Whether you’re Team Boba or Team Cheese Top Tea, these are our favourite places for bubble tea in Hong Kong for a little refreshment.
Besides street food, bubble tea has become another quick grab-and-go staple in Hong Kong. Different from the traditional teas served in tea houses and herbal tea shops, boba is a sweet and modern spin-off. The addictively chewy elixir is born in Taiwanese night markets and is known for its overflow of customised toppings. With eclectic options everywhere, it’s time to experience Hong Kong’s bubble tea obsession. Let’s get your bubble on!
Where to get the best bubble tea in Hong Kong
1. Potion House
When it comes to making magic, all the Potion House needs is tea and jelly. As the first jelly-based bubble tea concept in Hong Kong, Potion House will make your sipping experience much more unique, with hand-crafted beverages topped off with signature chewy jellies. Specially formulating the drinks using high-quality ingredients, the shop reimagines bubble tea with a special twist – think spiked bubble teas, and even a protein-enriched series for the health-conscious!
With over 20 different combos of tea and jellies available, you can mix and match to create your own perfect cup. Or, go for the best-selling bubble tea cocktails, like The Signature Potion – a warming concoction of Potion House’s signature milk tea, Bailey’s, whisky, and a dash of cinnamon. Add on some peach-infused black tea jelly and honey-coated white tapioca pearls for extra texture.
Psst – enjoy a buy-one-get-one-free bubble tea cocktail promo at Potion House simply by quoting us Honeycombers! 😉
Potion House has several locations across Hong Kong.
2. The Alley
If you have a soft spot for all things sweet, The Alley is your haven. This Insta-famous bubble tea shop in Hong Kong has garnered a massive following with its unique fusion of cute and delicious. Its signature offering is the Brown Sugar Deerioca Milk Tea, topped with a generous dollop of jiggly pudding and chewy pearls. Yes, it’s a caloric delight, but who’s counting when it tastes so good? The secret to The Alley’s success lies in its house-made sugar cane syrup, adding a gentle sweetness that keeps fans coming back for more.
The Alley, Shop F, G/F, Alpha House, 27-33 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, p. 2157 9267
3. Milksha
Milksha has been bringing quality Taiwanese bubble milk teas to Hong Kongers since opening back in 2018. Committed to using fresh ingredients in its drinks, the shop offers a diverse menu of bubble teas. Order a classic Bubble Milk Tea and choose your base between Earl Grey, jasmine, and oolong teas. Keep an eye out for Milksha’s seasonal specials, as well as the summer-exclusive shaved ice series!
Milksha has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
4. Ten Ren’s Tea
With the aim to promote the art of Chinese tea, Ten Ren’s Tea offers a great variety of tea drinks. From regular hot and iced tea to its signature bubble milk tea, fruit tea, and teazers, the drinks come in plenty of flavours such as taro, sweet potato, green tea, and more. With reasonable pricing, consistent quality, and shops all across the city, we think Ten Ren’s Tea is one of the best bubble tea shops in Hong Kong.
Ten Ren’s Tea has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
5. Tiger Sugar
When it comes to the brown sugar boba game, Tiger Sugar is the name on everyone’s lips. This Taiwan-born brand, renowned for the iconic “tiger stripes” of caramel streaking down the cup, has made quite a roar in Hong Kong. Its stand-out is the Brown Sugar Boba Milk with Cream Mousse, loved for its toffee-like sweetness and chewy consistency of the pearls. But don’t stop at just that! Tiger Sugar lets you jazz up your drink with a range of add-ons like pudding, red beans, taro, and more. For those with dietary restrictions, there’s an option to swap fresh milk with Vitasoy.
Tiger Sugar has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
6. Mother Pearl
In line with the rising popularity of plant-based diets, Mother Pearl has established itself as a unique vegetarian and vegan bubble tea shop. Not only are its bubble teas plant-based, it also creates drinks that are inspired by TCM. We love the Yuen Yeung 2.0 – Mother Pearl’s very own version of the classic cha chaan teng drink, with homemade almond milk replacing cow milk. Other must-tries include the Po Mylk Tea, made with coconut condensed milk and Keemun rose tea; and the Eyesight Booster, crafted with black goji berry, black sesame paste, and other nourishing ingredients.
Mother Pearl has multiple locations in Hong Kong.
7. A Boutea
If you’re craving a simple brown sugar bubble tea, then you can’t go wrong with A Boutea. Aside from the black tea base, you’ll also find other flavours such as matcha, cocoa, and oolong tea on offer. There’s also the option to add boba pearls and taro balls to other drinks such as fruit teas, flavoured milk, and tea lattes. That said, A Boutea’s best-selling Brown Sugar Bubbles are only available in limited quantities every day, so make sure to grab your fix before they sell out!
A Boutea has multiple locations in Hong Kong.
8. Silk
Silk, a relative newcomer to the Hong Kong bubble tea scene, has swiftly made its mark with a unique approach to brewing tea – hand-shaken, not stirred. Drawing inspiration from Hong Kong’s silk stocking milk tea tradition and Taiwanese hand-shaken beverages, Silk fuses global flavours like Sri Lankan black tea and Hong Kong evaporated milk to create a bubble tea that’s truly as smooth as silk. Keep an eye out for its popular “Smooth as Silk” series, featuring fan favourites like the Smooth King, a delightful blend of milk tea, brown sugar tapioca pearls, and rich cheese foam; and the Smooth Black, a texturally intriguing mix of boba pearls, black sugar agar crystals, and silky grass jelly. Bonus point: Silk even offers free “Puppiocas” for your furry friends!
Silk has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
9. Heytea
Heytea, the trailblazer of the cheese tea trend, is a must-try for any adventurous tea lover. Originating in Guangdong, China, this popular chain has taken the bubble tea to a whole new level by introducing a creamy and slightly salty cheese cap on top of their tea. Don’t worry if you’re a bit skeptical about mixing cheese with tea – Heytea’s blend is surprisingly light and refreshing. And if you’re not quite ready to dive into cheese tea, the shop also offers classic bubble tea options and bubble tea ice cream.
Heytea has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
10. Sharetea
Sharetea is the place to go if you’re after a fresh and herbal-tasting bubble tea experience. This franchise has won hearts worldwide with its high-quality tea leaves and ingredients, all imported directly from Taiwan to ensure a consistent taste across its 400+ stores around the globe. Sharetea’s boba has that ideal, bouncy texture that bubble tea lovers crave. While its classic pearl black milk tea is a firm favourite, don’t skip on the QQ Happy Family Milk Tea, loaded with extra pearls and pudding. Or, if you’re in the mood for something light and refreshing, the fruit teas are a great choice.
Sharetea has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
11. Gong Cha
If you’re a bubble tea aficionado, you’re likely no stranger to Gong Cha. Arguably one of the most popular spots for bubble tea not just in Hong Kong, but even outside of Asia, Gong Cha is a Taiwanese mega-chain that’s taken the globe by storm. Craving that salty-sweet contrast? Try the Signature Milk Foam Series. If traditional is more your style, you can’t go wrong with the Earl Grey Milk Tea. Health-conscious folks will appreciate options like the Brown Sugar Ginger Tea, while adventurous sippers might opt for creative blends like Strawberry Black Tea. Don’t forget to customise your drink with a mix of fun toppings – tapioca pearls, aloe jellies, red beans, and even cornflakes!
Gong Cha has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
