Boba, the delightful fusion of tea, milk, and chewy tapioca pearls is a favorite among Beijingers, especially considering the record-breaking heat this Summer.
In addition to the classic boba tea, there are also innovative creations from Boba Tea brands, which offer a multitude of options (including coffee, ice cream, and other desserts) to explore with friends and family.
Join me as I delve into the world of boba, rate my go-to brands and share my drink orders!
Hey Tea 喜茶
Perhaps one of the most recognizable boba brands with their famous man-sipping-drink logo, Hey Tea is debatably the most popular boba chain in China, with 44.14% of respondents buying from them, according to a March 2023 survey.
Taste: ★★★★★
Affordability: ★★★☆☆
No one’s lining up for hours to buy a Hey Tea anymore and with a recent price drop, Hey Tea is no longer known as the RMB30+ boba chain. Most of their drinks, such as their fruit series, are in the RMB 20-25 price range.
Price Range: RMB 8-29
My Go-To Order(s): Can’t go wrong with any of their cheese teas!
Nayuki 奈雪的茶
From pure tea, sparkling fruit tea, and cheese fruit tea, to supreme fruit tea and the milk tea series, Nayuki has it all!
Taste: ★★★★★
Affordability: ★★★☆☆
Price Range: RMB 15-30
My Go-To Order(s): Their green grape drink with jelly is a super refreshing option. Also, their bread is really good!
CoCo 都可
CoCo’s core mission is ‘Consistency and Continuity’, which means “bringing the highest quality of tea with unmatchable services to its customers”. It is recognizable by its bright orange packaging and logo.
Taste: ★★★★☆
Affordability: ★★★★☆
Price Range: RMB 9-22
My Go-To Order(s): Perhaps my favorite bubble tea order of all time, I love their Passion Fruit Green Tea with Pearls and Coconut Jelly!
Mi Xue Bing Cheng 蜜雪冰城
With drinks ranging from 6-10 RMB, Mi Xue Bing Cheng is the most cost-friendly chain on this ranking! You might see their mascot: the giant snowman, walking around from time to time at their stores, bringing down the heat in Beijing!
Taste: ★★★☆☆
Affordability: ★★★★★
Price Range: RMB 6-10
My Go-To Order(s): Their lemonade is quite good, but some of their drinks are a bit watered down, but they have great ice cream!
Yi Dian Dian 一点点
A classic boba brand, A Little Tea keeps their prices lower than most bubble tea stores, and it targets mostly teenagers.
Taste: ★★★☆☆
Affordability: ★★★★☆
Price Range: RMB 6-15
My Go-To Order(s): Can’t go wrong with their classic milk tea with boba and 50% sugar.
There’s something for everyone in this ranking of boba brands, from Hey Tea’s fruity drinks to Nayuki’s diverse menu and Mi Xue Bing Cheng’s budget-friendly options, ensuring a refreshing and delightful summer experience for all boba enthusiasts.
Images: HeyTea, Nayuki Tea & Bakery, CoCo, Mixue, A Little Tea
