There’s nothing as refreshing as a cool milk tea after a study session or a day at the gym. Bubble tea has been my favorite indulgence since I was a little kid, and as a result, I’ve found myself at a plethora of local chains over the years. As prices rise, it’s important to make the most of your money and get the highest quality product. These chains have never failed me, and in my opinion, hold the secret recipe to the perfect cup of tea.

Bobapop

Since the pandemic, Bobapop has been a staple for me. They do variety well and never skimp on toppings and quality. My favorite drink, their 3Q milk tea, costs about $8.50, which is pricey, but for the amount of toppings you get and the quality of the tea itself, it’s worth it. My favorite types of milk tea have a strong tea flavor and aren’t too milky, which Bobapop does best. The teas are light, the toppings are heavier and are never served stale, which larger batches are prone to. Their seasonal pumpkin tea served in the fall is also one of my all-time favorites. It has a rich, creamy foam and is a fun dessert drink with a light pumpkin flavor. They have locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia and have been open in Gaithersburg since 2018.

Gong Cha

Gong Cha is a Taiwanese chain that was founded in 2006 and has locations all over the world. Although this is a huge chain, I’ve never seen a decline in quality, and their drinks are never too sweet or heavy. They serve a wide variety of drinks, from milk tea to slushies, to coffees, and I’ve never had a drink that disappointed me from Gong Cha. The teas taste authentic and fresh with average bubble tea prices (ranging from $5 to $8) for a standard drink. I have also tried their international locations, and their drinks taste the same and remain high quality no matter what.

Tiger Sugar

Tiger Sugar is an international Taiwanese chain that was founded in 2017. Their black sugar bubble teas are the best I have tasted even though they use a combination of ingredients I don’t enjoy by themselves. They use heavy syrups in their teas, and they are much heavier than the aforementioned chains, but it works well. They serve more of a rich, sweet dessert that is specialized around brown sugar, yet maintain a pleasant drink that isn’t too overpowering. They have a super unique brand that deserves appreciation and are reasonably priced at about $5.75 per drink.

As an avid boba fan, these are my holy grails that I will almost certainly order from if I happen to be near a location. They have never let me down and are always consistent in their results throughout locations. When in doubt about which chain to go to, these are my recommendations that I would urge any tea fan to try.