Best teas for bubble tea

Robust, malty black teas that stand up to milk, sweetener, and tapioca pearls — the backbone of a proper boba.

Classic boba starts with a strong black tea base — malty Assams and breakfast-style blends brewed double strength so the flavor survives milk and ice. Every pick below carries the malty character that makes milk tea taste like tea. For a lighter base, jasmine green works beautifully too.