Whether you're all about zero-sugar drinks or 120% sweetness with all the toppings, there's a bubble tea brand in Singapore for you.
Cakes, ice cream, local desserts… these are a few of our favourite sugary things. Trends may come and go, but our sweet tooth remains. No matter if you’re a tea or coffee person, there’s a good chance you’ve sampled at least a couple of drinks from bubble tea stalls in Singapore. Especially since it’s so easy to snag a cup these days – the temptation to get in line lurks around every corner. But that also means we’re inundated with choice, which isn’t ideal when it comes to something as low on the healthy chart as bubble tea. Fret not! We’ve got you covered with our guide to the best boba brands that make every sip worth your while. All in moderation, of course. Oh, and BYO reusable cup and metal/bamboo straw please, because we’re all about that #lowwaste life.
Best bubble tea spots in Singapore
1. Hollin
Here’s a Taiwanese brand you should put on your bubble tea radar. Whether you’re into classic flavours like honey milk tea or are an adventurous drinker, the menu has something that’ll hit the spot. Pearl flavours change daily, with exciting options like rock salt on Wednesdays and matcha on Thursdays. Some outlets even have a nice, cosy setting, so you can sip on your bubble tea, chill, and watch the world go by.
Hollin, multiple locations including One Holland Village and SingPost Centre
2. Bober Tea
Want artisanal tea that’s inspired by flavours from Taiwan, Japan and China? Bober Tea brings you irresistible fusion drinks. Its series of fruity teas include rose lychee coconut shake and chizu strawberry. You can also find classics like caramel milk tea and matcha milk tea. To treat yourself, pair your bubble tea with gelato options like brown sugar creme brulee and taro latte.
Bober Tea, multiple locations including Tampines and Bukit Panjang
3. Chicha San Chen
A popular Taiwanese brand serious about its tea, Chicha San Chen makes each brew fresh upon order using sleek Teapresso machines similar to those usually reserved for coffee. There’s even a tea appreciation counter where you can sample cups of Lishan Qingxin oolong tea in varying roast levels. Drinks can be customised by choosing a base from green tea or osmanthus oolong, flavours such as cream or honey, and extras such as konjac jelly and pearls. If you’re patient enough to brave the perpetually long lines, we’d recommend our faves: Dong Ding oolong tea and hot bubble milk tea!
Chicha San Chen, multiple locations including 313@Somerset and Jurong Point
4. The Whale Tea
Hopping on board the trendy route, this brand from Nanjing, China, uses slightly unusual ingredients like peach gum, spirulina and wuliangye (a type of Chinese liquor) in its concoctions. For an IG-worthy drink, order the whale crystal series, or browse through the “volcanic” collagen series for fiery-looking beverages layered with the likes of blue spirulina, white coconut milk and amber peach gum. Trying to stick to your diet? Opt for the osmanthus green tea.
The Whale Tea, multiple locations including Rivervale Mall and Suntec City
5. Chun Fun How
Chun Fun How is known for its picture-worthy sweet potato bubble tea showcased in pretty floral cups. The brand imports ingredients to concoct signatures from its aloe vera and winter melon series. Not sure what to try? Aim for one of the top six: sweet potato black tea latte with pearls, winter melon lemonade with pearls or winter melon oolong, Sugarcane green, orange grapefruit, purple potato pearl and aloe vera honey.
Chun Fun How, #02-13, Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039802
6. The Alley
Brown sugar fresh milk drinks get a kick of flavour at The Alley with matcha and cocoa options, but if you’re more of a fruit tea person, try the Lulu series of strawberry or orange infusions. To get that Insta-worthy glow, opt for the Aurora line of colourful, swirling goodness.
The Alley, multiple locations including Sengkang and Jewel Changi Airport
7. Heytea
You may not think cheese foam and tea go together, but we assure you that sweet and savoury mix is addictive once your taste buds get used to it. Heytea also whips up a selection of fruit teas (you gotta try the grapefruit one!) and quirky ice cream flavours like salted egg yolk.
