Bubble tea has become a fixture of the Swiss drinks scene. Whether in Zurich, Bern or Basel – the colourful drinks with their signature tapioca pearls turn up everywhere. But what is actually in them, which varieties are there, and is it worth making your own or better to order online?
What exactly is bubble tea?
Bubble tea originally comes from Taiwan and has built a huge following in Switzerland too. The basic idea: a tea or milk-based drink is combined with tapioca pearls – the so-called boba. They are made from tapioca starch, are lightly sweet and have a pleasantly chewy texture. Drunk through a wide straw.
The most popular bubble tea varieties in Switzerland
- Classic Milk Tea: the original with black tea, milk and tapioca pearls – timeless and popular. Discover milk tea sets →
- Ube Bubble Tea: with the delicately sweet aroma of the purple yam ube, recognisable by its intense violet colour.
- Matcha Latte Boba: for every matcha fan – creamy, slightly bitter and a visual highlight. View the Matcha Latte set →
- Fruit Tea: refreshing on a fruit juice base, ideal for summer – for example with mango or passion fruit. All fruit tea varieties →
- Brown Sugar Milk Tea: with caramelised brown sugar – sweet, aromatic and a genuine star on social media. To the tiger milk tea recipe →
Visit a bubble tea store or make it yourself?
Larger Swiss cities such as Zurich, Bern and Basel now have plenty of specialised bubble tea stores. They score with fresh ingredients, a choice of teas and the option to build the drink exactly the way you like it: set the sugar and ice level yourself, pick between different kinds of milk or add extra toppings. A visit is worth it – but it has its price: CHF 7–9 per cup.
You get exactly the same customisation at home – cheaper and without the trip. These toppings can be combined freely:
- Classic black tapioca pearls for that typical chewy bite
- Popping boba with a liquid fruit centre that bursts as you drink – ten fruit varieties to choose from
- Fruit jelly or pudding as a softer alternative to pearls
Live in a particular city? We deliver throughout Switzerland – for example to Zurich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Lausanne, Fribourg or Geneva.
Health & trends: less sugar, more choice
Depending on how it is made, bubble tea contains a fair amount of sugar – especially when syrups or sweetened toppings are added. The trend is clearly moving towards more mindful versions: green teas with less sugar, natural fruit syrups and toppings such as fruit jelly instead of pure sugar pearls. Anyone mixing at home has the biggest advantage of all: you decide the sweetness yourself, gram by gram.
More on this: Bubble tea calories | Bubble tea without sugar
Make it yourself or buy it? An honest comparison
If you want to make bubble tea yourself, you need the right ingredients. Tapioca pearls have to be cooked precisely, otherwise they end up too hard or too mushy. Ingredients such as matcha or ube powder and special fruit powders are hard to find in an ordinary supermarket.
The simplest solution: order a complete bubble tea starter set – everything included, clear instructions, straight to work. A set costs CHF 32.90 to 34.90 and makes 6 to 8 servings depending on the variety. That is around CHF 5 per serving – a good third less than in a café.
What to look out for when buying
- Quality of the tapioca pearls: Our premium tapioca pearls →
- Ingredients without artificial flavourings: high-quality powders and syrups make the difference.
- Easy preparation: Step-by-step guide →
Order bubble tea in Switzerland now
At Mein Bubble Tea you will find everything – from classic tapioca pearls and matcha and ube powder through to complete starter sets for home. Free shipping from CHF 79 throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein.