The Best Bubble Tea in Denver and Beyond

From independently owned outfits to franchises hailing from Taiwan and mainland China, the number of bubble tea shops across the Front Range has exploded in recent years. Even Starbucks is hopping on the bubble tea trend, hoping to capitalize on the surging popularity. And while that magical Taiwanese combination of tea, nondairy creamer or milk, ice, and tapioca pearls (also known as boba tea or pearl milk tea) is still the main attraction, these next-gen shops are importing the latest food trends from Asia and catering to ever-more explorative tastes. Peruse the menus to find creativity on full display in the form of popping boba, cheese foam, crème brûlée milk, slushes, puddings, jellies, yogurt-infused drinks, fusion ingredients, and more. Increasingly, there is also a focus on artisanal ingredients (ceremonial-grade matcha, grass-fed dairy) and culinary technique, including scratch-made boba pearls. That, plus customization of sweetness levels and toppings means that even the previously boba-hesitant can find their perfect drink at these tea shops.

Whether you’re in search of the beguiling chew of the tapioca pearls sucked through those wide straws or the hit of caffeine and sugar in the milky tea—treating yourself to delicious boba has never been easier or more delicious. Here is our guide to the best 15 shops in town. Bonus: Scroll down for a glossary of helpful bubble tea terms to help you order like a pro.

Boba Botanica Cafe

Transport yourself from a Lakewood strip mall to a serene tropical oasis with a visit to the newly opened Boba Botanica Cafe. Reminiscent of a beachside island cafe, lush greenery decorates the tranquil space, which has plenty of seating for remote working or relaxing. Step up to one of the self-serve ordering kiosks to peruse the offerings, which span everything from bubble teas and coffee to kava, kratom, CBD and more. Lovers of dessertlike milk teas will find plenty to love here, including birthday cake, bubblegum and Reese’s Peanut Butter cup milk teas as well as frappes and lemonades. Don’t let the sweet flavors fool you, however—the owners take their boba seriously, cooking fresh batches to order throughout the day and offering a slew of customizable topping options, from seedy passionfruit jam to heart-shaped strawberry jelly to crunchy waffle bits. Bonus: Enhance your milk tea with kava, CBD, or even a scoop of protein powder.
Order: Horchata milk tea, which offers pleasant notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and rice. 2049 Wadsworth Blvd Suite C, Lakewood

Die Die Must Try Beverage Co.

As of 2023, Cherry Creek finally has a bubble tea shop, and a stunner at that, with a cheerful cyan-tiled bar and a tropical hideaway vibe. Run by Ben Chow and his family, the Singapore-inspired shop’s name is derived from a Singaporean phrase that means “something so good, you just have to try it.” After sampling the sparkling, soursop- and calamansi-infused Singapore fruit tea and not-too-sweet milk teas, we’re apt to agree. Chow’s father spent two decades as a professor of materials science and engineering at the National University of Singapore, and he now treats Die Die’s kitchen as his lab, ensuring boba pearls are prepared multiple times a day to produce the perfect texture and consistency for every drink.
Order: The green coconut pandan milk tea, which combines creamy coconut with the grassy vanilla notes of pandan for an indulgent caffeine- and tea-free beverage. 250 Steele St. Suite 108

FlipN’Boba

Opened in 2023 by sisters Karla Luna, Karmina Luna-Dominguez and Katrina Luna-Mercado and their friend Cecille Ocampo, this delightful milk tea shop on Federal Boulevard incorporates traditional Filipino desserts and ingredients. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic Hokkaido milk tea with perfectly cooked boba or a tasty treat like now-trendy sago pudding or horchata, FlipN’Boba has you covered. Coffee lovers will delight in the Kalamansig “kape,” or coffee drinks, which are made with specialty beans imported from the Philippines by local roaster Venture Coffee Company. On hot days, throngs of patrons line up for the halo halo supremes. Inspired by the popular cold Filipino dessert halo halo, FlipNBoba offers the supremes in flavors like ube, corn and matcha, and all include soft-serve ice cream, boba, various jellies and other toppings such as red beans, Oreos, crispy puffed rice and more. Peruse the walls of local art and Nuggets memorabilia as you enjoy your treats.
Order: The halo halo flight try mini versions of all three flavors of halo halo supremes 655 S. Federal Boulevard

Kuluka Boba & Sweets

While this stylish Westminster shop is probably best known for its delicious mochi doughnuts, the bubble teas are exceptional too. Co-owners Bao Phommatha and Julia Vang prioritize quality over quantity in every aspect of their business, importing high-quality ingredients and brewing fresh teas daily for the made-to-order beverages. Drinks are made with fresh whole milk by default, with almond and oat available on request, and the ability to customize your drink with toppins such as vanilla, cinnamon, or ube “creama,” salted cheese, egg pudding, crystal, popping, or brown sugar boba, and an array of jellies give guests endless options for a custom drink.
Order: Refreshing, cucumber-y wintermelon milk tea 6030 W. 92nd Ave., Suite 300, Westminster

