Lisbon has everything that’s fashionable or trendy… and in quantity! That’s why it wasn’t difficult to put together this list of some of the best places in the city where you can try the famous bubble tea drink. As we are also fans of all things oriental, from ramens to baos, and from gyozas to the best Asian restaurants, we just had to try one of the drinks of the moment.
Bubble tea. What is this drink?
You already know the origin, it comes from Taiwan! It ‘ s made from tea and can be combined with fruit juices, milk or even coffee. But its success comes from the little balls that burst in your mouth.
Visually, it looks very pretty, and the glass itself comes with a wider straw, which is where the little balls, usually made of tapioca, pass through, ready to “explode” in your mouth.
Bubble tea can be drunk at any time and in any season, but it ‘s on the hottest days that it tastes best, as it’s more refreshing than cozy, like hot chocolate.
The most popular bubble tea flavors
Of course, you can choose according to your tastes, but in this short list you’ll find the most popular bubble tea blends:
- Black milk tea: this is the classic bubble tea flavor, made with black tea, milk and tapioca balls.
- Green milk tea: made with green tea, milk and tapioca balls
- Fruit tea: bubble tea can also be mixed with fruit teas such as mango, strawberry or peach.
- Matcha tea : with matcha tea, which is a type of green tea ground into a very fine powder.
Now, how about a guide to the best places in Lisbon to try bubble tea? Let’s do it!
Table Of Contents
Bubble Time
Operating since 2017, this was one of the first stores to serve bubble tea to all Lisboners. And you can already find it in several places in the city: Parque das Nações, Chiado, Saldanha, Avenida de Roma, and in the UBBO, Alegro de Setúbal and Alegro do Montijo shopping centers.
In any of these places you’ll find a wide variety of tea flavors, from milk teas to more fruity teas. And, of course, the little tapioca pearls.
Address: various addresses
Mommy Cake
In this store, located downtown, you’ll find some of the most exotic bubble tea flavors , some of them unique, such as mango with coconut milk or matcha tea with almond milk.
As in the other places, at Mommy Cake you can also try other types of snacks to accompany your bubble tea, such as dumplings, French fries and even pasta.
Address: Rua do Crucifixo 112 (Baixa)
Meeting Tea
This store is also well known for its fresh, handmade bubble teas. It offers a wide variety of toppings, such as fresh fruit, cream, ice cream and even bubble teas with alcohol.
It’s located in the Mercado Oriental, in Praça Martim Moniz, and although it’s a very small space, it can serve a wide range of flavors, such as the classic milk and fruit, or coffee and chocolate. The best-selling bubble tea is black tea with milk and tapioca balls.
Address: Mercado Oriental (Praça Martim Moniz)
Bubble Tea Factory
Belém is home to one of the city’s newest bubble tea stores, where the highlight is the pastel de nata flavor. What else could it be in this part of town, right?
The “strangest” ingredients and mixtures in this guide make Bubble Tea Factory a place like no other. As well as pastel de nata bubble tea, here you can also try the version with Aveiro fleur de sel .
Address: Travessa Marta Pinto 14 (Belém)
Mr. Box Tea
With several stores around the world, Mr. Box Tea stands out for offering a space with soft toys everywhere, especially the house mascot, a doll with a box-shaped head.
In the stores in Portugal, in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, you’ll find reusable plastic bottles, in various colors, where you can drink one of the more than 40 bubble teas available.
Address: Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar 140B (next to El Corte Inglès)
If you’re looking for a delicious, refreshing drink , don’t miss out on bubble tea! It’s a unique and pleasant drink, perfect for those warmer days.