What is the difference between milk tea and boba tea?
Milk tea is tea made with milk. Boba (bubble) tea is a tea drink served with toppings, usually chewy tapioca pearls, and it can be made with or without milk. So milk tea is a drink style, while boba tea is a drink with pearls; a pearl milk tea is both.
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In this article
Is milk tea the same as boba tea?
No, but they overlap. Milk tea is tea with milk. Boba tea, also called bubble tea, is a tea-based drink with toppings, usually tapioca pearls. The Takeout explains that bubble tea can be made with or without dairy, so not all bubble tea is milk tea.
Quick comparison
| Milk tea | Boba tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Defining feature | Tea plus milk | Tea drink with toppings, usually tapioca pearls |
| Contains milk? | Yes | Sometimes |
| Contains pearls? | No | Usually |
| Examples | Hong Kong milk tea, Taiwanese milk tea | Pearl milk tea, fruit tea with pearls |
Why do people mix them up?
Many popular boba flavors are made with milk or cream, so people call boba drinks milk tea.
Do the milk teas differ?
- Hong Kong milk tea: uses sweetened evaporated milk, per The Takeout.
- Taiwanese milk tea: made with whole milk, per the same source.
This means milk teas differ in taste depending on the milk used.
How to order
- Ask for pearls if you want boba, and for milk tea if you want the dairy version.
- If you avoid dairy, ask about non-dairy options. Bubble tea can be made without dairy.
- Ask about sugar level and toppings, since both change calories.
Is boba tea unhealthy?
It depends on the sweetener, toppings and size, so check the shop’s nutrition information if it is shown. Treat sweet versions as an occasional drink.
Can you make it at home?
Brew strong tea, add milk and sweetener, and add cooked tapioca pearls following the pack instructions.
People also ask
Is bubble tea the same as boba?
Yes, mostly. The Takeout says bubble tea is often called boba tea.
Does boba tea always have milk?
No. Fruit-based bubble teas often contain no dairy.
What milk is used in Hong Kong milk tea?
Sweetened evaporated milk, according to The Takeout.
Sources
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