Boba tea — aka bubble tea or pearl milk tea — is a Taiwanese dessert drink that has become a total sensation in the US, especially California. In fact, Sacramento is home to dozens + dozens of boba tea shops alone.
Before you head out to try one for the first time (or get your third of the day), here’s a crash course on all things boba:
🗣️ Tell me about the name? Although “boba” refers to the chewy tapioca pearls in the drink, “boba tea” has become a catch-all term for many Taiwanese dessert drinks — from brown sugar boba milk tea to mango fruit tea with rainbow jelly.
👀 What can you expect to find at a boba tea shop? It varies. Most shops offer similar categories — milk-based teas, fruit-based teas + blended tea drinks — but you’ll also likely find a variety of toppings. Don’t be overwhelmed, here’s a guide to some of the most common.
Alright, ready to dig in? Here are 20+ spots in Sacramento for you to get your boba fix.
🧋 Lazi Cow, 1582 Howe Ave.
- Build-your-own boba + Asian snacks and appetizers
- Try this: Joe Marma milk tea
🧋 Pearls Boba, 2264 Fair Oaks Blvd.
- Small café serving shaved ice + boba tea
- Try this: Lil’ Razzcal smoothie topped with mango popping boba
🧋 Happy Lemon, 6914 65th St. + 3660 Crocker Dr.
- Large menu featuring boba tea, yakult, fruit tea + more
- Try this: Mango lemon slushy with mango boba
🧋 Bober Tea & Coffee, Multiple locations + more coming soon
- Mochi Dough donuts available at selection locations
- Try this: Chizu taro latte with house-made cheese cream
🧋 Gong Cha, 6825 Stockton Blvd.
- Part of the international franchise founded in Taiwan in 2006
- Try this: Ice cream black tea
🧋 RareTea, 414 K St. + 2550 W. El Camino Ave
- High-quality tea + innovative brewing techniques
- Try this: Caramelized brown sugar boba with fresh milk
🧋 Snowbee Tea Station, 6905 Stockton Blvd.
- Expansive menu featuring boba tea, slushies + smoothies, snacks, hot pots + noodles
- Try this: Passionfruit smoothie with rainbow jelly + chocolate fantasy honey toast
🧋 Ding Tea, 7311 W. Stockton Blvd.
- Milk tea, fruit tea, yakult, cheese cream + blended drinks
- Try this: Honey milk tea with coffee jelly + crystal boba
🧋 One Milk Tea, 4443 Auburn Blvd
- Dynamic tea shop that ultizilies premium teas + ingredients
- Try this: Panda milk tea with sea salt crema + takoyaki on the side
🧋 T4. Tea For U, 2212 16th St.
- Boba tea, crepes, snacks + rice bowls
- Try this: Taro milk tea with pearl boba to drink + honey chicken wings to eat
🧋 Quickly, 2100 16th St.
- Boba tea + Asian desserts and snacks
- Try this: Cantaloupe milk tea
🧋 Boba Loca, 1689 Arden Way
- Boba tea, slushies and smoothies, iced teas, frappes + snacks
- Try this: Dragon fruit slush with boba
🧋 Bambu Desserts and Drinks, 6901 Stockton Blvd.
- Specializes in Vietnamese iced coffee, Chè + dessert drinks
- Try this: Coconut milk tea with boba
🧋 Tea 18, 3880 Truxel Rd.
- Classic boba tea flavors, blended drinks + premium cheese foam
- Try this: Wintermelon with fresh milk
🧋 Tastea Fresh Smoothies & Teas, 7235 Franklin Blvd.
- All apps + drinks can be made with stevia instead of sugar
- Try this: Matcha milk tea with coconut jelly added on
🧋 Lollicup Tea Zone, 6830 Stockton Blvd.
- Taiwanese dessert drinks + snacks
- Try this: Jasmine milk tea with mini boba
🧋 i-Tea, 6461 Stockton Blvd.
- Boba tea drinks + Asian dishes and snacks
- Try this: Tiramisu milk tea + basil popcorn chicken
🧋 Aimée’s Boba Café, 7238 Franklin Blvd.
- Specialty drinks + snacks
- Try this: Kiwi tea with lychee jelly
🧋 T% Coffee + Tea, 8325 Elk Grove Florin Rd.
- Teas made with organic dairy + fresh ingredients; non-dairy milk also available
- Try this: Original panna cotta with boba
🧋 Tea Bay, 7680 La Riviera Dr.
- Specialty boba tea drinks + Asian fusion snacks
- Try this: Matcha red bean latte
🧋 Boba Pho U, 3071 Freeport Blvd.
- Vietnamese food + specialty drinks
- Try this: Vietnamese milkshake + shrimp banh mi
🧋 Donuts & Coffey, 5611 Folsom Blvd.
- House-made donuts, coffee + bubble tea
- Try this: Thai tea with boba + tiramisu donut
🧋 TBar Tea Bar & Fusion Cafe, 2700 Capitol Ave.
- Unique fusion of flavors in teas, blended drinks, snacks + bowls
- Try this: Ginger pear sparkling tea with boba
🧋 Matcha Café Maiko, 6905 Stockton Blvd.
- Hawaii-based chain serving tea, soft serve, and parfaits
- Try this: Kokuto matcha + Vanilla Maiko Parfait
