I have to admit, I have a bit of an addiction. Okay, maybe a big addiction.
During my freshman year in high school, my dad took me to try this new drink I didn’t know existed at the time: boba (or bubble tea). He took me to a Tapioca Express and I ordered a strawberry yogurt flavored smoothie. Let’s just say from then on, I was in love! So in love that one of my first jobs was at a boba shop. Yes, I was one of those Asian girls. Since then, I’ve tried and favored many boba cafes and learned that, for me, simple is always the way to go.
For those that are unfamiliar, boba, or tapioca pearls, are created from cassava roots. These chewy little guys have a gummy bear-like texture with no flavor, but can be sweetened, often with honey or brown sugar. Tapioca pearls are dairy free, gluten free and low in sodium, but that doesn’t exactly make them healthy. If you need your boba fix but want to watch your sugar or carbohydrate intake, make healthier drink selections! Ask if they offer fresh fruit juices with no added sugar, or lessen the sweetness in a flavored tea.
If you follow us on Instagram, you’ll notice that the Audrey girls love our boba outings! If you are ever in Southern California, here are our top 5 boba cafes that are worth a try:
1. Tea Station
This is an all-around favorite. Although Tea Station is a bit pricey, the quality of the teas are apparent in their drinks and the boba is always perfectly cooked and sweetened.
This cafe is simply desserts galore, from dessert drinks (similar to Vietnamese desserts) to macaron ice cream sandwiches! Their teas are brewed to order and they have a few organic options as well. You will not find any flavored syrups here!
3. T Pumps
Freshly brewed teas and extra large (but not overwhelming) sizes? We can’t complain here! The best part is that you can choose up to 3 flavors for your tea!
If you love fresh fruit, this is the place to go. To name a few, they have fresh watermelon, apples and oranges to flavor their teas or as a simple fresh fruit juice!
5. Honey Boba
Be careful, these cups are sumo-sized! With a large variety of yummy flavors, such as lavender and rose, and a cup big enough to call a cereal bowl, you will definitely get the bang for your buck at this cafe.
What’s your favorite place to get your boba fix? Did yours make our list?
Feature image courtesy of galleryhip.com.
