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Bubble tea, or boba, is a Taiwanese drink that has swept across the globe with its tantalizing combination of tea, milk, and chewy tapioca pearls, is a phenomenon that continues to gather enthusiasts from all corners. Some variations are made with traditional green or black tea, but others are made as smoothies or slushies. It’s a cold, frothy beverage, aptly named ‘bubble’ tea for the signature tapioca pearls that sit at the bottom and the bubbles that appear on top when shaken. Let’s check out some great spots throughout Metro Detroit where you can give the popular beverage a try…
DETROIT BUBBLE TEA COMPANY
22821 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale
Detroit Bubble Tea Company offers a truly individualized experience, allowing customers to choose every aspect of their boba. You start by selecting your base, from milk teas, lemonade, smoothie, slushy, or iced teas. Then you select your drink flavor(s), ranging from options like dragon fruit and rose to honeydew or caramel. For your final step, select your bubble add-ins. You can select classic tapioca pearls, or go for one of the popping pearls or jellies that will remind you of gummy candy. With over 30 flavors and a multitude of customization options, make your bubble tea the way you want it or change it up every time you go! With this many options, you can have a different bubble tea for every day of the week!
YOGURTOWN
3424 Fairlane Drive, Allen Park
At Yogurtown, the experience is about more than just great tea. Though primarily celebrated for their frozen yogurt and gelato, they’ve adeptly expanded their menu to include bubble tea, making it a perfect spot for tea lovers and dessert enthusiasts alike. For froyo-based boba, choose between unsweetened black tea or green tea as your base, select your flavor profile like birthday cake, butter pecan, or pistachio, and enjoy with tapioca pearls. Jellies, fro-yo toppings, and espresso shots are also available to add to your bubble tea.
Z’S BUBBLE TEA
Multiple locations in Metro Detroit
Z’s Bubble Tea brings a fun vibe to the bubble tea scene. On the menu, you can find carefully crafted boba tea creations, like brown sugar, spicy chai, or Oreo red velvet boba. For those looking to create something unique, that’s possible too! Pick a size, flavor base (milk or fruit), if you want it blended or not, tea choice, sugar and ice levels, and then toppings. The curated menu offers excellent options for everyone, but the custom bubble tea lets you cater to your own individual tastes.
YOGURT CO.
2958 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte
There is also Yogurt Co., where Jay Mahfouz, the owner, shares his enthusiasm for both frozen yogurt and bubble tea. “We carry over 30 flavors of bubble tea, 40 flavors of smoothies, and more,” he states, highlighting the shop’s diverse offerings. With flavors like blue lemonade, pomegranate, watermelon, and fruity boba and jellies, there is something for everyone. Additionally, Yogurt Co. stands out not only for its beverages but also for creative treats like ice cream nachos and griddle cakes.
TEA NINJA
535 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor
Tea Ninja offers an extensive selection of boba teas. Their approach creates a variety of beverages based on the base, whether it be a milk tea, like rose milk or red bean matcha, a fruit option like lychee or peach, or something from oolong tea, crème brûlée and dairy choices, or as a slushy. Select one of the many options based on flavor profile and beverage base, and then decide on regular or unsweetened tapioca to be added. With many creations on the menu, you can certainly find a favorite or two!
TOU & MAI
4240 Cass Avenue, Detroit
Tou & Mai has a great selection of boba tea, but it also is an Asian Mini Mart. Pick from options like jasmine blossom or cucumber fresh fruit teas, a peaches and cream slush, almond bliss or coconut milk teas, or jack fruit smoothies to create your beverage. Top your creation with popping boba, jellies, flan custard, aloe vera, or a milk option. Sip on your creativity and browse the market, or enjoy it out on the patio with friends.
ELI TEA BAR
108 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham
Eli Tea Bar emphasizes the craft of tea making. With a focus on ethically sourced ingredients, Eli Tea Bar has a cafe and retail space for tea lovers. Stop in to purchase your favorite loose-leaf tea to prepare at home, and try out one of the bubble teas from the menu while you’re there. For one, the cheese bubble tea features liquid cheesecake on top of the sweetened iced black tea base, brown sugar, and tapioca. The strawberry matcha is also popular, with matcha green tea, cut strawberry pieces, milk, and boba, of course. Finally, for a twist on a traditional London Fog, Eli Tea Bar offers the London Fog Bubble, with vanilla lavender earl grey tea, brown sugar, milk, and boba.
This article has been updated to include new information. The original article was published on April 20, 2016.
