One thing you notice immediately in Thailand is how much of the outside world has made its way in. 7-Elevens on every corner, McDonald’s around the bend, and boba shops absolutely everywhere. The Taiwanese boba craze has fully landed in Thailand — Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, it doesn’t matter where you are. You’re probably within 50 paces of one right now.
We sat down with four different boba drinks to see how they stacked up: classic Taiwanese milk tea, Thai milk tea, Thai coffee, and taro milk tea. Big wide straws included, because the tapioca balls need room to come through.
Taiwanese Milk Tea — The original. Sweet, milky, classic tea flavor. Nothing surprising here, and that’s not a complaint. It tastes exactly like what you’d expect from a proper milk tea boba. The tapioca pearls were soft and chewy — not always a given, so these were a welcome find.
Thai Milk Tea — This is the one made from black tea with milk, cream, and sugar. If you’ve had Thai tea at a Thai restaurant in America, this is that, but in a cup with boba and loaded with ice. Thailand tends to go heavy on the ice — think half to two-thirds ice, rest is drink — which keeps things ice cold on a day where the heat is relentless. Really good.
Thai Coffee — Strong dark coffee with condensed milk and sweetener, served cold over ice. This one surprised me. The coffee flavor comes through clearly and boldly — it’s not buried under sugar. If you’re a cold brew person, this is your pick. Boba in coffee is a different experience but it works.
Taro Milk Tea — Back home we tend to get taro as a slush or smoothie with boba. Here it’s taro tea, which gives it a lighter, less thick flavor. The taro and tea blend together into something sweet and refreshing. On a hot Thailand afternoon — which is every afternoon in Thailand — this one hits the spot.
The winner? Thai milk tea, no contest. It’s the one I’d go back for, even though the caffeine means I have to be careful about how much I have. If you find yourself in Thailand and want to know what to order at one of the countless boba shops, start there.
