I, with an insatiable bubble tea obsession, have been to every bubble tea shop in the greater Grand Rapids area.
Not only that, but every time I visit a new city, my first Google search is for the best boba shops in that area.
I guess you could say that I consider myself to be a boba connoisseur.
In my opinion, boba tea is an unparalleled drink. Originating in Taiwan in the 1980s, the drink became popular after a local vendor added tapioca pearls to his customer’s drinks—a chewy delight made from cassava root and sugar—to hopefully attract popularity. His theory worked and soon became a phenomenon across Asia and, later, the world.
Now, the variety of boba toppings and drink options has become diverse: boba now is a generalized name for taro crystal boba, grass jelly, egg custard, the trademark tapioca pearls, and a plethora of others. As for the tea, practically any tea can be used to combine with the typical full-fat milk or non-dairy creamer—earl grey, green tea, oolong, etc.
The best boba experience is, of course, subjective to each consumer. For my taste buds, the perfect boba consists of a strong brown sugar flavor in the boba, tapioca pearls that are chewy but not mushy (a fine line that should never be crossed), and a delectable milk tea to finish off the drink. My favorite combination of toppings and drinks are either a peach fruit tea with lychee jelly or a strawberry milk tea with tapioca pearls.
So, without further ado, I introduce the top five bubble tea shops in Grand Rapids.
#5: Jade Tea
Located in Knapps Corner by East Beltline, Jade Tea serves up a multitude of options for drinks and toppings, from nine options of milk teas to even offering vanilla ice cream as a topping. In addition to the variety, the atmosphere of the entire store is welcoming and warm. Every time I step inside the lively establishment, I’m greeted by adorable artwork on the walls and a cheery hello from the employees. The decor is well thought-out and overall makes me want to sip my drink for a few hours there.
As for the boba itself, it’s one of my favorites to come back to. After much trial and experiment, my go-to order is the Cherry Blossom Milk Tea, with a green tea base, 50% sweetness level, and tapioca pearls.
Usually, cherry blossom drinks are artificially colored to a sickening pink and artificially sweetened to taste similar to an off-brand perfume from Ulta. However, Jade Tea refutes this stereotype. The tea is a natural color of a light tan and even has real, dried cherry blossom petals floating on the top for genuine flavor. It’s lightly floral and sweet without being overpowering whatsoever.
The real judge of character is the tapioca pearls—which are decent. They’re definitely not the worst I’ve ever had, but they aren’t the best. The pearls maintain an okay texture of soft and leaning towards mushy, but they do generally have an adequate brown sugar flavor.
With the quality of the overall drink and the outstanding customer service, I would strongly recommend visiting Jade Tea.
#4: Rainbow Star Boba Milk Tea
Opening in Cascade only a year ago, Rainbow Star has since become an establishment I visit constantly after school for a delicious boba pick-me-up. Although the initial impression of the store is somewhat noncommittal, due to the gray walls and exterior, the customer service and boba more than makes up for it. The staff are kind and caring, taking extra time to make sure customers’ orders will turn out exactly the way they want.
I typically order the Peach Fruit Tea with tapioca pearls and 50% sweetness. I’ve tried other variations of peach fruit teas numerous times in many different cities, and Rainbow Star is my favorite. The base begins with the pearls, then freshly cut fruit (mango, strawberries, and even some starfruit), peach green tea, and ice.
The tea is satisfactorily strong and robust with a peach flavor. It’s also incredibly refreshing, perfect for lazy afternoons. The boba is nice and chewy, but never hard or mushy, and has a wonderful brown sugar syrup that helps the pearls carry a rich flavor.
Although the overall price tends to be slightly more expensive than other shops (leaning upwards of $6-7), I believe that for the amount of boba and tea and the great quality, the price is well worth it.
Additionally, they have a cozy green couch in the corner of the shop with many boba stuffed animals.
#3: Ding Tea Grand Rapids
Entering the top three is Ding Tea. Unlike the other two establishments I’ve mentioned so far, Ding Tea is world-renowned across 12 countries.
This fact, of course, comes with higher expectations for the quality of their boba and tea—expectations that they fulfill with nearly every visit.
Out of every establishment on this list, Ding Tea has the most options for milk tea, ranging from the classic milk tea to guava green milk tea. Not only that, but they also offer Yakult and Yogurt drinks, along with the classic selections of toppings.
Ding Tea was one of the first boba shops I began visiting four years ago when I began to like boba, and it helped cement my admiration for the drink. I’ve tried nearly every milk tea they offer, along with many of their lattes and slushies, yet I continue to order variations of their Peach Milk Tea, Passionfruit Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea, and Mango Milk Tea, always with tapioca pearls and 50% sweetness.
My favorite aspect of their milk teas is the authenticity of the tea flavor and the fruit. In their Strawberry Milk Tea (which I order with starfruit jelly and tapioca pearls), real strawberry puree is lined along the sides and bottom of the cup. Although this may seem like the bare minimum, many boba shops nowadays use artificial strawberry syrup and color to achieve the flavor, making Ding Tea particularly special.
Their tapioca is interesting, considering that they advertise it as “Golden Boba” versus the classic brown sugar boba. The statement derives from the flavor and color of the tapioca, since it’s the color of honey and also tastes like it too. Even though I tend to prefer the simplicity of robust molasses and sugar, the honey is a nice touch I tend to lean toward when desiring a delicious combination of tea and light boba.
#2: Feng Cha
My family and I first began to visit Feng Cha in Lansing, MI, a few years back whenever we were in the area. Out of the diverse options Lansing offers in boba shops (due to the city being a nationally known college town), Feng Cha became a fast favorite for us.
When they opened their doors to Grand Rapids in the summer of 2023, I was ecstatic.
What differentiates Feng Cha from other boba destinations is the unique drink options and desserts they offer to consumers. Besides beverages, they also serve milk foam cakes. These cakes are spongy, light Japanese cheesecakes, topped with a flavored sauce and topping depending on the flavor. From sea salt pearl to strawberry, the options are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
As for the beverages, anyone who enjoys boba is guaranteed to find a drink they want to keep reordering. Along with the permanent menu, they also rotate seasonal drinks. My personal favorites are the Bursting Dragonfruit Fruit Tea and the Mango Fantasy specialty drink. The Mango Fantasy is similar to a mango slushie, except that it also contains grapefruit puree and sago at the bottom. (Sago is a flavorless type of tapioca that is white and typically smaller than normal tapioca pearls.)
Each drink is bound to be refreshing and rich every single time that I order it, further proving its quality in production.
However, the tapioca pearls tend to vary in caliber. Usually, the pearls taste strongly of brown sugar, but the texture can be off-putting. On occasion, the center of the pearl is uncooked while the exterior is mushy, but this occurrence is unlikely enough that I tend to excuse the incursion.
Along with the exquisite drinks and desserts, the overall design and vibe of the shop itself are delightful. The atmosphere is modern yet warm and welcoming, and there are many tables and chairs inside to accommodate seating. Additionally, the staff are always kind whenever I visit.
#1: Kung Fu Tea Grand Rapids
My favorite boba shop in Grand Rapids is Kung Fu Tea. It’s the original favorite for me; it’s where I first tried boba and where many fond memories have been made with friends and family, chatting over macarons and half-full tapioca beverages.
Kung Fu Tea just had its grand reopening a couple of weeks ago with a new owner and employees. Curious to see if there’s been any major changes, I revisited a couple of times since then, and I can confirm that the drinks are just as delectable as ever.
My favorite aspect of the shop is the holy grail trait of good bubble tea shops—they make their tapioca pearls in-house.
I’ve made tapioca pearls at home numerous times, and it’s an extreme understatement when I say that the process is arduous to fulfill. From kneading the dough until it’s just right to hand-rolling each little sphere to covering it in tapioca starch before it’s boiled for a good hour, the entire procedure is tiring.
Even so, the end result at Kung Fu provides a staggering difference from pre-made pearls bought wholesale. The pearls are warm, delightfully chewy without mushiness, and carry a full-bodied taste of brown sugar from being roasted in the syrup. Unfortunately, most boba shops buy their tapioca pearls in bulk from overseas retailers, degrading the authenticity of the product.
At Kung Fu, the distinction is apparent with every drink. In addition to the made-in-house boba, the drinks are all produced with high-quality ingredients and tea. Each sip is fresh and is clearly made with time and effort put into it. My go-tos are the Oreo Wow Milk Strike, Caribbean Slush, and Rosehip Milk Tea.
For dedicated Kung Fu Tea fans, they also have an app, where online ordering is seamless. Customers can also earn rewards for free drinks as their order history accumulates. Prices are reasonable, the customer service is always top-notch, and the tapioca pearls are unmatched.
I cannot count the number of times I’ve been to Kung Fu Tea Grand Rapids. With great customer service and bubble tea, I hope many more customers visit and enjoy their drinks.
