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

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

Alibaba 9988 -0.45%decrease; red down pointing triangle has committed more than $430 million to a campaign offering free bubble tea and other items to users who order food through its Qwen chatbot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 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 stand is humming with activity.

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