Is the bubble tea vegetarian and vegan?

Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is a blend of any tea base with tapioca or boba pearls.

Boba tea is available in several varieties and tapioca pearls can also be prepared in different ways, but when it comes to dietary indications, bubble tea can be both vegan and non-vegan.

Is the bubble tea vegetarian and vegan? The simple and concrete answer to this question is: yes. Boba pearls are considered vegan because they are made with tapioca flour/starch. However, with its addition to many milk teas, bubble tea can be considered non-vegan.

Read on to learn more about what bubble tea is, why boba is considered vegan and vegetarian, and how best to use the pearls in vegan-friendly drinks.

What is bubble tea?

Bubble tea has been around for a long time in the world of tea. Its history stretches back decades and today it has become a staple throughout the world, with several varieties available in almost every coffee shop.

So is bubble tea vegetarian or vegan? The answer is that it is both.

Bubble tea is any tea that contains boba pearls, but the pearls can also be added to non-tea beverages. By themselves, the boba pearls are completely vegan because they are only made up of tapioca starch and water .

Although there are also other varieties, such as “boba explosiva” or “boba explosiva”, made with gelatin, you can also find vegan-friendly versions of these variants that use plant-based ingredients, such as agar powder. 

The problem starts when we separate the boba from the boba tea.

You see, while boba pearls are vegan, the milk-based drinks they’re often added to are far from it.

Bubble tea is available in several varieties such as milk tea, caramel milk tea, vanilla bubble tea, and much more! All of these drinks include the use of boba pearls, but with one big caveat: They all contain dairy. 

But are there vegan versions of bubble tea? Yes!

Vegan and vegetarian bubble tea

Vegetarian bubble tea is easy to find, and many coffee shops train baristas to help customers looking for non-dairy alternatives.

Pure tapioca pearls are considered vegetarian and vegan, so you can easily order a non-dairy tea and have these pearls added for a tasty experience.

However, when it comes to vegan bubble tea, you will have to keep a few things in mind.

Although vegan bubble teas have been gaining in popularity over the years, you’ll have to confirm if the drink is truly vegan due to the addition of so many flavorings and ingredients.

The abandonment of dairy products in bubble tea making has allowed coffee shops to experiment with different ingredients, combinations, and flavors.

In many cases, these additions are in line with vegetarianism, but can bypass the vegan community, which is inclined to have stricter standards.

For example, simple boba exploding fruity bubble tea made with vegetarian-friendly ingredients is found almost everywhere, but some coffee shops may opt for honey or non-vegan maple syrup to make the tea base or pearls of silly.

Fortunately, with a little knowledge and probing, you can find similar-tasting fruity drinks that include both tapioca boba and purely vegan bubble tea.

Remember that most vegetarian bubble teas are also usually vegan if you exclude sweeteners like honey or other obvious dairy by-products like whipped cream.

Boba tea can be adapted to your dietary needs by simply asking the waiter or using substitutes such as almond milk or oat milk.

How to find out if your bubble tea is vegan

The best way to find out if your chosen drink is vegan is to ask the bartender. Most of the professional coffee shops label their products so that customers can enjoy bubble tea without any doubt.

However, some vendors may not properly label the ingredients in their bubble tea.

For example, in the case of popped boba, some brands may use non-vegan ingredients instead of seaweed or plant-based ingredients to make the gelatinous boba spheres.

Others may use sweeteners like non-vegan maple syrup to flavor the boba pearls.

Always check the labeling and ingredient list when choosing a bubble tea. You can also ask the bartender to make a vegan version of their best-selling drink, as is standard practice at many renowned coffee shops.

Of course, the next best way to make sure your boba tea is vegan is to make vegan bubble tea at home. You will be surprised how easy it is!

Vegan Bubble Tea Recipes with Vegan Boba Pearls

Here are some great recipes for both bubble tea and boba pearls.

Vegan Classic Bubble Tea

Ingredients

• Store-bought vegan boba/tapioca pearls
• 3 cups of water at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons of a sweetener of your choice
• 2 cup-sized black tea bags
• 2 cups of vegan milk of your choice (almond or oat milk works great)

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil and add the tapioca pearls to the saucepan. Continue cooking the pearls for 8 minutes over low heat. You can also follow the instructions on the back of the package for better-tasting boba pearls.
2. Stir the pearls occasionally and cook until the pearls turn dark and translucent. Test a pearl to check its consistency; it should be satisfyingly chewy but completely tender.
3. In a large coffee mug, steep 2 tea bags in 1-1.5 cups of hot water. Leave the tea bags for 5 minutes or longer if you want a stronger flavored blend. Once done, remove the tea bags and store the mug in the fridge until chilled.
4. Strain the tapioca pearls and transfer them to a bowl filled with cold water. The pearls must remain submerged or they could dry out.
5. Add 2 tablespoons of sweetener to the bowl and let sit for 3-4 minutes.
6. Now comes the fun part! She makes the bubble tea by first pouring the mixture of tapioca pearls and syrup into the bottom of the glass along with some ice cubes. Top off with your favorite vegan milk and enjoy!
7. You can also add more sweetener, cinnamon or vanilla as a garnish to further enhance the look and taste of your bubble tea. Remember, always use a large boba tea straw to drink and eat the boba pearls!

Dairy-Free Fruity Bubble Tea

Here’s another great vegan bubble tea recipe that also has fruity flavor notes!

Ingredients

• 1 cup vegan tapioca pearls of your choice
• 1 cup coconut or almond milk
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 cup of brewed black tea
• 1 cup of prepared matcha tea
• 1 cup of mango juice
• 1 cup strawberries, mixed with the vegan milk of your choice

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil and add the tapioca pearls. Make sure the water is bubbling and boiling before adding the pearls or they may lose some of their texture.
2. Cook the pearls for about 5 minutes or as directed on the back of the package.
3. Scoop out 1.5-2 tablespoons of the tapioca liquid and strain the pearls to remove all excess water. At the same time, transfer the pearls to a small bowl with water, sweetener and also add the tapioca liquid to the bowl.
4. Now assemble the tea by mixing the black tea, matcha tea, mango juice and strawberry mix with vegan milk of your choice. Garnish with some sweetener or fruit and enjoy with a large boba straw!

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over bubble tea and whether or not it’s vegan and vegetarian, let’s take a look at some related questions!

No. You can add unsweetened tapioca pearls to any bubble tea. Traditionally however, adding a bit of liquid herbal sweetener will give the pearls and the base of the drink a more balanced and “fuller” taste.

This will also make a big difference to the overall taste of the drink by sucking up the boba pearls from the bottom of the glass.

What do tapioca pearls taste like?

Boba pearls have no flavor, but their texture provides subtle flavor notes. The best way to describe them is as slightly doughy, nutty and earthy.

Sweetened boba pearls will taste more or less the same, but with a hint of sweetness.

Are bubble tea and boba tea the same thing?

Yes, bubble tea is the trade name for boba tea, which is also known as tapioca tea or boba milk tea. 

All of these names describe the same thing, but you may come across terms like “popping boba” or “bursting boba,” which is a bit different from tapioca pearls.