When it comes to trendy and refreshing beverages, bubble tea, also known as boba tea, has taken the world by storm and captured the hearts and interests of masses of people, especially the young. Bubble tea stores have popped up all over Abu Dhabi, offering a delightful array of flavors and textures that cater to every palate. Although the numerous shops offer an expanding variety, not all bubble tea variations tend to hit the spot and adhere to the quality most customers hope for, which is why this blog has been dedicated to evaluating and presenting the most delicious, fun, and enjoyable options. Let’s take a whirlwind tour of some of the best bubble tea stores in Abu Dhabi.
The Flavor Variety in Bubble Tea
Bubble tea flavors can range from traditional options like classic milk tea, taro, and lychee to more exotic and innovative choices like fruit-infused teas, matcha, and specialty blends. Additionally, the availability of flavors and variations can change frequently from shop to shop. You can often customize your bubble tea by choosing different toppings (like tapioca pearls, fruit jelly, or popping boba) and adjusting the sweetness and ice levels to suit your taste preferences. Be sure to inquire about these customization options when you visit a bubble tea shop. Some shops offer you to taste the different bubble tea flavors they have so that you can decide which flavor you want to go with for your drink and make sure that you like it.
Best Places for Bubble Tea in Abu Dhabi – Our Review
CHU Premium
On a casual quest to find the best bubble tea in the city, we discovered a hidden gem that offers a phenomenal experience of exotic boba drinks at CHU Premium, located in Mohammed Bin Khalifa St. – Abu Dhabi.
Menu and Service
There’s something to satisfy every palate, such as classic bubble tea, fruity drinks, and signature blends like Strawberry Matcha, Coconut Charcoal, and Gold Karak boba drinks served in gorgeous cups. Their commitment to quality is noteworthy. Matcha whisked for each drink, you can taste authentic chewy tapioca pearls from Taiwan, adjust the sweetness level to your preference, and customize your drink with various toppings like chewy tapioca pearls, jelly, fruit puree, chia, pudding, and fruity popping boba.
The shop caters to all dietary needs by offering whole or skimmed milk, lactose-free or vegan milk in their bubble teas. The shop offers other gluten-free snacks like ring cake, coconut bites, muffins, chocolate chip cookies, mochi, egg crackers, ice cream, and croissants filled with fresh boba. The staff are welcoming and offer decent service. They guide you through the menu and suggest the most suitable options based on your preference. The shop is small with limited seating area, but the decor is vibrant, modern, and minimalist. In addition, you can check out their bubble tea-inspired gift corner that includes candles, soap bars, cups, and soft toys.
Price
The price is relatively competitive in the same range as other bubble tea shops. Honestly, it is worth a try for the overall experience in terms of quality, variety, service, and aesthetics.
Location, Working Hours & Contact Channels
Chu premium bubble tea shop located in Mohammed Bin Khalifa St. – Abu Dhabi. Visit the Instagram of CHU Premium Bubble Tea for menu, special offers, and delivery. To place orders login to Chu premium bubble tea website
Bubble Tea shop Opening hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
ChaTime
ChaTime offers a delightful experience with its extensive bubble tea menu variety, high-quality ingredients, and friendly service. It provides a diverse range of boba tea options to accommodate every taste and preference. Their tapioca pearls are consistently chewy and fresh, enhancing the overall boba drink experience. Their tea base is carefully brewed to achieve the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess. While there is always room for improvement, it’s a must-visit for any boba tea lover looking to explore new flavors and enjoy a satisfying beverage.
Menu and Service
ChaTime has a very extended bubble tea menu, whether you prefer traditional milk bubble tea, adventurous fruit tea flavors, refreshing slushies, or rich coffee-based boba drinks, they have something for everyone. What sets the shop apart is its boba customization options. You can adjust the sweetness levels and ice preferences of your boba drink to match your taste, ensuring that every visit caters to your current mood and boba tea preferences. The service was both welcoming and prompt. The staff demonstrated an understanding of the boba tea menu and offered suggestions tailored to different boba preferences. Even during busy peak hours, we found the wait times to be reasonable, and my boba tea order was prepared with evident attention to detail.
Price
The key to Chatime’s success lies in its diverse bubble tea menu, high number of bubble tea shops stretched across the emirate, and competitive pricing scheme marked lower than other boba tea shops.
Location, Working Hours & Contact Channels
We visited Chatime Bubble tea shop at the Yas mall located on the First Floor. Visit ChaTime bubble tea instagram account for a front-row seat to the boba tea revolution that’s sweeping taste buds and capturing hearts.
Bubble tea shop Opening hours:
Depending on boba tea shop location, they have many branches in Abu Dhabi, for more information you can visit Chatime bubble tea website.
Booba
Booba stands out for its elegant ambiance and pleasant decor because of the pink flowers that cover the place, providing a simple seating area and modern setting for bubble tea lovers. It is a great place to go if you need to satisfy a boba tea drink desire.
Menu and Service
The shop offers a variety of boba variations that range from traditional options like classic milk bubble tea and lychee bubble tea, to more exotic and innovative choices of like fruit-infused boba tea, matcha bubble tea, and other specialty blends. Additionally, you can customise your drink by choosing different toppings (like tapioca pearls, fruit jelly, or popping boba) and adjusting the sweetness and ice to suit your taste preferences. A must try is their passion fruit with green tea and mango popping boba drink if you’re looking for something not overly sweet yet refreshing.
