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 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

In 2023, doctors in Taiwan removed more than 300 kidney stones from a 20 year old woman who had reportedly been drinking bubble tea instead of water.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

There have been plenty of food and drink crazes over the years - matcha, bubble tea, cronuts, and the Starbucks olive oil coffee that we're still disappointed didn't really catch on.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

The bubble tea shop has drinks named after different New York City neighborhoods, offers multiple tea and juice bases, as well as dairy alternatives.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2025

The bubble tea stand is humming with activity.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan