With the weather getting warmer and spring on the horizon, it’s time to drop coffee and pick up something more fun. Being a huge boba fan, I went on a mission to find the best tiger milk tea near campus.
Tiger milk tea consists of brown sugar, tapioca pearls, milk and the location’s choice of tea. I will rate based on tea to milk ratio, how well the tapioca pearls are cooked, the balance of sweetness and the price.
Fifth Place: Bubbles N’ Bites
2/5 stars
For $8.31 I only got 16 ounces of beverage. Not only this, but the tea taste was overpowering and too watery for me to obtain any brown sugar flavoring. The tapioca was over-boiled, leaving a sticky consistency.
Bubbles N’ Bites is the closest location, located 10 minutes away from campus.
The boba from Bubbles N’ Bites. Photo by Caitrin O’Leary.
Fourth Place: Teapioca Lounge
2.5/5 stars
22 ounces of beverage for $7.79 is a step up for sure. However, in the end it didn’t matter, as I only tasted tea and absolutely no brown sugar. The tapioca itself was cooked almost perfectly, but still a little over-boiled.
Teapioca Lounge is a 15-minute drive from campus.
The boba from Teapioca Lounge. Photo by Caitrin O’Leary.
Third Place: Kung Fu Tea
3/5 stars
This place didn’t even offer tiger milk tea. What boba shop doesn’t have tiger milk tea? Anyway, I was offered their “Cocoa Cream WOW,” which was their closest alternative. The drink consisted of brown sugar and chocolate syrup, no tea, whole milk and brown sugar tapioca pearls.
The drink itself was fine, as it just tasted like chocolate milk with brown sugar tapioca. Unfortunately, the tapioca itself was too chewy. For 16 ounces, $7.10 was still a little overpriced for my liking.
Kung Fu Tea is located 13 minutes away from campus
The boba from Kung Fu Tea. Photo by Noah March.
Second Place: Pandaz Boba Tea
4/5 stars
I had to ignore the price range of $8.54 because the drink was so large. This drink was perfectly sweet. The top was lined with whipped cream, giving the beverage a creamier consistency which I didn’t know I needed.
The tapioca pears were boiled a little too long, however, it made up for it with the perfect tea to milk ratio. Even though it’s expensive, 24 ounces was plenty enough for me.
Pandaz Boba Tea is located across the street from Chapel Hills Mall and is a 15-minute drive from campus.
The boba from Pandaz Boba Tea. Photo by Caitrin O’Leary.
First Place: Pho Express #1
5/5 stars
For $7.51, you get 20 ounces which is a perfect size. The boba is cooked perfectly, and the milk to tea ratio is spot on. The drink isn’t too sweet, but just the right amount so you’re not taken away from the tea flavoring completely. This place also gives you way more tapioca pearls than any other place which is an added bonus.
Pho Express #1 is located 15 minutes away from campus.
The boba from Pho Express #1. Photo by Caitrin O’Leary.
Boba from Panda Boba Tea. Photo by Caitrin O’Leary.