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Gaining popularity in the U.S. over the past few years, this decadent drink typically features iced milk tea and bursting boba bubbles, with customizable ice, milk and sweetness levels to satisfy first-time tasters and boba aficionados alike. Here’s where to get your fix in the Main Line region.
Cup of Dreams Coffee and Tea
Cup of Dreams Coffee and Tea offers both classic and flavored milk teas, including traditional flavors such as taro, lychee and red bean. The shop offers more than 16 milk tea flavors, including non-dairy milk options, as well as an extensive coffee menu and light meals.
5 Paoli Plz., Paoli
Kung Fu Tea
With fresh tea brewed every three hours, you’re sure to get a great tasting bubble tea at Kung Fu Tea. This franchise offers a variety of beverages, including classic teas, milk teas, fruit teas and even slushies. All beverages are fully customizable with different levels of sweetness, milk and ice. Add on a milk cap or mix boba jellies to make it extra fun.
22 Lancaster Ave., Ardmore
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Mr. Wish Ardmore
Since opening in Taichung, Taiwan, in 2006, Mr. Wish focuses on natural and fresh ingredients to create flavorful, fresh fruit tea. The menu features fruit teas, milk teas, smoothies and macchiatos, all modifiable to taste. A fan favorite is the colorful fruit tea, which comes with six different kinds of diced fruit: apple, pineapple, kiwi, orange, passion fruit and kumquat. Be sure to pick up a paw-shaped Wish Waffle Custard Cake while you’re there.
8 East Lancaster Ave., Ardmore
S&P Boba Tea & Desserts
With fruity fresh teas like peach and kiwi and classic milk teas such as matcha milk and caramel milk, S&P has all the bases covered. Also available are Italian sodas, smoothies and a variety of desserts, such as the classic Thai mango sticky rice. S&P Boba Tea & Desserts is located inside Hmart on the second floor.
Inside Hmart 2nd Fl, 7050 Terminal Sq. #217, Upper Darby
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Tiger Sugar
Tiger Sugar had modest beginnings in Taichung, Taiwan, in 2017, but it has since become an undeniable cult brand of boba all over the world. The tapioca pearls and syrups are prepared using a secret eight-hour process. Every sip of tea, milk and syrup is the ideal marriage of flavor as a result. Located in Philadelphia, this spot is a must for a refreshing drink in the city. Pro tip: Try anything from the Black Sugar Milk Series and prepare to be delighted.
122 N 10th St., Philadelphia
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Surreal Creamery
Surreal Creamery offers bubble tea like you’ve never seen before. The signature mason jars and Floteas at this creamery fuse bubble tea with milkshakes and sundaes to create the ultimate dessert-drink hybrid. These colorful, topping-laden beverages come in six mason jar flavors and six Flotea flavors, but there’s always the option to get creative and build your own masterpiece from scratch. The possibilities are endless.
1039 West Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr
TSAō·CHA
With a name that roughly translates to “tea pilgrimage” in Chinese, TSAō·CHA is founded on the idea of a healthier, more genuine take on the dessert drink. Unlike many other shops, TSAō·CHA brews each loose-leaf tea in an espresso-like machine fresh to order. TSAō·CHA offers fruit teas, milk teas and mixed teas as well as a seasonal selection of desserts.
18 North High St., West Chester
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Yi’s Boba
Located in the heart of Ardmore, Yi’s Boba is a family-owned boba shop that offers hot and cold bubble tea as well as smoothies. Be sure to try a bowl of rolled ice cream while you’re there.
24 Lancaster Ave., Ardmore
Related: Jin Ding Restaurant Is a Must-Try for Asian Food Lovers in Bryn Mawr
