A Definitive Ranking of Bubble Tea Toppings

Almost every boba lover has a strong opinion about their favorite flavor of bubble tea. But did you know that the topping you add to your drink can make or break your enjoyment just as much as your choice of drink?

There are a few toppings we vow to never order because, in our opinion, they can instantly ruin our drinks. Below, discover our complete ranking of toppings, from tapioca pearls to red beans.

7. Red Bean

We've never understood the appeal of red bean-flavored anything. You can find red bean mochi and add red beans to your pancakes or ice cream. Sorry, but the flavor is too bland, and the texture only becomes more soggy in your beverage.

 

Also read about: A Definitive Ranking of the Most Popular Cheddar Cheese Crackers

 

6. Grass Jelly

Grass jelly is the less appealing version of a tapioca pearl. While tapioca has a mild, sweet taste, grass jelly is slightly earthier and bitter. There is hardly any milk tea that we'd order that we'd desire. But hey, if you know what pairs nicely with it, let us know.

(via Shutterstock)

 

5. Popping Boba

Popping boba was our first introduction to those colorful pearls. We used to find them in frozen yogurt shops, and it always added a fun and fruity texture to our sweet treat. While the popping effect is exciting to have, we couldn't get past the empty skin that's left over.

 

4. Rainbow Jelly

We don't often opt for a fruity bubble tea, but when we do, we always go for the rainbow jelly. It is made of coconut meat, which tones down the tanginess of the fruit to the perfect level. It is also slightly softer than tapioca, which means the little cubes glide down your throat for easy drinking.

(via Shutterstock)

 

Also read about: A Definitive Ranking of Fast Food Tacos

 

3. Pudding

As a disclaimer, our usual go-to drink is brown sugar milk. In general, we prefer the warmer color of brown sugar (over standard sugar), and the caramel adds so much vibrancy to the drink. On top of everything, we often like to add the pudding when available. It's slightly salty, giving a more complex blend to the brown sugar flavor.

 

2. Tapioca Pearls

Before you start reading our ranking, you probably thought the tapioca pearls would be high on our rank. It's a classic! It's one of the only toppings that go well on any drink because of its vaguely sugary taste, whether a fruity pineapple smoothie or matcha milk tea. 

If you're a beginner to bubble tea, we will always recommend you try tapioca pearls first.

(via Shutterstock)

 

1. Honey Boba

Honey boba is a topping that doesn't complement every drink, but if we see it on the menu, we're forgetting everything we wanted and changing our selection to something that will fit honey boba. It's the more thrilling sister of tapioca pearls. Because each one is soaked in, well, honey, it has a more distinct flavor that instantly enhances the flavor of your drink. 

 

Curious about our other food opinions? Click HERE to find our definitive ranking of all 27 classic Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavors.