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Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, is a Taiwanese mix of black tea, milk, ice, and tapioca pearls. Some tea bars sometimes throw in cheese foam atop boba tea for a creamier taste and a consistency similar to whipped cream.
Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? I also couldn’t resist!
So I started searching for where to find boba tea near me. Luckily, I was able to discover the best spots that sell boba tea at great price offers.
Where to find boba tea near me: Best spots & sites
If you’d like to drink freshly prepared boba tea, the best stores to visit are Dunkin’ Donuts, Panda Express, and Costco stores.
Unfortunately, Starbucks doesn’t sell boba tea, and currently doesn’t have any plans to start selling. So you’ll have no luck finding it there.
But if you’d prefer to prepare your own tea at home, the best option is to order a boba tea kit from online stores like Amazon.
If you’re trying to avoid going to the grocery store, you can just use grocery delivery services that will bring it to your doorstep.
For bottled boba tea drinks, you can check stores like Meijer and Kroger. But overall, you’re more likely to find boba tea in Asian grocery stores, tea bars, and restaurants.
To simplify your shopping trip, I’ve mapped out these stores below.
Breakdown of where to find boba tea
Where to find on-demand boba tea & substitutes
Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin Donuts doesn’t actually sell Boba tea. What it has to offer are Boba tea inspired drinks known as the Strawberry Popping Bubbles drink. So if you ever need a boba tea substitute you can always head there.
Delivery options are also available as Dunkin’ Donuts is in partnership with popular grocery delivery apps and services like Uber Eats to offer the best home delivery services to customers.
Panda Express
Panda Express houses one of the best Tea bars stocked with varieties of drinks from the milk teas to fruit teas. You have the choice of adding honey boba to any drink you order from the Panda Tea Bar. Honey boba simply refers to tapioca pearls sweetened with honey.
Online stores to buy boba tea kits from
Amazon
Though Amazon doesn’t sell fresh boba tea, it offers a mouthwatering collection of kits you can use to prepare boba tea by yourself at home.
Here are our top three selections of boba tea kits on Amazon:
- The Original BOBA PARTY D.I.Y. Boba / Bubble Tea Party Kit *Classic Flavors
- CLASSIC: Taro, Honeydew Melon, Green Tea Latte, Milk Tea, Thai Tea, Spiced Chai Tea Latte (10 Ounces each)
- 2 Packs of 5 Minute Black Tapioca Boba Pearls (10 Ounce each)
- 10 Fat Boba Straws (colors may vary)
- 1 Tea Shaker
Walmart
Like the other stores, Walmart doesn’t sell bottled or fresh boba tea. Instead, it offers boba tea mixes and preparation kits, which you can order online or purchase from any of the outlets.
For the ingredients and kits for making boba tea, check the Baking aisle at any Walmart outlet.
Best stores to find bottled boba tea
Kroger
Kroger has pre-bottled boba tea like the Taro Bubble Tea with Tapioca Pearls. You can use Kroger’s online store locator to find out its availability status and other information about it.
Meijer
Like Kroger, Meijer also sells bottled boba tea drinks and bursting boba. Bursting boba is made out of water, sugar, fruit juice or other flavors, and usually bursts when you squeeze it. It’s one of the top substitutes for tapioca balls, and can be used in smoothies or slushies.
FAQs
Do you eat the boba pearls?
Yes, you’re supposed to chew the tapioca pearls in your boba tea. Swallowing them without chewing is dangerous, especially when you have a weak stomach.
You could end up with constipation and pain because your digestive system is having a hard time breaking down the pearls. There’s also the risk of choking on the tapioca pearls.
Can kids drink boba?
It’s unsafe for kids to drink boba tea because of choking hazards imposed by the tapioca pearls.
Another reason is that boba tea contains high levels of sugar and acids, which can cause tooth corrosion.
What age can kids have bubble tea?
It’s safe for kids to drink bubble or boba tea after the age of 4 years.
But it’s best if you read up about the little-known health risk of giving children bubble tea before proceeding to give your child a cup.
Here are some other articles you’ll find helpful to your grocery shopping trips:
- Where to find maraschino cherries in the grocery store
- 5 best substitutes for apple cider
- Where to find sparkling water in the grocery store
Irene is a Freelance content writer who helps professionals and startups build an audience with original content online. She has written over +100 articles, and is backed up by 3 years experience. She loves gaming and listening to music, while she’s not tapping furiously on her laptop.