How to Add Bubble Tea to Your Menu

How to Add Bubble Tea to Your Menu

Tea is one of the world’s most fascinating beverages and its consumers can range from tea masters practicing the art of Gong Fu Cha to teenagers slurping down fruit flavored Bubble Tea with mouths full of boba.

Bubble tea has been growing in popularity ever since it was invented in the 1980s in Taiwan and some people will drive for hours to get high-quality bubble tea. So if you already have a cafe or tea shop, adding bubble tea to your menu can be a great way to boost your business.

To add bubble tea to your menu you will need:

• High-Quality Ingredients
• Recipes and Training
• The Right Equipment

Sourcing High-Quality Ingredients

High-quality ingredients are the most important part of any tea shop and there are many different bubble tea brands to choose from. This is why we recommend ordering from a few different suppliers so that you can choose your favorites. Most suppliers will have sample packs that you can order, click here to try this Bubble Tea Ingredients Sample Pack (only available in the US). If you are outside the US, contact us and we could help you source the right tea.

Getting Started

When starting out, we recommend picking 5 to 10 flavors and keeping it simple. You can get some ideas from this Sample Menu. Your supplier should also include recipes for making bubble tea and if they don’t, you can do in-person training or Online Video Training.

Equipment

Once you have your ingredients and recipes down, it’s time to move onto equipment. The three most common types of Bubble Tea Machines are a Shaker Machine, a Fructose Dispenser, and a Sealing Machine.

Equipment 1 – Shaker Machine

Proper shaking is crucial when making bubble tea and you can either shake your tea by hand or use a Shaker Machine. With a shaker machine, you can use a PC Plastic or Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker and let the machine do the hard work while you focus on delivering great customer service.

Equipment 2 – Automatic Fructose Dispenser

Your customers are going to have different sweetness preferences with some preferring pure green tea without any added sweeteners and others wanting a taro bubble tea smoothie and everything in between. An Automatic Fructose Dispenser will help you give your customers the exact amount of sweetness that they want every time. This machine helps eliminate employee training and increases the consistency of your drinks.

Equipment 3 – Automatic Cup Sealer Machine

One of the most iconic things about bubble tea is the fact that the cup is sealed shut by an Automatic Cup Sealer Machine. A sealed cup lets your customers take their bubble tea on the go and customers love popping their bubble tea open with a plastic or paper straw. Using sealer film instead of traditional lids can also be a great way to cut down on waste and free up some storage space once you get rid of your bulky boxes of lids.

Conclusion – Just the Beginning

To sum up, adding Bubble Tea is perfect for tea shops, cafes, and restaurants looking to offer a variety of drinks and increase their customer base. This can be done easily with a few different flavors, a couple of bubble tea machines, and online training. Visit www.BubbleTeaology.com for more information!

BubbleTeaology sells bubble tea machines and custom products to customers all over the world. But right now we only sell ingredients to US customers.

This article is written by Mike, CEO of BubbleTeaology.

AUTHOR BIO

Mike is originally from the US but has spent the past 6 years in Taiwan and 2 of those years working for one of the largest bubble tea shops in Taiwan. Now he is the owner of BubbleTeaology which supplies Boba Tea Machines and Wholesale Ingredients to drink shops around the world.

Need Assistance on Japanese Tea Importation?

This shipping and importation of Japanese tea in your country have been a long-standing service that we offer. Therefore, if you are interested in Japanese Tea importation either as a business or you simply want to have a taste of quality, authentic Japanese tea, you may contact us through this website, and we are more than happy to assist you. Click here to contact Green Tea Merchant.

• View our Shizuoka tea products here
• View our Kagoshima tea products here

How to Add Bubble Tea to Your Menu — FAQ

What is bubble tea? What do I need to add bubble tea to my cafe menu? How do I source high-quality bubble tea ingredients? What equipment is needed for bubble tea? Why should cafes add bubble tea?

What is bubble tea?

Bubble tea — also called boba tea — is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in the 1980s. The signature element is the "boba" or tapioca pearls at the bottom of the cup, which customers sip through an extra-wide straw alongside the tea base. Bubble tea typically combines tea (black, green, oolong, or fruit-flavored) with milk or fruit, sweetener, and the tapioca pearls. The drink has grown into a global trend, with some enthusiasts driving hours for premium versions.

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What do I need to add bubble tea to my cafe menu?

Three things: high-quality ingredients, recipes and training, and the right equipment. Ingredients include the tea base, milk or non-dairy alternatives, sweeteners, flavoring syrups, and tapioca pearls. Recipes can come from suppliers or through training (in-person or online). Equipment typically includes three main machines: a shaker machine for proper mixing, a fructose dispenser for consistent sweetness, and a sealing machine for the signature sealed-cup presentation. Starting simple with 5 to 10 flavors is more practical than launching an overwhelming menu.

How do I source high-quality bubble tea ingredients?

Order sample packs from a few different suppliers before committing to a long-term partnership — bubble tea ingredient quality varies substantially between brands, and what tastes great from one supplier may not match your cafe's standards. Most suppliers offer ingredient sample packs (US-based ones in particular). For non-US locations, contact a specialty tea distributor that can help source from regional bubble tea suppliers. The investment in tasting through samples pays off in a more distinctive menu.

What equipment is needed for bubble tea?

Three machines form the typical setup. A shaker machine — either by hand or automated — properly mixes ingredients (PC plastic or stainless steel cocktail shakers work). An automatic fructose dispenser standardizes sweetness levels — important because customers vary widely in their sweetness preferences. An automatic cup sealer machine applies the iconic sealed film top that lets customers pop their straw through and drink on the go. Sealing film is also more sustainable than disposable lids.

Why should cafes add bubble tea?

Bubble tea broadens a cafe's appeal substantially. The drink attracts a younger demographic that may not visit for traditional tea or coffee, and the wide range of flavors creates upsell and customization opportunities at higher margins than basic drinks. The sealed-cup format also makes bubble tea well-suited to takeaway and delivery service, important post-pandemic growth channels. Cafes that already have brewing equipment and tea inventory can add bubble tea with relatively modest additional investment.

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