14 Must-Try Bubble Tea Shops in Taipei for 2024! Beyond Pearl Milk Tea: Popular Drink Stores with Daily Sales of Over 10,000 Cups | Yumi, Teh Tarik, Ma Gou, Wu Tong Hao, Gui Ji

With so many bubble tea shops in Taipei, it can be hard to know which ones are popular or what drinks to try. Check out our curated list of 14 top boba tea shops in Taipei. Whether you prefer classic teas, fruity flavors, creamy milk teas, or options with toppings, there's something for everyone!

First, I highly recommend their signature drink, the "Everyday Spring Fresh Milk Tea." It's my personal favorite! I always add tapioca pearls and pudding for a delightful texture. This place stands out because you can choose two or three toppings, and it's even more affordable than other tea shops. A true blessing for topping enthusiasts! Their biggest draw is the “Hand-Stirred Brown Sugar,” which has a rich caramelized flavor without being bitter. Another unique feature is their "Ramen Pudding," freshly made every day with a delightful chewy texture.

This popular beverage shop is a favorite spot for trendy photos. From its chic store design to its eye-catching drink packaging, it caters perfectly to the tastes of young people. It used to have long lines at its branch in the eastern district, but what really sets this place apart isn't just its aesthetic appeal; it was voted Taiwan's No. 1 bubble tea shop at the National Tea Festival. They especially recommend their signature "Original Milk Tea," where the tea and milk flavors are both intensely rich and incredibly fragrant. Whenever I'm in the eastern district, I can't resist grabbing a cup.

Combining traditional "Fen Gua" with modern bubble tea, Yi Mu Ri is a very special existence among Taipei's bubble tea shops. Previously, it garnered attention due to its new product "Dai Wan Milk Tea," which some found too challenging to drink. However, so many people lined up for it! The name "Dai Wan" comes from the Taiwanese Hokkien word for "Taiwan." It transforms the traditional Taiwanese snack "Cao Zi Guo" into pearl-like sizes and adds it to milk tea, creating a perfect match. This item is still highly recommended by many. Their oil-cut buckwheat tea + Fen Gua is also very popular. The aroma of grains combined with the soft and chewy Fen Gua is a great combination.

Next up is a shop that opened its branch in Taipei in 2023. The editor tried it during a trip to Tainan and became a fan, finally waiting for its arrival in Taipei. From the name, you can tell this shop emphasizes the fun of life. "Shuang Shi Ba Mu" (双十八木) together forms the character "茶," meaning tea. The shop wants to give everyone the indispensable tea culture in their lives; under cute packaging, the editor recommends their red heart oolong latte and Earl Grey milk tea with a touch of sweetness. The tea flavor is very fragrant and impressive. However, this place leans towards less sweetness, so you might want to try a level sweeter than your usual preference. Of course, the editor still prefers unsweetened options.

Five Tong, a popular brand in recent years, is known for its homemade tea jellies. The almond jelly and green tea jelly are especially must-try items. What's great about Five Tong is that their signature teas are very affordable! Their best-selling almond jelly drink costs only NT$49. The refreshing tea flavor perfectly complements the aroma of almonds, making you want to keep drinking it. Five Tong often collaborates with various brands to launch limited-edition drinks or packaging, constantly bringing something new and exciting for customers.

As an oolong tea enthusiast, this place is a must-visit! Te Zheng specializes in oolong teas with three roasting levels: light fermented spring oolong, lightly roasted oolong, and heavily roasted oolong. I personally prefer the more robust flavor of the roasted oolong milk tea. The most popular choice for beginners is the "Cheese Foam Spring Oolong." The smooth and not-bitter spring oolong is topped with a creamy salty foam. Try it with one teaspoon of sugar! By the way, their tea jellies are also made with freshly brewed oolong tea every day!

Gui Ji, with numerous branches across Taipei, is a highly regarded bubble tea shop among many locals. Particularly popular for office deliveries during afternoon tea breaks, Gui Ji often finds itself as a go-to option. Their Hong Yu Jade, made with green tea as a base and fresh pomelo handpicked and added in, offers a delightful balance of sweetness from the fruit and the fragrant tea. Even those who typically avoid tart flavors can enjoy it! The editor personally recommends the Red烏鲜 Milk Tea, but be aware that this one boasts a strong tea flavor, so choose wisely based on your preference. *Latest Update: A Hong Kong branch opened in Kwai Fong New Town on June 25th, 2024, marking their first location in Hong Kong!*

What sets this shop apart is its fresh, pure milk delivered directly from local farms. While most bubble tea shops may offer only two types of small-farm fresh milk, Shi杯 (Shíbēi) continuously partners with local farmers to provide at least four different milk options. If you're particular about the nuances in milk flavor, Shi杯 is definitely worth a visit. The shop lists the origin of each milk and its unique taste characteristics. Personally, I enjoy their Iron Goddess of Mercy Milk Tea with Chúlù fresh milk.

