Milk tea powder is your sweet saviour when you crave your favourite boba drink. It is an all-in-one mix of tea, creamer, and sweetener that make up an instant pearl drink. All you have to do is mix the bubble tea powder with water or milk. Add some tapioca pearls, and you'll have a tasty refreshment.
Much like café-made boba, this instant treat has been trendy for a while now. As a result, many brands have produced instant boba mixes with various flavours. If you wish to try them out, you've come to the right place.
As huge boba enthusiasts, we constantly try different pearl drinks and develop our own recipes. So, let us guide you through the best boba tea powder mix for every popular flavour. All recommendations and reviews are based on our taste tests to help you decide which is worth trying.
Jump to:
- Our Favourite Milk Tea Powder Brands
- Best Instant Boba Milk Tea Powder
- Best Classic Bubble Tea Powder
- Best Brown Sugar Milk Tea Powder
- Best Taro Milk Tea Powder
- Best Watermelon Bubble Tea Powder
- Best for Oolong and Jasmine
- Best Rose Milk Tea Powder
- Best for Honeydew Bubble Tea Powder
- Best for Coconut Milk Tea Powder
- Best for Pineapple Bubble Tea Powder
- Best for Hong Kong Milk Tea Mix
- Best Lavender Milk Tea Powder
- Best Strawberry Milk Tea Powder
- Best Thai Tea Mix
- Best for Matcha Milk Tea
- Best for Okinawa Milk Tea Powder
Our Favourite Milk Tea Powder Brands
Dragon Cat Cafe and BBT Club are our two favourite artisan milk tea powder brands. Dragon Cat Cafe has popular favourites like Earl Grey and Roasted Oolong boba kits. At the same time, BBT Club offers amazing classic boba powder flavours like Strawberry, Honeydew, and Taro.
Besides these brands, we often go for Angel Specialty and Fusion Select, which are cheaper and readily available on Amazon. Angel Specialty's mixes are delicious and versatile, allowing us to make more than just pearl drinks. Meanwhile, Fusion Select offers boba packs that are convenient and easy to make anywhere and at any time.
| Best Instant Boba Milk Tea Powder | Fusion Select's variety pack |
| Best Classic Bubble Tea Powder | Boba Green |
| Best Brown Sugar Milk Tea Powder | J Way's instant pack |
| Best Taro Milk Tea Powder | QBubble's |
| Best Watermelon Bubble Tea Powder | Angel Specialty's |
| Best for Oolong and Jasmine | Roasted Oolong mix |
| Best Rose Milk Tea Powder | 3:15 pm |
| Best for Honeydew Bubble Tea Powder | Honeydew mix |
| Best for Coconut Milk Tea Powder | Coconut boba mix |
| Best for Pineapple Bubble Tea Powder | Bossen |
| Best for Hong Kong Milk Tea Mix | Dai Pai Dong's |
| Best Lavender Milk Tea Powder | Gino |
| Best Strawberry Milk Tea Powder | Angel Specialty's |
| Best Thai Tea Mix | Dragonfly Thai Tea mix |
| Best for Matcha Milk Tea | Sweetened green tea powder |
| Best for Okinawa Milk Tea Powder | Casa's |
Best Instant Boba Milk Tea Powder
Fusion Select has the best instant bubble tea powder mix due to its taste, convenience, and great value. The brand offers all kinds of tasty boba flavours that you can easily prepare.
We're a fan of Fusion Select's variety pack, which includes all the popular flavours for you to try in small sachets. Therefore, you don't have to commit to a huge amount of a certain flavour. You can purchase the pack with tapioca pearls or try other best brands for tapioca pearls.
We tried the variety pack with a group of friends, and the drinks received the most balanced ratings. Some might find them slightly mild in flavour, but we like that they're moderately sweet. Even our friends who aren't fond of sweet drinks approved of them. Therefore, we recommend the pack to those who prefer less sweetened beverages and want to enjoy boba drinks conveniently.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Convenient and easy to make
- Provides all popular boba flavours to try in one pack
Cons:
- Mild flavour
Best Classic Bubble Tea Powder
We find Boba Green to have the best kit for classic flavours. Furthermore, the eco-friendly brand prioritises sustainability. So we can enjoy the beverage without causing unnecessary harm to the planet. We love their classic pearl drink kit, which includes tapioca pearls and reusable straws.
