Top Boba Brands Elevating Your Bubble Tea Experience

Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, has taken the world by storm with its rich flavors and iconic chewy tapioca pearls. As the popularity of this delicious drink continues to rise, several brands have stood out for their high-quality ingredients and innovative flavor combinations. From national chains that have mastered the perfect balance of sweetness and texture to smaller boutique shops that offer unique and tantalizing infusions, there's a boba brand to suit every palate. If you're a boba enthusiast or simply curious to explore the best in the bubble tea scene, join us below as we highlight some of the top boba brands you won't want to miss.

Illustration of boba

Best brands of boba in 2025

Gong Cha

Gong Cha is a leading global brand in the boba industry, founded in Taiwan in 2006 and now operating over 2,200 stores across 23 markets. The brand has seen significant growth, particularly in Japan where it achieved record sales of KRW 53.4bn ($38m) in 2023. Despite a 78% profit decline in South Korea, Gong Cha remains a major player, with its local franchise partner operating around 800 outlets in the country. The brand's success is underscored by its high profitability, with an average franchise yielding annual profits of $45,000 and an EBITDA margin of 15%. Gong Cha's global expansion includes a recent master franchise agreement to open hundreds of stores across the Middle East. For more details, you can visit their official website.

Chatime

Chatime is a global leader in the bubble tea industry, founded in Taiwan in 2005 and now boasting over 2,500 outlets in 62 countries. Known for its high-quality, natural ingredients and consistent taste, Chatime has captured a significant market share with its customizable and Instagrammable drinks. The brand's commitment to quality and adaptability to local tastes has fueled its rapid expansion, making it a favorite among Gen Z consumers. With a strong franchising model and innovative marketing strategies, Chatime is projected to continue its growth, contributing to the global bubble tea market expected to reach $7.02 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 8.90%. For more insights, visit Chatime's official website.

Kung Fu Tea

Kung Fu Tea is a leading brand in the bubble tea industry, known for its high-quality and innovative beverages. Founded in Queens, NY on April 30, 2010, the company has expanded to over 350 locations across the U.S., making it America's largest bubble tea brand. Despite the boba shortage during the pandemic, Kung Fu Tea saw a significant increase in customer numbers, with a 52% rise between January and June 2021, and a notable 33% week-over-week increase in customers during the week of April 26, 2021, driven by their National Bubble Tea Day promotion. The average weekly sales per customer increased from $11 in 2019 to $14 in 2020 and 2021. Kung Fu Tea's commitment to using premium tea leaves and the '3T' Kung Fu brewing process ensures consistent flavor and quality across all locations.

Tiger Sugar

Tiger Sugar, founded in 2017 in Taichung, Taiwan, has emerged as a global leader in the boba tea industry, renowned for its iconic brown sugar boba milk. The brand's unique approach, involving a proprietary 8-hour method for cooking syrups and tapioca pearls, has resulted in a distinctive tiger stripe design on the cup, making it a must-try for enthusiasts. With over 200 locations across 15 countries and more than 40 locations in the U.S., Tiger Sugar has achieved rapid global expansion. Its signature drink accounts for more than 70% of its sales, highlighting its core product's dominance and customer appeal. The brand's strong financial performance is driven by its high-quality beverages and robust training and support programs.

The Alley

The Alley is a prominent international brand in the bubble tea market, known for its high-quality brown sugar pearls and fresh milk drinks. With stores in over 17 countries and more than 500 directly operated stores, The Alley has established a strong global presence. In Thailand, the brand plans to expand to 20 more stores, targeting underserved markets like Udon Thani, Chon Buri, Rayong, and Phuket, where it aims to capitalize on the lack of premium bubble tea options. The Alley's customer base is predominantly female, with 79% of customers being women, and over half aged between 24-35. The brand also focuses on sustainability, offering eco-friendly products such as metal straws and cloth cup carriers. More details about their offerings can be found on their website.

Sharetea

Sharetea, established in 1992 in Taiwan, is a premium bubble tea brand with over 30 years of experience, known for its high-quality tea drinks made from the finest ingredients and authentic Taiwan high mountain tea. The company has expanded globally, offering a variety of bubble tea and topping selections, and provides catering and franchise opportunities. Sharetea's commitment to quality ensures consistent taste, using only high-quality tea leaves instead of artificial flavors. With a strong presence worldwide, Sharetea continues to grow, sharing its delicious boba tea with a wide audience. The brand's success is a testament to its founder, Mr. Cheng Kai-Lung, who transformed his passion into a global phenomenon. For more information, visit their official website.

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is a leading global brand in the boba tea market, known for its extensive footprint with over 5,000 stores worldwide as of 2023. The brand dominates the market with a strong presence in Asia, North America, and Europe, and is expanding into South Asia, driven by rising urbanization and a booming middle class. CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice has experienced significant growth, increasing from 3,500 stores in 2019 to 5,000 in 2023, and is expected to capitalize on the global bubble tea market projected to grow from $2.46 billion in 2023 to $4.08 billion by 2030. The brand's success is attributed to its authentic Taiwanese flavors, customizable options, and Instagram-worthy appeal, particularly among Gen Z consumers. With a CAGR of 7.51% anticipated from 2023 to 2030, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice is poised to remain a major player in the boba tea industry.

YiFang Taiwan Fruit Tea

YiFang Taiwan Fruit Tea is a prominent chain of bubble tea shops, established in 2016 and boasting approximately 1,000 locations as of 2024. This brand is renowned for its high-quality fruit teas, made with seasonal fruits, local ingredients, and zero concentrated juice, recreating the authentic Taiwanese flavor. YiFang Taiwan Fruit Tea is a key player in the global fruit-flavored bubble tea market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030, reaching a value of USD 1075.46 million by 2030. The brand's success is attributed to its secret recipe inherited from the founder's grandmother and its commitment to using fresh and natural ingredients. YiFang's market presence is particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific region, where bubble tea originated and remains highly popular. Learn more about their offerings and locations on their official website.

Koi The

Koi The, although not highlighted as a market leader in recent reports, is a popular international chain known for its unique boba tea offerings. The brand has gained a following for its distinctive drinks, such as the Yakult Green Tea, which features a two-part textured pearl that sets it apart from other boba teas. However, the brand's pricing has been a point of criticism, with some drinks being twice as expensive as a typical meal in Malaysia. Despite this, Koi The maintains a loyal customer base and is recognized for its innovative flavor combinations. The brand's presence in various regions, including Malaysia, contributes to the global boba tea market growth. For more details, check out this review of Koi The.

One Zo

OneZo is a leading Taiwanese bubble tea brand, renowned for being the world's first to produce boba in-store, ensuring the freshest and highest quality boba drinks. With a presence in over 28 countries, OneZo has successfully expanded into the US market, offering innovative and unique flavors. The brand is committed to excellence, continuously testing new recipes to introduce new flavors. OneZo's hand-made bobas and multi-layered pearls, including the Pokemon theme, set it apart from other brands. As part of the growing global boba tea market, which is expected to reach USD 4934.437 million by 2031 with a CAGR of 9.50%, OneZo is a significant player.