John's Tea, known for its minimalist and luxurious style, is hailed online as Taipei's best bubble tea. It offers a wide variety of black teas, each with details about its origin and flavor profile. They also recommend ice levels and sweetness, which is helpful for first-time customers or those who have trouble deciding. The "Boiled Concentrated Na Tea" is their most popular choice, combining the strongest black tea with the creamiest milk for an intensely flavorful bubble tea experience. For added texture, you can add boba pearls, which are incredibly chewy!

As the ruler of bubble tea in Southern Taiwan, Ma-Ku specializes in creative fruit and agricultural drinks. They have successfully expanded to Taipei, with their Chi-Chi series and Yangzhi Ganlu being highly popular. The editor previously had the pleasure of trying the Chi-Chi Mango, which has a complex texture, but the sweetness was too much for them. At 95 Taiwan dollars per cup, it's one of the more expensive bubble teas in Taipei. However, they also have affordable options that are well-loved, especially the Jinxuan Double Q (tapioca pearls + coconut jelly), which many consider a hidden gem with great value for money.

Recently, Zhenzhudan announced its closure in Hong Kong, leaving many heartbroken. Now, fans have to travel to Taiwan to satisfy their cravings. It has to be said that Zhenzhudan excels in black sugar pearls, which are incredibly chewy and have a rich black sugar flavor throughout. However, as they focus on black sugar, the drinks tend to be slightly sweet. Besides the must-try "Black Sugar Pearl Milk," also recommend trying the "Fourteen Taiwanese Sweet Potato Milk." Made with freshly cooked taro paste daily, combined with chewy taro balls, small farm fresh milk, and purple potato juice, this drink is not only beautiful but also delicious!

This shop's popular items are quite unique, with flavors less common in bubble tea shops. Their most famous "Avocado Milk Foam" series is even liked by those who don't usually eat avocado. There's also "Roasted Sugar Buckwheat Jelly Milk Green," using locally made buckwheat to create a buckwheat tea jelly paired with jade dew milk green - perfect together. Lastly, there's their "Apple Jade Dew Green." The editor thinks one-sugar is just right; the hint of sugar brings out the apple fragrance without being overpowered by the oolong tea, making it very smooth and enjoyable.

Heshe Tea House specializes in their Crane Peak Black Tea, which has a rich and fragrant flavor but is not bitter. Even those who aren't big fans of black tea will find it enjoyable. The two star drinks at this shop are the "Sesame Paste Cold Crane Peak Tea" and the "Thai Milk Cold Crane Peak Tea." These strong flavors, sesame paste and Thai milk, are made into a refreshing frozen treat and combined with the already flavorful milk tea. It is a feast for both the eyes and the palate!

The last stop on our list is a bubble tea shop opened by popular YouTuber "Di Mo". From the brand name to the overall image, they aim to bring healing and comfort to their customers. This shop has remained incredibly popular since its opening, not just because it's owned by a YouTuber, but mainly because their drinks are delicious. Their "Cotton Blanket Afternoon Jasmine Green Tea" is highly recommended. The salted creaminess of the milk foam perfectly complements the green tea, and the "Good Morning Red Pearl Latte" features a floral fruit-infused black tea paired with rich milk fragrance. The best part is that you can choose between a stronger black tea or thicker milk. However, the sweetness level is slightly higher, so be cautious when selecting your desired sweetness.

For those who are from Taiwan, you don't need to worry about this. But for overseas visitors, we especially remind you to choose your sweetness level! In Taipei, a standard level of sweetness in bubble tea is "half sugar." However, our editor prefers no sugar at all. This might require trying your first cup to see what suits you best, or asking the staff for recommendations. If you don't specify a sweetness level, it will default to "normal" sweetness. Please be careful if you are not fond of sweet drinks!

In Taipei, iced and hot bubble tea typically have the same price. Customers can choose based on their preference. Only a few shops might charge extra for removing ice. In recent years, many more shops offer "no ice" options, which come in two variations: "partially no ice" and "fully no ice." The difference lies in that partially no ice might still have small ice particles. Be sure to check the menu beforehand for clarification.