The best bubble tea in Singapore

ChiCha San Chen is serious about its tea, and it shows – its signature brews are  handcrafted by Taiwanese tea masters with over two decades of experience in growing, roasting, and tasting tea. Its standard bubble milk tea ($5.30) is made with a black tea base and cream, but the highlight is undeniably the award-winning Dong Ding Oolong milk tea (from $3.50) which we daresay is one of the best in Singapore. Other options include a refreshing High Mountain Pouchong tea with lemon juice (from $3.50) and the Cassia black tea with mousse (from $3.50).

Heytea’s outlets are perpetually crowded, and for good reason – the chain’s menu has unique offerings that stand out  from competitors. Its current limited time menu features jasmine green tea mixed with sweet strawberries and mulberries ($6.50) to provide a tang that complements the tea. The Chinese brand is also said to be the original creator of the cheese tea, and the Creamy Cheese Mango Boom ($7.90) is one of the most popular drinks on the regular menu. Freshly brewed Aqua Green tea is topped with fresh mangoes and covered with a thick layer of cheese foam – think of it as a salty and savoury macchiato – that isn’t overly cloying thanks to the bitterness of the cold green tea.

Hollin, meaning “good to drink” in Hokkien, lives up to its name with its extensive bubble tea menu. What’s special about this Taiwanese import is that it offers an array of flavoured pearls every single day. For those tired of the basic black tapioca variety, mix things up with taro (Monday), osmanthus (Tuesday), rock salt (Wednesday), matcha (Thursday), cocoa (Friday), strawberry (Saturday), and lychee (Sunday). Its signature honey pearls are available daily but if you need to get your daily fix of bubble tea, try a different pearl variation a day with simple black milk tea (from $4.70).

This underdog surprises us all with its own rendition of the now-ubiquitous brown sugar milk tea (from $4.90). Launched in Singapore in partnership with Koufu, this Taiwanese import has been expanding fast, with several outlets across the island. While bubble tea with cheese foam is an acquired taste, R&B’s brown sugar boba milk with cheese brûlée (from $6.50) is surprisingly good even to non-fans.

PlayMade has more unique flavours than most, with a chrysanthemum milk tea ($3.50) and brown rice milk tea (from $5.10). It has its own tea farm in Taiwan, and its pearls come in black sesame, burnt caramel, chrysanthemum and pink cactus flavours, the last of which is its signature item. The pink cactus pearls are made with a variety of cactus native to Taiwan. To prepare it for consumption, the cactus is broken and ground into pulp, before being sent to Singapore.

Bubble tea pairs best with street food, and I Love Taimei understands that, serving up Taiwanese street snacks alongside yummy bubble tea. While the selection of bubble tea is limited, the drinks that I Love Taimei does offer are rich and flavourful. Go for Northern Lights ($5.50), a thirst-quenching mix of sprite, mango, butterfly pea, and mango pops. Pair it with one of the popular chain’s extra crispy chicken ($6.90) and you’ll have the perfect snack to tide you through the day.

It’s unlike any bubble tea chain we’ve encountered – Tea Pulse swaps out typical tea or milk tea bases for kombucha, topped with the likes of chestnut pearls and chia seed jelly instead of the usual tapioca pearls. Health and wellness are not the words that come to mind when talking about bubble tea, but all of Tea Pulse’s drinks have received either an A or B Nutri-Grade, meaning that they are low in sugar and saturated fat content. Get the house-fermented hibiscus hawthorn kombucha ($4.80) – the sweet and refreshing taste of the hibiscus makes for the perfect post-meal dessert.

This local brand has a steady stream of returning customers who have fallen in love with its tea. Bober’s fresh milk series is undoubtedly the most popular, with the brown sugar crème brûlée ($7.90) taking the top spot. The caramelised top gives the brown sugar a slightly burnt taste that pairs well with the creamy Hokkaido milk. Another popular drink is the chizu matcha ($9.10), where the smooth uji matcha is topped with a layer of light and fluffy cheese foam for the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

Having started in Taiwan in 1992, Sharetea has had plenty of time to perfect the recipes for its signature drinks, and there’s one we simply can’t get enough of: the Okinawa pearl milk tea. The richness of the black tea is complemented by the milk and indulgent brown sugar that coats the walls of the cup. Pair that with chewy brown sugar pearls, you’ve got yourself a cup of bubble tea that hits the spot. Sharetea also has seasonal releases, such as the recent sakura crystal boba which you can have with strawberry fresh milk or strawberry matcha. The crystal pearls are light with a tinge of floral sweetness that’s the perfect refresher for a hot day.

This neighbourhood joint has been around since 2012. Over the years,   it has grown to be a reliable chain that serves up pretty good bubble tea. Besides the typical milk teas and fruit-based teas, you can also find nostalgic drinks such as the Oreo ice blended ($2.80), macchiato chocolate ice blended ($3.40), and even a milo-based series called Stylo Milo, featuring concoctions like peppermint milo ($3.30) and a milo macchiato ($3.30).

Real talk, Koi is the OG – and for good reason. Despite the many new entrants that have come aboard the bubble tea train in Singapore, we simply can’t find one that beats the flavours, variety and price point that Koi offers (prices start from $2.90). The joint is unfailingly generous with its toppings, its golden bubble gives a good mouthfeel, and the tea and milk are well-balanced so that the drink is never too cloying. Call us old-fashioned, but we’re sticking with this brand.