Thanks to their high-quality ingredients, we managed to whip up and enjoy the best-tasting classic pearl drink. We love the perfect balance of creaminess and sweetness it offers without requiring additional sweetener. Despite that, its versatility allows room for other ingredients to make the drink more enjoyable. We recommend investing in the kit if you are serious about making your boba drink at home.
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Easy to prepare
- Does not require additional ingredients and equipment
Cons:
- Quite expensive
Next best alternative brand to try: Angel Specialty's
Best Brown Sugar Milk Tea Powder
J Way offers quick and easy-to-make instant pearl drink packs of authentic Taiwanese origin. Therefore, when it comes to brown sugar milk tea powder, our first choice will always be J Way's instant pack. We recommend it to those who crave a sweeter version of the classic pearl drink. This is because it offers the classic milk tea powder with extra brown sugar syrup. Combined with their fresh tapioca pearls, it makes an addictive drink that we can't stop sipping up.
This instant mix is our favourite since it offers a café-quality drink we can make in just a minute. Plus, the paper straws provided allow us to enjoy the beverage on the go in an eco-friendlier way. But be sure not to leave it in the drink for too long, or it'll dissolve into the drink. Alternatively, you might want to look for the best reusable boba straws to use.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Convenient and quick to make
- Fresh tapioca pearls
Cons:
- Paper straws provided dissolve in the drink when soaked for too long
Next best alternative brand to try: BBT Club's instant pack
Best Taro Milk Tea Powder
Out of all the boba flavours that QBubble offers, it's this flavour that we fell in love with. Due to their impeccable taste, we believe they make the best taro bubble tea powder out there. Taro flavour can be hard to replicate, but QBubble's taro boba powder comes close with no strong artificial taste. We're impressed by the balance of creaminess and sweet taro flavour it provides.
We also prefer this taro milk tea powder because it is not grainy and dissolves easily in water and milk. It works well with cow's milk but is best with almond and oat alternatives. However, we found that it does not mix well with soy milk, so we suggest you avoid mixing them.
Pros:
- No artificial taste
- Dissolves easily
- Beginner-friendly
Cons:
- Does not mix well in soy milk
Best Watermelon Bubble Tea Powder
We suggest Angel Specialty's watermelon bubble tea powder if you're craving a watermelon pearl drink. The brand offers various drink mixes, but their watermelon mix is highly raved about. We have never tried it before but have heard multiple positive reviews. So, this might be the best bubble tea powder mix for watermelon flavour.
Many like that it's an excellent money-saving alternative to store-bought pearl drinks. However, we've also heard it doesn't directly dissolve in cold water. Therefore, mix it with hot water first and let it cool before adding ice.
Pros:
- It can be served hot, iced, or as a blended frappe
- Easily accessible
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- Does not dissolve well in cold water
Best for Oolong and Jasmine
Our favourite oolong milk tea powder is from Dragon Cat Cafe, an award-winning artisan boba brand offering many tasty drinks. Their Roasted Oolong mix is easy to assemble and gives a captivating aroma. We appreciate the brand's commitment to using high-quality ingredients, which elevated our overall experience with the drink. It lends a delicate, velvety texture, and the sweetness level is just right.
We also love their Jasmine mix, which has a wonderfully fragrant floral scent. The drink tantalises our taste buds upon sipping with a harmonious blend of creamy and floral sweetness. That's why, we believe Dragon Cat Café has the best bubble tea powder mix for oolong and jasmine boba.
Pros:
- High-quality ingredients
- An impeccable blend of flavours
- Easy and quick to make
- Beginner-friendly
Cons:
- Expensive, especially for those living outside of the UK
Next best alternative brand to try: Awas
Best Rose Milk Tea Powder
Rose is another flavour which can be difficult to nail. However, 3:15 pm is one of the few brands offering a good rose milk tea powder. Although it does not have strong floral notes, this bubble tea powder does not disappoint. It still provides a refreshing rosy flavour, and we like its silky-smooth profile.
Its mild floral taste allows room for additional ingredients to make it more flavourful. For instance, we suggest adding rose essence or syrup to the drink for a stronger floral note. Overall, we think this is a good option if you want to make your own rose bubble drink.
Pros:
- Creamy and smooth texture
- Captures the rose essence
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- Floral notes are not strong
Best for Honeydew Bubble Tea Powder
In our opinion, nothing beats Bubble Tea Club's (BBT) honeydew milk tea powder. BBT has some of the best boba kits, including their bestselling honeydew mix. This best-seller not only makes an impeccable beverage but is also versatile and beginner-friendly. We like how it delivers a creamy drink with an authentic and refreshing honeydew flavour that is not overly sweet. We also prefer the kit since it has all the necessary ingredients for a satisfying boba experience.
If you're a fan of honeydew drinks, this will be the best boba tea powder mix for you to try. It is a bit pricier than most instant honeydew mixes as you're paying for the premium ingredients and taste. However, you can get 5% off your purchase using the code 'HONESTTALKS'.
Pros:
- Authentic honeydew flavour
- Made with premium ingredients
- Comprehensive and beginner-friendly kit
- Versatile
Cons:
- More expensive than other honeydew drink mixes
Next best alternative brand to try: Angel Specialty
Best for Coconut Milk Tea Powder
We are huge fans of BBT's coconut milk tea powder. It creates a perfectly refreshing and tasty coconut beverage. Like their honeydew kit, their coconut boba mix also ensures a hassle-free experience, even for beginners. We've tried making a coconut pearl drink with it and were impressed by the wonderfully sweet coconut taste. It is not too sugary and perfect for those who enjoy sweet and creamy drinks like us.
Being a coconut enthusiast, we even tried it with coconut cream, and we're obsessed with the outcome. We suggest adding your favourite syrup and boba toppings to the drink since it is customisable. The milk tea powder is slightly more expensive than most instant mixes but is a great investment for coconut boba lovers. It's better than constantly driving to a local boba shop to get your cravings fixed. You can also get 5% off using our code 'HONESTTALKS'.
Pros:
- Refreshing coconut flavour
- Made with premium ingredients
- Comprehensive and beginner-friendly kit
- Versatile
Cons:
- More expensive than other coconut drink mixes
Next best alternative brand to try: Fusion Select
Best for Pineapple Bubble Tea Powder
It is rare to find instant pineapple milk tea powder, especially the one that replicates the taste of fresh pineapples. However, Bossen offers a variety of exotic boba mix flavours, including pineapple, papaya, almond, and mango. We've only tried their pineapple bubble tea powder mix, which is surprisingly enjoyable. We like that it doesn't require a lot of powder to make up the drink. You'll only need about ⅓ cup of the mix to make one serving.
It has the tropical essence of pineapple. However, it is not exactly close to the natural pineapple flavour because there's still a slightly artificial taste. Despite that, we enjoyed the sweet, fruity flavour and the refreshing feeling in every sip. Therefore, we suggest getting this instant fruity mix for a fun and flavourful thirst quencher.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Convenient
- Customisable
Cons:
- Slight artificial taste
- Does not dissolve well in cold water
Best for Hong Kong Milk Tea Mix
For those who prefer Hong Kong-style boba, we suggest trying Dai Pai Dong's 3-In-1 Hong Kong-style milk tea powder. As it is only an instant mix, it is impossible to truly capture the taste of the authentic beverage. Nonetheless, it makes a good and enjoyable drink. And we appreciate its rich and robust flavour that provides a little reminiscence of the ones in Hong Kong's local cafes.
Moreover, we prefer this 3-in-1 instant pack since it includes all the necessary ingredients in a single packet. So, it eliminates the need to source different ingredients and provides a consistent taste. You can also carry a sachet and have it on the go without additional components.
Pros:
- Convenient and easy to make
- Comprehensive all-in-one mix
- Customisable
Cons:
- Does not 100% embody the taste of the original drink
- Contains powdered milk instead of fresh milk
Best Lavender Milk Tea Powder
For those seeking a fragrant and calming cup, try making a lavender pearl drink with Gino's lavender milk tea powder. Gino is a Taiwanese brand that aims to provide authentic Taiwanese boba drinks in instant packs. Their lavender mix is our favourite as it blends nicely without leaving any residue at the bottom of the drink. The product also has a strong lavender scent, but the drink is only slightly sweet.
It balances sweet and creamy, but some might find it too mild in flavour. Therefore, some people require double the amount of instant mix to get the proper taste. This can make it quite costly, considering the amount needed to prepare a serving. Nevertheless, we recommend this drink mix for the best instant lavender boba experience.
Pros:
- Strong and calming lavender aroma
- Dissolves well
- Not too overly sweet
Cons:
- Mild lavender flavour
- Costly
Best Strawberry Milk Tea Powder
Strawberry bubble drink instant packs are either a hit or miss. However, Angel Specialty's strawberry milk tea powder is the best one we've ever had. It is formulated to produce a creamy and velvety texture, and we're not disappointed by the satisfying mouthfeel it provides. The mix also delivers the sweet and fruity flavour of strawberry, as promised.
However, the mix is high in sugar and can be too sweet for some. Therefore, we suggest adjusting the amount according to your preference. Moreover, the bubble tea powder clumps slightly, so we recommend mixing it in hot water first. Alternatively, using an electric mixer can make it dissolve properly.
Pros:
- Provides a sweet strawberry flavour
- The creamy and velvety texture
- Easy preparation
Cons:
- The mix is slightly clumpy
- High in sugar
Next best alternative brands to try: Bossen and Fusion Select
Best Thai Tea Mix
Big Train Dragonfly offers various interesting drink mixes, from chocolate mint to cake batter. However, this brand has the best Thai milk tea powder. Their Dragonfly Thai Tea mix allowed us to create a delicious and creamy Thai boba instantly.
We're huge fans of it since it boasts a similarly rich and smooth flavour profile as the original version. However, a few of our friends find it too rich and sweet for their liking. Because of this, we suggest adding milk or reducing the amount of mix added to your drink to tone it down. Also, note that it will only dissolve properly with heat or an electric mixer.
Pros:
- Replicates the taste of authentic Thai Milk Tea
- Simple and quick preparation
Cons:
- It can be too sweet and rich for some
- Hard to dissolve without hot water or a mixer
Next best alternative brands to try: ChaTraMue Original Thai tea mix, Bossen, and BBT Club
Best for Matcha Milk Tea
While many brands sell matcha milk tea powder, we don't think the quality makes them good value. Hence, we recommend a sweetened green tea powder by Ito En instead. We love using it to make matcha milk tea since it offers the classic sweet and rich matcha taste. The preparation is also super simple since you only need to mix it with your preferred milk. This instant mix pairs incredibly well with both dairy and non-dairy milk. The only downside of the product is that it comes in a big bag. So, you will have to commit to a big portion of it.
Pros:
- Mixes well with dairy and non-dairy milk
- Perfectly sweetened with a rich matcha taste
- Easy preparation
- Inexpensive and a good value
Cons:
- Having to commit to a big bag of the mix instead of small sachets
Next best alternative brands to try: Angel Specialty and Dragon Cat Cafe
Best for Okinawa Milk Tea Powder
Fix your cravings for the iconic Okinawan beverage with Casa's Okinawa milk tea powder. We like how it embodies a flavour almost identical to the authentic drink. However, what sets it apart from the original beverage is that it contains plain brown sugar instead of kokuto. Nevertheless, you should try this bubble tea powder if you like having brown sugar and caramel undertones in your drinks.
It is a little pricey but worth the money and does not require a complex preparation process. All you must do is mix it with hot water or milk, and you're good to go. However, we usually pour it over a cup of ice for a refreshing treat that beats the heat.
Pros:
- Tastes similar to the authentic Okinawa bubble drink
- Convenient and easy to prepare
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
- Uses plain brown sugar instead of kokuto
Do you feel a little more enlightened on what to have for your next boba fix? If so, follow us on Instagram @honestfoodtalks for more tasty recommendations.
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