The best boba tea kit makes restaurant-quality bubble tea that’s easy to prepare at home. Along with authentic tea and balanced flavors, those addictive tapioca pearls should have a firm chew and light sweetness. Basically: The best instant boba balls shouldn’t disintegrate into mush! No mushy balls, please!
Bubble tea: It’s all the rage. Dunkin’ and Starbucks used to be America’s go-to caffeine fix, but now, at least in cities where boba shops are easily accessible, boba tea is giving coffee giants a run for their money. Of course, homemade bubble tea obviously isn’t as popular or easy to brew as the normal cup of joe, but instant boba kits have come a long way. We were pleasantly surprised by the vast array of boba tea kits on the market and the quality of the kits themselves. Looking for an instant boba kit that only needs water? They have those! Vegan? There are instant boba kit options for you! Like your tea milky? Take your pick of boba milk tea kits! A fan of fruit? There’s a boba kit for you, too. With so many instant boba kit options, it’s hard to choose just one. That’s why we made this list! These are the best instant boba tea kits you can buy and make at home.
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- Trader Joe’s Tropical Green Tea Instant Boba Kit
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Trader Joe’s makes some of the best boba tea kits we’ve tasted so far. Nothing against TJ’s, but I’m almost embarrassed to admit that. Many instant boba brands tend to overwhelm the drink with sugar, thickening agents, and other sweeteners. TJ’s keeps it simple and refreshing, focusing on the tea. Their tropical green tea boba kit has the perfect amount of sweetness—it doesn’t alienate those who prefer a more bitter green tea while also appealing to people who need more sugar and honey. If you’re trying to find a balanced and satisfying boba bevvy, this might just be the best boba tea kit for you. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- J Basket Teas Instant Boba Variety Pack
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On the flip side, J Basket teas don’t shy away from sweetener and thickening agents. Which, honestly, is what many boba fans prefer. Their boba milk tea kits come in three flavors: taro, black tea, and matcha. Even if the sweetness level was a tad high for me personally, I really enjoyed the boldness and purity of each flavor. Plus, the boba itself is also better quality than many other brands I tried—it has real chew and a mild, pleasant sweetness. It doesn’t just dissolve or burst in your mouth after one bite! If you’re a boba ball snob, J Basket has some of the best instant boba tea on the market. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- J Way Taro Milk Tea
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As a taro lover, I can confidently say that J Way’s Premium Taro Milk Tea instant boba kit is incredible. It tastes just as good as taro bubble tea from any boba shop I’ve been to in the U.S. This makes sense, though, because the company is Taiwanese. Taiwan is the home of bubble tea! If you’re buying an instant boba kit, your best bet is to buy one from a Taiwanese brand. And if you’re looking for some of the best of the best when it comes to Taiwanese instant boba kit brands, buy J Way! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Instant Boba Kit
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I am shocked to say that Trader Joe’s Brown Sugar Instant Boba Kit blew us away. The tapioca balls are so chewy. The tea is the perfect level of sweetness. You actually taste brown sugar and not just sugar. I love that this kit is vegan and is totally customizable. You can use whatever kind of milk you prefer to make a delicious bubble tea for your dietary and taste preferences. Plus, this instant boba kit is cheap and easy to find. This is a huge win for you, Trader Joe’s! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- J Way Creme Brulee Milk Tea
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If you treat bubble tea like dessert, this is the perfect instant boba kit for you. J Way’s Creme Brulee is the perfect version of a dessert-y bubble tea. The caramel boba is so chewy and sweet. The tea itself actually tastes like creme brulee. This is the best boba kit to sip after a spicy meal or as a midday pick-me-up for anyone with a sweet tooth. I will definitely be buying this again. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Mizuho Boba Black Milk Tea
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Mizuho Boba Black Milk Tea is the perfect instant boba kit. You get plenty of sweet sugariness, but you also get real black tea flavor. I’ve tried so many different variations of brown sugar black tea bubble tea (both in this taste taste and in real life) and Mizuho’s version is just plain wonderful. If you can’t book a flight to Taiwan right this moment, indulge in a little Taiwanese treat with this—it’s the best instant boba kit you can buy. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / 99 Ranch
Best Fruity
Best Boba Balls
Best Taro
Best Brown Sugar
Best Dessert
Best of the Best
Other Products We Tried: J Way Brown Sugar, J Way Passion Fruit, O’s Bubble, Boba Bam Milk Tea, Brown Sugar Boba Pack O’s Bubble, Dede Instant Boba Milk Tea, Pinky Up Brown Sugar Boba Black Tea Sachets, BobaBlast Bubble Tea Kit, Fusion Select 5 Packs (Taro, Mango, Honeydew, Strawberry)
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!