.
The Purple Rice Yogurt ($4.30) is a light drink that’s refreshing and easy on the palate. Be sure to shake the cup at least ten times so that the purple rice and yogurt are completely mixed together.
Address: 107 North Bridge Road, #02-03, Funan Mall, Singapore 179105
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 10pm
Website
Image credit: @dabobasingapore
Daboba 熊黑堂 made its way to Singapore after achieving a resounding success in Malaysia. Their bubble tea range includes the Signature Brown Sugar Pearl Fresh Milk ($5.60) and Honey Golden Pearl Green Milk Tea ($4.30). The latter boasts fragrant green tea and QQ pearls which make for a pleasant mouthfeel.
Address: 727 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, #01-4252, Singapore 560727
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Tel: 6451 8233
Website
Image credit: @hopiisg
Hopii SG 新加坡何必问 breaks away from the mould to bring you mung bean smoothies, which are more nutritious than your standard BBT. Start with the hearty Mung Bean Smoothie with Pearls ($5.30). If you prefer something that’s clean-tasting, order the Mung Bean Smoothie with Milk ($5.30) instead.
Address: 10 Eunos Road 8, #01-107A, Singapore Post Centre, Singapore 408600
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6909 8162
Website
Image credit: @travelbybertha
You may think that LaLune Croissant only specialises in pastries and, well, croissants. However, they also have a variety of bubble tea to complement the baked goods that they are so well known for.
Packed in quaint little bottles, the drinks you can order include Mango Royale ($5) that’s creamy and rich, and regular ol’ Milk Tea ($3.50).
Address: 313 Orchard Road, #B3-48A, Singapore 238895
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 10pm
Tel: 9833 5112
Website
Image credit: @namedaemun_sg
Nam Dae Mun may not be as well known as the other brands on this list, yet don’t be fooled. These guys are also BBT artisans, serving a range of fruit teas along with their signature Korean-style rice cakes over at 313@Somerset.
One of the best-sellers is the Peach Gum Strawberry Fruit Tea ($6.90), a sweet concoction that is infused with natural collagen and multivitamins.
Address: 313 Orchard Road, #B3-54, 313@Somerset, Singapore 238859
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6509 4658
Website
From the sheer number of new bubble tea brands that have sprung up in Singapore this year alone, it’s clear that we’re right smack in the middle of an intense BBT bubble; one that shows no sign of clearing up any time soon.
This is good news for many of us bubble tea lovers, as we now have a greater variety of options to choose from to fuel our addiction.
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