At the heart of every bubble tea is, well, tea. While toppings and sweetness levels get a lot of attention, the tea base you choose fundamentally shapes your drink's character. A robust black tea creates an entirely different experience than a delicate green tea or a fragrant jasmine, even with identical toppings and sweetness.
Understanding tea bases empowers you to make better choices at the boba shop and helps you create more satisfying drinks at home. In this guide, we'll explore the most common tea bases used in bubble tea, their flavour profiles, and which combinations bring out their best.
Black Tea
Black tea is the foundation of classic bubble tea and remains the most popular base choice worldwide. Its robust, malty character holds up well against milk and sweeteners without getting lost in the mix.
Flavour Profile
- Rich and full-bodied
- Malty with notes of honey or caramel
- Slight astringency that balances sweetness
- Higher caffeine content than other tea bases
Common Varieties in Bubble Tea
- Assam: Bold, malty, stands up well to milk. The classic choice for Hong Kong-style milk tea
- Ceylon: Brisk and citrusy, lighter than Assam but still pairs well with milk
- English Breakfast: Blend of multiple black teas, reliable and balanced
Black tea shines in classic milk tea, brown sugar boba, Thai milk tea, and any drink where you want a strong tea presence that can stand up to creamy additions and sweet toppings.
Oolong Tea
Oolong sits between green and black tea in terms of oxidation, and this middle ground creates complex, nuanced flavours that many bubble tea enthusiasts consider superior to standard black tea.
Flavour Profile
- Complex and multidimensional
- Can range from floral and light to toasty and rich
- Often described as smooth with a lingering finish
- Moderate caffeine content
Common Varieties
- High Mountain (Gaoshan): Light, floral, creamy. Popular in Taiwanese tea shops
- Roasted Oolong: Toasty, nutty notes. Excellent for autumn-themed drinks
- Dong Ding: Balanced between floral and roasted, versatile base
- Jin Xuan (Milk Oolong): Naturally creamy flavour, pairs beautifully with milk
Oolong-based bubble teas are worth seeking out or making at home if you find black tea too heavy or green tea too light. The complexity of oolong creates an elevated drinking experience that true tea lovers appreciate.
Green Tea
Green tea offers a lighter, fresher profile than black or oolong. It's particularly popular in fruit-based bubble teas where a heavy tea presence would overwhelm the fruit flavours.
Flavour Profile
- Light and refreshing
- Grassy, vegetal notes
- Can be sweet with slightly bitter undertones
- Moderate caffeine, less than black tea
Common Varieties
- Jasmine Green: Fragrant and floral, extremely popular as a bubble tea base
- Sencha: Grassy and vegetal, good for those who want a stronger green tea taste
- Dragon Well (Longjing): Nutty and slightly sweet, premium option
Best Pairings
Green tea works wonderfully with fruit teas (passion fruit, mango, peach), lighter milk preparations, and herbal additions. It's also the base for matcha drinks when combined with matcha powder.
Jasmine Tea
Jasmine tea deserves its own section despite technically being a scented tea (usually green tea scented with jasmine flowers). Its distinctive floral aroma has made it one of the most beloved bubble tea bases, particularly in fruit tea preparations.
Flavour Profile
- Highly aromatic with sweet floral notes
- Light, refreshing tea body
- Subtle sweetness even without added sugar
- Pairs exceptionally well with tropical fruits
Popular Uses
Jasmine green tea is the default base for many fruit bubble teas—mango, passion fruit, peach, lychee, and citrus flavours all benefit from jasmine's floral lift. It's also delicious in lighter milk tea preparations where you don't want the tea to overpower the cream.
With jasmine tea, quality makes a significant difference. High-quality jasmine tea has been scented with real jasmine flowers multiple times, creating a natural, complex fragrance. Lower-quality versions may use artificial jasmine flavouring, which can taste perfume-like and harsh.
Matcha
Matcha isn't just a tea—it's a whole tea experience. Made from stone-ground green tea leaves, matcha delivers an intense, concentrated green tea flavour along with a vibrant green colour that makes drinks visually striking.
Flavour Profile
- Intensely grassy and vegetal
- Umami richness
- Slight bitterness balanced by natural sweetness
- High caffeine with sustained energy (contains L-theanine)
Grades of Matcha
- Ceremonial Grade: Highest quality, smooth and sweet. Often too delicate for milk tea
- Culinary/Latte Grade: Slightly more bitter, designed to hold up against milk and sweeteners. Best for bubble tea
Best Pairings
Matcha pairs beautifully with milk (dairy or plant-based), creating the popular matcha latte style. It also works with red bean, white chocolate, and other Asian-inspired flavours. For toppings, tapioca pearls and pudding complement matcha's richness.
Taro (Not a Tea, But Worth Mentioning)
Taro "milk tea" is actually typically made without tea as a base—it uses taro powder mixed with milk and sweetener. However, some shops do add a black or oolong tea component for depth.
Flavour Profile
- Sweet and nutty, similar to sweet potato or vanilla
- Creamy and rich
- Distinctive purple colour
If you're making taro drinks at home, consider adding a small amount of brewed black tea to the mix. The tea adds complexity and prevents the drink from being one-dimensionally sweet.
Thai Tea
Thai tea is a specific preparation rather than a tea variety—it's made from strongly brewed Ceylon or Assam tea mixed with spices (often star anise and sometimes vanilla), then combined with sweetened condensed milk.
Flavour Profile
- Very sweet and creamy
- Distinctive orange colour (traditionally from food colouring or crushed tamarind seeds)
- Spiced undertones
- Rich and indulgent
Thai tea is typically consumed as-is, but it works well with tapioca pearls as a bubble tea variation. Due to its inherent sweetness, consider ordering with reduced or no additional sugar.
Choosing Your Base: A Quick Guide
Here's a summary to help you match bases to your preferences:
- Want classic, robust bubble tea? Black tea (Assam or Ceylon)
- Seeking something sophisticated? Oolong
- Making fruit tea? Jasmine green or light green tea
- Love earthy, intense flavours? Matcha
- Want something sweet and indulgent? Thai tea or taro
- Prefer light and refreshing? Jasmine green or green tea
Brewing Tips for Home Bubble Tea
When making bubble tea at home, keep these brewing tips in mind:
- Brew strong: Ice and milk will dilute your tea. Brew at 1.5-2x normal strength
- Temperature matters: Use appropriate water temperature for each tea type
- Cool before mixing: Hot tea can curdle milk. Let tea cool to room temperature or chill before combining with dairy
- Quality ingredients: Good tea makes a noticeable difference in the final drink
Final Thoughts
The tea base you choose sets the foundation for your entire bubble tea experience. While toppings and sweetness get most of the attention, developing an appreciation for different tea bases opens up a whole new dimension of boba enjoyment. Experiment with different bases, pay attention to how they interact with milk and sweeteners, and you'll soon develop your own preferences and favourite combinations.
Don't be afraid to ask for tea recommendations at your local bubble tea shop—many staff members are tea enthusiasts who love sharing their knowledge. And if you're making bubble tea at home, invest in quality tea leaves or powder to elevate your drinks from good to exceptional.