Bubble tea, also known as boba tea or pearl milk tea, has exploded in popularity in recent years.
This fun Taiwanese drink typically consists of sweetened iced or hot tea, flavored milk, and chewy tapioca pearls.
Oxford is home to a number of delicious bubble tea shops to explore.
This guide covers everything you need to know to find the perfect boba tea, including the top spots, customization options, and signature drinks worth trying.
A Quick Introduction to Bubble Tea
Bubble tea originated in the 1980s in Taiwan, where it’s called pearl milk tea or boba milk tea.
The “bubble” refers to the little tapioca pearls or balls added to the tea. You sip the drink through an extra-wide straw so you can slurp up these chewy tapioca balls and enjoy their fun, popping texture.
The tea base is typically brewed from black, green, oolong, or jasmine tea. Milk, non-dairy creamers, or fruit purees are added to create creamy, smooth, and sweet flavors.
Toppings like fruit jelly, pudding, or herbals jellies can be mixed in too. Bubble tea makes a refreshing iced drink on hot days or a comforting hot tea when it’s chilly out.
Finding the Top Bubble Tea Shops in Oxford
Oxford has no shortage of places to enjoy boba tea thanks to its large international student population.
Here are the most recommended bubble tea cafes and shops to check out:
Coba Bubble Tea
Located just a short walk from the historic Radcliffe Camera, Coba Bubble Tea is a favorite for its huge drink selection and lively atmosphere.
You can try samples of different flavors before ordering. Their staff is super friendly and they offer very affordable pricing compared to other shops.
Location: Visit us at Golden Cross Walk, 9 Cornmarket St, Oxford OX1 3EU.
Mooboo Tea Bar
Mooboo has an extensive boba menu with fruit and milk versions available in their sleek, modern tea bar.
Customers love their options for customizing sugar level, ice amount, and toppings. Mooboo also offers discounts for students with ID cards. They stay open until 7pm, perfect for an evening boba session.
Location: 13 Turl St, Oxford OX1 3DQ
Yifang Fruit Tea
Yifang uses high quality Taiwanese teas and real blended fruits to craft their boba menu.
Their signature Mudflip, made with brown sugar milk and pearls, draws long lines when it’s in season. Yifang is just off of central High Street, close to the historic Christ Church College.
Location: 6 Queen St, Oxford OX1 1EJ
Chatime
Chatime on Gloucester Street offers great service and boba tea expertise – their staff will guide you through the menu and customize sugar and ice to your preferences.
People love their signature Rainbow Jelly drink bursting with fruit flavors and colors. Chatime uses both dairy and non-dairy milks to appeal to diverse diets.
Location: 6 Gloucester St, Oxford OX1 2BN
Bubbleology
Bubbleology is hugely popular for their organic tea bases and super-freshly cooked tapioca pearls. They offer fruit shakes, milk teas, lattes, and lighter options.
Conveniently located right on central High Street, expect a bit of a wait at peak times as Bubbleology draws crowds of students and tourists.
Location: 126 High St, Oxford OX1 4DG
Formosan Tea Bar
Specializing in quality over quantity, Formosan Tea Bar perfects just a few bubble tea options using carefully sourced teas and honey.
Their compact menu includes hot and iced versions. Formosan’s sleek, modern space is close to all the central Oxford sights and stays open until 7pm.
Location: 128A High St, Wheatsheaf Yard, Oxford OX1
Shufu Bubble Tea
Shufu Bubble Tea brings the boba directly to the people via their mobile catering setup. They frequent outdoor markets, festivals, and events around Oxford.
Using Ceylon black tea and real blended fruit purees, Shufu’s drinks burst with flavor. It’s fun to sip chewy boba pearls while wandering around Oxford’s lively markets.
Location: Oxford OX1 2BU
Best Times to Visit for Bubble Tea in Oxford
Since bubble tea makes for a perfect afternoon pick-me-up or evening treat, visiting boba cafes between 2pm-7pm is ideal.
Some spots like Yifang and Bubbleology always have lines at peak hours, so visiting earlier or late afternoon avoids crowds. For a late night boba fix, Formosan and Mooboo are open until 7pm.
Mondays through Thursdays tend to be less busy at most Oxford bubble tea shops. Weekends, especially Saturdays, draw the biggest crowds of students and tourists.
Visiting Oxford in the spring and summer means enjoying iced boba drinks outside when the weather is warm too.
Customizing Your Order Like a Pro
One of the best things about bubble tea is customizing your drink order to your personal tastes. Most Oxford boba shops allow you to tweak things like:
- Sugar level: Choose from no sugar, 25%, 50%, 75%, or full sugar.
- Ice amount: Pick from no ice, less ice, normal, or extra ice.
- Milk options: Dairy milk, non-dairy milks like oat or soy, or no milk.
- Toppings: Popular add-ins like coconut jelly, grass jelly, pudding, red beans, etc. Some cost extra.
Don’t be shy about asking the staff for suggestions – they are boba experts! Try mixing and matching different tea bases (like jasmine green), flavors (taro or matcha), milks (oolong or black tea with soy), ice levels, sweetness, and toppings until you find your perfect combination.
Must-Try Signature Bubble Tea Drinks in Oxford
While part of the fun is customizing your own boba order, Oxford tea shops also have some signature drinks that are worth trying:
- Coba Bubble Tea: Their Taro Milk Tea with egg pudding is a favorite unique combo.
- Mooboo: Honey Green Milk Tea infused with sweet honey is a top seller.
- Yifang: Can’t miss the Mudflip, a brown sugar pearl milk tea, when it’s in season.
- Chatime: Rainbow Jelly shakes up fruit flavors with colorful fruit jellies.
- Bubbleology: Go for their Bubbleology Fruit Teas, blending real fruit purees.
- Formosan: Their classic Taro Milk Tea balances creamy and sweet flavors.
- Shufu: Honeydew Bubble Tea combines melon and icy honeydew pearls.
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Final Thoughts
With such a variety of boba tea purveyors and customization options, Oxford offers endless bubble tea possibilities.
Hopefully this guide provides all the tips you need to seek out the city’s top spots and order creative drinks bursting with flavors, textures, and fun.
Armed with these boba tea insights, you’re sure to find your new favorite sip in Oxford. Let us know which bubble tea shops and drinks you loved.
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