bubble tea

American  

[buhb-uhl tee] / ˈbʌb əl ˌti /

noun

1. a frothy East Asian beverage consisting of sweetened tea with milk or flavorings, usually served over black pellets, or pearls, of tapioca.

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bubble tea British  

noun

1. a cold drink, originally from Taiwan, of tea infused with fruit flavouring, shaken to produce bubbles, and served over tapioca pearls in a clear cup. It is usually drunk through a very wide straw

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Usage

What does bubble tea mean? Bubble tea, also known as boba, is a Taiwanese drink of tea infused with milk or fruit and served over tapioca balls, called bubbles or boba. How is bubble tea pronounced?[ buhb-uhl tee ]

Etymology

Origin of bubble tea

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

For Helena Nicoleti, 8, who wore a T-shirt featuring a capybara drinking bubble tea to the zoo, seeing Kiwi was a highlight, along with the lion and the Mexican axolotl.

From Slate • May 27, 2026

Ellen Jenkins from food and drink consultancy HRA Global draws a comparison between the appearance of the drinks and "gimmicky bubble tea or the bright vapes".

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

For Gen Z, whose members grew up in the smartphone era and spent formative years under pandemic lockdown, buying clothes and bubble tea in person feels novel and exciting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

Research involving Chinese nurses reported similar associations in adults, linking regular bubble tea consumption to anxiety, depression, fatigue, job burnout, and lower overall well-being, even after accounting for other variables.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

I sip bubble tea and have frozen yogurt.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi