Video: Boba Showdown
In blind taste test, Terriers rate milk teas from five local shops
Boba Showdown
Boba Showdown
Bubble tea—also known as boba tea—may be one of the hottest trends in the beverage industry. The chilled milk tea with tapioca pearls, or boba, is a big hit, especially among Gen Z consumers who are drawn to the drink’s texture and sweetness. Global sales are north of $2 billion a year and expected to increase to nearly $3.4 billion annually by 2027.
Boston has seen an explosion in boba cafés, with at least 10 within walking distance of the Charles River Campus. We invited two Terriers and self-described boba tea connoisseurs—Irene Kim (COM’23) and Sharlene Chang (SHA’24)—to rate samples from five local shops. Kim publishes a food blog on TikTok that has 495,000 followers and 16 million likes. Chang is from Taiwan, the birthplace of boba tea.
In the video above, the two take part in a blind taste test and offer candid assessments of each drink. Will any of the milk teas earn a 5 out of 5 rating? Watch to find out.
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