Another aspect of differentiation over other bubble tea shops is that you can create your own blend by combining ice cream and multiple boba flavors to develop your unique drink. It tasted fantastic and was extremely refreshing. The staff create a friendly atmosphere, and you will feel valued with the quick and efficient service.
Price
The drink prices are affordable and reasonable for similar types of boba tea beverages. Although the cost can vary slightly depending on opted boba extras.
Location, Working Hours & Contact Channels
Explore bubble Tea Flavour at Boobame Instagram account or visit Booba bubble tea Website. For more info you can call: +971 2584 9474
Bubble tea shop Opening hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Mancha
Mancah is where creativity knows no boundaries. This cafe takes boba to new heights with innovative flavours like Matcha Milktea and Karak chai bubble Tea. The variety and quality of their concoctions earn them high marks. If you’re an adventurous boba explorer, don’t miss this spot.
Menu and Service
Mancha Cafe offers a diverse menu of bubble tea flavors, from classic milk teas to exotic fruit blends. Their commitment to quality and top-notch ingredients ensures authentic, rich flavors. Whether a seasoned boba lover or a newcomer, Mancha Cafe provides an excellent and satisfying experience such as brown sugar boba, choco oreo boba tea and matcha milk boba tea flavors. Mancha Cafe is a popular destination for boba tea enthusiasts and those seeking a delightful café experience. It offers a diverse range of high-quality drinks and exceptional customer service. The staff is known for their attentiveness, patience, and willingness to guide customers through the extensive menu. Their efficient and friendly service ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience, making Mancha Cafe a go-to destination for boba tea enthusiasts.
Price
Prices at Mancha Cafe are competitive and in line with other boba shops to ensure customers can enjoy their delicious drinks without breaking the bank.
Location, Working Hours & Contact Channels
You can find Mancha Bubble tea Location at Al Danah Abu Dhabi or visit Boba tea instagram account . For more info you can call: 02 246 7340
Bubble tea shop Opening hours:
- Sunday – Saturday: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Boba Hype Cafe
Boba Hype Cafe is a popular destination among bubble tea fans, providing a delightful experience with a wide range of flavours such as Taro and Matcha. The cafe also caters to those seeking unique combinations by offering cream cheese as an added option. This establishment is highly recommended for boba tea lovers.
Menu and Service
Boba Hype Cafe provides a diverse selection of bubble tea beverages to satisfy various preferences. Their menu includes both traditional milk tea boba and coffee-based bubble tea drinks, as well as more adventurous options like matcha, taro, blueberry, and graham combinations. For those seeking a unique twist, the cafe also offers cream cheese boba drinks as an optional addition, catering to individuals with a bold palate and a spirit of exploration. One of the key factors that sets Boba Hype Cafe apart is its commitment to helping customers explore and discover their ideal boba concoctions. The staff members are not only knowledgeable about the menu offerings, but they are also patient and attentive, taking the time to understand individual preferences and guiding customers towards the most suitable and satisfying boba tea flavors.
Price
Boba Hype Cafe aims to appeal to a broad range of bubble tea enthusiasts by carefully pricing their menu items relatively in the same range of other boba shops.
Location, Working Hours & Contact Channels
Visit Boba Hype bubble tea shop location in Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi.
For more info you can call: +971 50 299 409
Boba tea shop Opening hours:
- Open Every day from 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Do it Yourself, At-Home Boba Tea
Making boba tea at home can be a fun and delicious project. Here’s a basic recipe to get you started. You can customize it by choosing your favorite tea flavors and toppings. This recipe will guide you through making classic milk tea with tapioca pearls:
Ingredients:
For the Boba (Tapioca Pearls):
- 1/2 cup dried black tapioca pearls
- Water for boiling
- Brown sugar or honey (optional, for sweetening the pearls)
For the Milk Tea:
- 1-2 black tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose-leaf black tea
- 1 cup hot water
- 2-3 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup half-and-half or milk (you can use non-dairy alternatives like almond or soy milk)
- Ice cubes
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Tapioca Pearls (Boba):
a. Boil the tapioca pearls: Follow the instructions on the packaging of the tapioca pearls you purchased. Usually, you’ll need to bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pearls for 20-30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
b. Sweeten the pearls (optional): Drain the cooked tapioca pearls and transfer them to a bowl. While they’re still warm, add brown sugar or honey to sweeten them. Toss them gently to coat. This step is optional; you can skip it if you prefer unsweetened pearls.
c. Let the pearls cool: Allow the sweetened or unsweetened tapioca pearls to cool for about 15-20 minutes.
2. Brew the Tea:
a. Steep the black tea: In a separate container, steep the black tea bags or loose-leaf tea in 1 cup of hot water for about 5-7 minutes, or until the tea is strong. Remove the tea bags or strain the loose-leaf tea.
b. Sweeten the tea: While the tea is still hot, add sugar to taste and stir until it’s dissolved. You can adjust the sweetness level based on your preference.
c. Let the tea cool: Allow the sweetened tea to cool to room temperature. You can place it in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.
3. Assemble the Boba Tea:
a. Fill a glass with ice cubes.
b. Pour the cooled sweetened tea over the ice, leaving some room at the top.
c. Add the milk (half-and-half or your preferred milk alternative) on top of the tea.
d. Finally, scoop your prepared tapioca pearls into the glass using a wide straw or spoon.
e. Stir the boba tea well to mix all the flavors and enjoy!
Remember to experiment with different tea flavors, sweeteners, and milk options to create your favorite boba tea variations. You can also add fruit syrups or flavored powders to customize your homemade bubble tea to your taste preferences.