Heytea, multiple locations including Ion Orchard and Westgate
8. R&B Tea
If you’re walking past an R&B kiosk and you can’t resist getting a cuppa, try the signature mighty luffy, a refreshing fruit-infused tea filled with watermelon and an assortment of citrus fruits. Or sip on 23 oolong tea, which tops its brew with tea cream or cheese cream. Indulgent, indeed.
R&B Tea, multiple locations including The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and United Square
9. Teafolia
Instead of the usual milky flavours, Teafolia goes the route of fruit teas. While you can still get your usual chewy pearls with your choice of drink, it also has taro cubes, mashed kiwi, apple slices and pineapple pulp in its selection of toppings to keep things on the (slightly) healthier side.
Teafolia, multiple locations including Tampines and Aljunied
10. Playmade
Tired of regular tapioca pearls? Here’s introducing Playmade’s unconventional range of toppings, which include pearls in pink cactus, black sesame, burnt caramel and chrysanthemum varieties. It’s flavour central here, but you can still get classics like green tea lattes and Earl Grey milk teas.
Playmade, multiple locations including Tiong Bahru Plaza and Chinatown Point
11. Woobbee
This homegrown joint only uses raw sugar in its tea, which means fewer calories and a more natural taste. It’s all about classic flavours and chewy pearls, which are perfect for that post-lunch treat before you trudge back to the office. Plus, there’s even a range of herbal teas and cough syrup-infused creations, just in case you need to justify treating yourself when you’re under the weather.
Woobbee, multiple locations including Chinatown Point and Tanjong Pagar Plaza
12. Koi Thé
This local favourite needs no introduction. It consistently serves up classic milk teas to bubble tea fanatics across Singapore, which makes the familiar sight of its stalls a comforting one.
Koi Thé, multiple locations including Changi City Point and Westgate
13. TenRen’s Tea
Hot and cold teas are given equal love here, in all sorts of aromatic varieties like honey black tea, pu’er milk tea, kumquat green tea and osmanthus oolong. If you’re feeling a tad overwhelmed by the selection, try signatures like 913 King’s Oolong or the can’t-go-wrong choice of black milk tea with pearls.
TenRen’s Tea, #01-24, 133 New Bridge Road, Singapore 059413
14. Partea
Say yes to more fruity sips at Partea, which blends black tea and fresh fruit for ice-cold concoctions that beat the heat. Besides milk tea and cheese tea, you can also try the recommended rose pu’er fruit tea for a floral treat, or satiate your curiosity by sampling the range of rainbow and sunrise teas.
Partea, multiple locations including Suntec City and Lau Pa Sat
15. Gong Cha
When those bubble tea cravings hit and you need instant gratification, Gong Cha’s probably your best bet. We’re all familiar with its bestsellers by now: Earl Grey milk tea, mango green tea and alisan milk tea, among others. But if you’re trying to cut out sugar from your diet, go for the black tea or the plum green tea.
Gong Cha, multiple locations including Bugis Junction and Simei
16. Liho
When homegrown name Liho first launched in Singapore after Gong Cha retreated, bubble tea drinkers were torn between their intrigue over its line of cheese teas and their loyalty to the departed brand. Let’s just say, curiosity eventually won out. Granted, it’s not the most popular now, but it still draws in a regular crowd and keeps things fresh with limited edition drink series launches like taro and mango.
Liho, multiple locations including Kinex and White Sands
17. Each-a-cup
This OG store has been around since the bubble tea craze began in Singapore years ago, but if you think nothing’s changed, think again. To keep with the times, the brand has actually started going on a health kick, offering beverages for energy boosts and even ones for weight watchers. So if you’re looking for an affordable sugar rush with a splash of nostalgia, go old school.
Each-a-cup, multiple locations including Holland Village and Causeway Point
Go ahead and treat yourself to your choice of bubble tea in Singapore!
