Where Can I Buy Bubble Tea Near Me
Keep hearing about bubble teas, and wondering ‘where can I buy bubble tea near me?” so you can find out what all the fuss is about? Wondering what bubble tea even is?
Iced tea with milk and chewy tapioca pearls at the bottom make up most bubble teas. The pearls are typically infused with brown sugar or sugar syrup, and it is typically sweetened.
The traditional flavour of bubble tea is a blend of bitterness and sweetness, which makes it a truly refreshing beverage on a hot day and a comforting one when it’s chilly. The pearls have a tinge of sweetness that comes through as you bite into them, and are soft and chewy.
In addition to tea-based beverages, bubble tea has expanded to include fruit-based ones as well. Tapioca pearls, popping boba, crystal boba, jellies, sweet pudding, and fruit are now among the (many) topping options.
This makes it possible to select from hundreds of boba flavors, which is one of the factors contributing to the success of this versatile beverage. There is something for every taste.
So now you are probably wondering what the answer to the question of where can I buy bubble tea near me is. If you are within walking/driving/running/commuting distance of the North End Road in Fulham, the answer is Pearl Lemon Boba.
Pearl Lemon Boba is one of the leading specialists in this super trendy, super tasty beverage experience, and we were innovating in the bubble tea space before lots of people even knew what it was (and that includes some of our competitors.) We offer all the classic flavours you are dying to try as well as a walk-up boba bar that will allow you to brainstorm your own bubble tea blend with our super friendly servers.
What's the Difference Between Bubble Tea and Boba Tea?
Ok, we admit it, if you are new to the world of bubble tea, things can seem a little confusing at first.
Tapioca tea, milk tea, pearl tea, milk tea, bubble tea, and boba tea. Are these drinks different, or is someone intentionally confusing you? Is that person searching ‘where to buy boba tea near me’ on their phone looking for the same thing as you are when searching for bubble tea near me? Or something totally different?
The fact is that all the variations we just mentioned are all the same type of drink, thus there must be a plan to confound you 😉.
But seriously, bubble tea is simply a beverage that has gained itself lots of different names, for many different reasons. For example, the name boba tea comes from the tapioca balls that are typically added to this drink; they are also referred to as boba.
To add to the confusion, the balls, that, as we mentioned, are also known as boba, can alternatively be called boba pearls or just pearls, which is why bubble tea is also sometimes referred to as pearl tea.
The drink is known as bubble tea because the boba pearls resemble bubbles floating at the bottom of the beverage. The term “bubble” also describes what happens when the beverage is shaken in the way it’s supposed to be before it’s served (it gets bubbly.)
The good news is that if you choose Pearl Lemon Boba as the right answer to your ‘where to buy bubble tea near me’ query you won’t have to know or understand any of this. Stop on by and our friendly baristas – well. tearistas actually – will help you choose, create and enjoy a bubble tea you’ll love every time!
Best Bubble Tea Flavours
This is a super hard question to answer, as there are so many ways you can drink bubble tea, and so many different ways to customise it, especially when you head to Pearl Lemon Boba after searching for where to buy bubble tea near me.
However, some boba tea/bubble tea options are runaway favourites among our customers, and if you are new to bubble tea are a great place to begin your adventure into a brand-new beverage experience. These include:
Classic Pearl Milk Tea
The original bubble tea in the minds of many, classic pearl milk tea is a delicious blend of brewed black tea, milk and brown sugar tapioca boba pearls. You can drink it hot or cold, and at Pearl Lemon Boba if milk isn’t your thing you can try it with a milk alternative like nut milk and it still tastes great. Or you can get a little naughty and a splash of single cream for a decadently creamy taste!
Honeydew Milk Tea
On a hot summer day, this tropical tasting tea is hard to beat as a refreshing anytime pick me up. It’s a tantalising blend of black or green tea, honeydew melon juice, milk or milk substitute and your choice of flavoured tapioca pearls. Personally, we love the honeydew green tea combination as it is so naturally sweet and refreshing, but feel free to enjoy your honeydew bubble tea any way you like.
Taro Milk Tea
The first thing lots of people ask when they are told that taro milk bubble tea is something they should try is what the heck is taro?
You might not be familiar with this purple root vegetable from the East if you’re from the Western World. Taro is similar – but not the same as – to the yam, but with hints of nuttiness and vanilla.
The resulting taro milk tea is a Parma Violet feast for the eyes, with the sweetness of the taro balanced with the creaminess of the milk making it even more of a delight for your taste buds.
Any milk can be used for the creaminess, but oat milk, coconut milk or almond milk can pair well with certain flavors for an additional layer of flavor.
All About Bubble Tea Toppings
Heading out in search of the best bubble tea near you, but wondering what bubble tea toppings are? Again, we can clue you in.
There are now a variety of boba pearls available, including popping pearls, golden boba, crystal boba, and rainbow boba, to name a few.
The creation of popping pearls involves the spherification process. They contain a form of fluid in the core of a thin membrane, which is why you receive a burst of juice when you bite through the thin layer, like a delicious fruit juice surprise.
They are created using calcium lactate, sodium alginate, fruit juice or syrup, and water.
Crystal boba has a citrus flavor and is transparent. They are also known as agar boba, or white pearls, and are produced from the konjac plant, a tropical flower native to Southeast Asia.
Because of the agar, a plant-based jelly-like substance created from seaweed extract (don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like seaweed), they have a gelatin-like texture.
For vegans, they are a perfect replacement for tapioca pearls because they have fewer calories and no fat.
Golden boba is a tapioca ball that has been infused with honey rather than brown sugar, giving it its name and its golden appearance. Rainbow boba are just crystal boba that have only been dyed in reds and yellows.
But bubble tea toppings go way beyond different boba pearls. Egg pudding is essentially a custard akin to a flan, despite the fact that it may not sound like a topping you’d want to add to your bubble tea. It is actually a wonderful substitute for tapioca in bubble tea since it is creamier and chewier.
Jellies are also popular. They are created from gelatin and come in a wide variety of tastes to complement the base of bubble tea. Among many others, there are strawberry, grass, coconut, and lychee jellies.
Adzuki beans, commonly referred to as red beans, are mildly sweet and have a powdery texture. Foams are also becoming more and more popular, despite being new to the bubble tea market, as they bring even more frothy fun to the mix.
Ready to experience the best bubble tea/boba tea/ pearl milk tea or whatever you’d like to call it in London? Swing by Pearl Lemon Boba and discover your new favourite not so guilty pleasure today.
FAQs
You can use a search engine or map app to find bubble tea shops in your area. Simply search for “bubble tea near me” or “bubble tea shops near me”, and a list of nearby locations will appear.
Yes, many variations of bubble tea are vegan or lactose-free. Vegan options are typically made with plant-based milk, such as soy milk or almond milk, while lactose-free options are made with lactose-free milk or dairy-free alternatives.
Bubble tea should be consumed as soon as possible after it is made to ensure maximum freshness and flavour. If you need to store bubble tea, it is best to keep it in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours. The tapioca pearls can be stored separately from the drink and added later.