RareTea

Colorado’s only location of the RareTea chain can be found in Aurora — and it’s worth the trip for bubble tea aficionados from any corner of the metro. The stylish, minimalist aesthetic of the shop echoes the brand’s approach to its drinks, all of which are made from real cane sugar, house-made fruit purées and jams and organic milk with high-tech “tea-presso” brewing techniques. Generous amounts of toppings (including the must-try proprietary slurpable coconut “noodle”) and well-balanced syrups allow the quality of the tea leaves to shine through. Even the slushes are sophisticated here — try the lychee “smootea,” an icy-creamy blend of spring tea, milk and fresh lychee.
Order: The popular mango coconut noodle milk tea. 14535 E. Alameda Ave. Unit B, Aurora

Shiba Boba

Located in the same shopping Lakewood shopping center as Casa Bonita, this Lakewood shop serves refreshing teas and unique snacks. The jasmine tea with salted foam is one of our favorite beverages in the metro, with the floral green tea and the lightly salted foam combining for a not-too-sweet, just-creamy-enough refresher that lets the tea shine. Wintermelon fans will be delighted to see that Shiba carries more than a dozen drinks featuring the cucumber-y gourd. Bonus: The fully stocked snack wall includes a rainbow of chips, noodles and other packaged Asian sweets.
Order: Salted foam green tea 6677 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood

Krav Cafe

A sister offshoot of nearby Mizu Izakaya restaurant, this sophisticated, white-orchid-bedecked shop brings bubble tea, soft-serve ice cream, and pastries to the heart of LoHi. Matcha is a specialty here, whisked into strawberry and mango-flavored lattes and a bubbly sakura matcha float. If you’re looking to treat yourself, opt for the soft-serve ice cream, available in Instagrammable matcha, ube, or swirl flavors with toppings including boba pearls, mini mochi, or a house-baked macaron. Balance out all the sugar with Japanese-inspired pastries such as a golden potato korokke (croquette), sausage bread, or egg sando on soft milk bread. Plentiful outlets and a patio with a great view of downtown also make this a winning spot for remote working.
Order: The salted Oreo matcha latte, which combines bright green matcha with creamy milk, crushed Oreo cookies and a rich topper of salted cheese foam 1671 Central St.

The Alley at Southlands

With locations in the Southlands at the far southeastern side of Aurora and in downtown Westminster, folks on either side of the city now have their own destination for artisanal bubble tea, fruity yogurt “Lulu” drinks, and Croffles, aka croissant-waffle hybrids topped with the likes of whipped cream cheese and crunchy feuilletine flakes (shards of crêpes or sugar cones). Even if you don’t live nearby, it’s worth a drive to this shop for the “deerioca,” the shop’s name for the bouncy, QQ* tapioca pearls that are made in-house from scratch and simmered in rich brown sugar syrup.
Order: The Ube* Brown Sugar Deerioca Crème Brûlée Milk*, with its vibrant purple hue and those delightful house-made boba.
24107 E. Commons Ave., Ste. 102, Aurora; 8815 Eaton St., Westminster

Boba Touch

This compact, family-owned shop on Colfax stands out for its adorable branding and high-quality bubble tea drinks. Taste the deep, rich nuances of 8 Immortals Oolong tea, served unsweetened and topped with cheese foam* or cool off with a Mango Lavender Lemonade. Bonus: Boba Touch offers multiple non-dairy milk options.
Order: The seasonal pumpkin spice milk tea is a delicious sip of East-West fusion in a cup. 3107 E. Colfax Ave.

Ding Tea

Founded in 2007 in Taiwan, Denver gained its own outpost of the global brand in 2019 (Fort Collins has one, too). Lucky us: This shop focuses on freshly brewed, highest-quality tea leaves and offers plenty of trendy toppings for a customizable creation, from tart-sweet blueberry popping boba* and honey-flavored golden boba* to coconut-based rainbow jelly*, kumquats, and tiramisu foam.
Order: The creamy, yet refreshingRed Grapefruit Yogurt drink, made with Japanese probiotic beverage Yakult. 1699 S. Colorado Blvd., Unit E

Milk Tea People

From the spare design to the hand-crafted drinks, this isn’t your typical bubble tea shop. Inspired by the revelatory experience of a tea ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, Milk Tea People may be the best place in Denver to drink ceremonial-grade matcha tea, whisked by hand with a chasen, as is tradition. Each drink is crafted with the highest-quality fresh ingredients, from the grass-fed milk to house-made orange blossom mixture for the Orange Blossom Fresca, a blend of jasmine green tea, lemongrass, and vanilla cane sugar.
Order: For a decadent treat, try the Hojicha vanilla sweet cream, which combines roasted green tea with house-made vanilla sweet cream. 1641 Market St., Suite 133

Mogë Tee

This “new-style” tea shop hailing from mainland China offers unique beverages and light snacks from a kiosk ordering system (a helpful piece of technology if you want to spend extra time swiping through the myriad options before you decide) at its Lakewood location. The staff takes great care in the presentation of the beverages, swirling crème brûlée* foam and placing real fresh fruit along the edges of the fruity drinks for flavor and visual appeal.
Order: Try the creamy and not too sweet cheese foam* avocado tea. 3140 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Unit 115, Lakewood

Tsaocaa

While many traditional bubble tea shops use powdered milk, Tsaocaa founder Eddie Zheng was inspired by the artistry at specialty coffee shops to use lighter ingredients, including fresh dairy. Loose leaf teas are brewed to order on an espresso-like machine, rapidly cooled, and mixed with organic milk or non-dairy milk at this outfit. The topping game is also on point, with multiple flavors of fruity popping boba*, plus goodies like purple rice, lime jelly*, and mini taro* balls on deck.
Order: Lychee green tea with crystal pearl and milk foam slushie. 5092 W. 92nd Ave., Westminster; 8267 S. Holly St., Centennial

Tea Street

This independently owned and operated Glendale shop from brother-and-sister duo Patrick and Victoria Lam specializes in scratch-made boba and other beverages. The Colorado-native siblings are ethnically Chinese with Vietnamese-born parents and have spent years traveling across Asia, where they sampled countless styles of hot and cold tea beverages. The Lams bring that inspiration and a true dedication to sourcing premium quality teas and fresh ingredients (including Palisade peaches) to Tea Street, and you can taste their care in every sip. Bonus: The Lams are opening a brand-new location of Tea Street —replete with a dumpling showroom! — in Parker later this month.
Order: The green-tea-based coconut milk tea with boba and chewy rectangles of coconut jelly, or the taro slush, made with fresh taro that’s stewed for 12-plus hours. 4090 E. Mississippi Ave.; 16522 Keystone Boulevard, Parker (opening soon)

ShareTea

A Taiwanese staple since 1992, this global chain has five Colorado locations: Westminster, Lakewood, Aurora, Highlands Ranch, and Castle Rock. The teas there are consistently tasty, and the service is quick and hospitable. There are also plenty of lighter, fresher options here if you prefer your tea sans milk, including fresh hot ginger tea.
Order: Try the QQ* Happy Family Milk tea, a classic milky black tea with a treasure trove of textures from the addition of lychee, red beans*, grass jelly*, and boba pearls. Multiple locations

Glossary

• Boba: Classic boba pearls are made with tapioca flour. Bubble tea shops simmer the pearls in sugar syrup until the pearls are chewy.
• Cheese Foam or Cheese Tea: A fluffy layer of whipped cream cheese, heavy cream, sugar, and salt, this topping adds a cheesecake-like flavor and body to drinks. It typically sits atop a drink.
• Crème Brûlée Milk: If you love the caramelly French dessert, you’ll love this add-in. Most shops make it by whipping custard powder with whipped cream for a decadent mix-in.
• Crystal Pearls or Crystal Boba: Made with the konjac plant, these gelatinous, jelly-bean shaped additions have a very subtle citrus flavor and are considered a healthier alternative to classic boba.
• Customize: Most shops offer the option to customize the sweetness and ice level in your drink. 25 to 50 percent sweetness is usually plenty for us.
• Golden Boba: Made with tapioca flour like traditional boba but flavored with honey, these pearls offer a lightly sweet taste that complements both milky and fruity teas.
• Jellies: Gelatinous jellies add chewy texture and an array of flavors to bubble tea. Grass jelly is incredibly popular, as is coconut jelly made from coconut flesh. Other flavors include lychee, coffee, lime, and brown sugar.
• Popping Boba: Best added to fruity tea drinks, these thin-skinned Gushers-esque balls, typically made with agar agar, burst open when bitten to unleash fruity syrup or fresh fruit juice. Expect flavors like blueberry, strawberry, and mango.
• Puddings: Imagine bits of soft flan in your milk tea and you’ve got the idea. Puddings add a thick, creamy texture to beverages and are fun to slurp up through the wide straw. Options such as almond pudding and tofu pudding are popular.
• Puff Cream: A frothy custard cream similar to the aforementioned crème brûlée milk.
• QQ: A Taiwanese term for the chewy, bouncy, springy texture of certain foods, including boba pearls.
• Red Beans: Slightly earthy with a natural sweetness, red beans are a classic component in a variety of desserts. Many shops offer them as an addition to bubble tea drinks as they add a pleasant nutty flavor and uniquely starchy texture.
• Taro: This starchy root vegetable makes a popular addition to milk teas and adds a lavender color to drinks. While often used in powdered form, many shops boil and mash fresh taro for their drinks. Multi-colored taro balls are also often available to add to drinks.