Bubble Tea, Boba, Pearl Milk Tea: Why One Drink Has So Many Names
Ning MaShare
Bubble tea, boba tea and pearl milk tea are three names for the same drink: a tea or fruit base with milk or water, sweetened, with boba at the bottom and a wide straw. It began in Taiwan. "Boba" on its own usually means the topping, and that comes in two kinds, chewy tapioca pearls and popping boba that bursts.
Here is what each name means, the one we use for each thing, and why "boba kit" and "bubble tea kit" are searched for in equal numbers.
Why is it called bubble tea?
There are two common explanations, and our what is bubble tea page gives both. Some trace "bubble" to the foam that forms on top when the tea is shaken. Others use "bubble" to mean the boba itself, the round pieces at the bottom of the cup. Both are common, so the drink picked up several names, and bubble tea, boba tea and pearl milk tea are all used for the same category of drink.
The names, side by side
| Name | What it means | What we call it |
|---|---|---|
| Bubble tea | The drink: tea or fruit base, milk or water, a sweetener and boba | Bubble tea, on every can and kit |
| Boba tea | The same drink | Bubble tea |
| Pearl milk tea | The same drink | Milk tea, for the milk-based ones |
| Boba | The topping at the bottom of the cup | Boba |
| Tapioca pearls | Dense, chewy balls made from tapioca starch | Instant tapioca pearls, no cooking needed |
| Popping boba | Small spheres with a thin skin and liquid inside that bursts when you bite | Popping boba |
| Kit, set, bundle | A box with the tea base and the boba to make the drink yourself | Kit for the home boxes, bundle or commercial kit for café sizes, gift sets for the collection |
Boba: popping or tapioca?
Both are boba, and they are different toppings. Popping boba bursts and is in our cans, the Fruit Tea Kit and the Matcha Kit. Tapioca pearls are chewy, and ours are instant tapioca pearls, in the Milk Tea Kit. The full comparison is in popping boba vs tapioca pearls.
Boba kit or bubble tea kit: what people search for
In the UK, the names split evenly in search. These are monthly search figures from July 2026:
| Search | UK searches a month |
|---|---|
| boba kit | 3,600 |
| bubble tea kit | 3,600 |
| bubble tea kits | 3,600 |
| bubble tea set | 1,000 |
| bubble tea sets | 1,000 |
Neither name is wrong, and someone searching for a boba kit wants the same box as someone searching for a bubble tea kit. That is why we lead with bubble tea, the name on our cans and boxes, and use boba where it names the topping.
Questions people ask
Is boba the same as bubble tea?
Yes. Boba tea, bubble tea and pearl milk tea are all names for the same drink. Boba on its own is the topping in it: chewy tapioca pearls or popping boba, sipped through a wide straw.
Is tapioca the same as boba?
Tapioca pearls are one kind of boba: dense, chewy balls made from tapioca starch. Popping boba is the other, a thin skin with liquid inside that bursts when you bite. Our Milk Tea Kit uses instant tapioca pearls; our cans, Fruit Tea Kit and Matcha Kit use popping boba.
Find your kit
Call it a boba kit or a bubble tea kit: ours are in bubble tea kits for home, four drinks a box. Sign up to our emails for 15% off your entire order.