Comax Flavors is proud to showcase milk tea as its May “flavor of the month.” In Asia, this traditional drink involves a combination of bold black tea with sweet milk augmented by the texture of chewy tapioca pearls.

This worldly and fun flavor can be used in an array of applications such as non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, beverage syrups, dairy applications and non-dairy plant-based alternatives, confections and baked goods as well as snack seasoning.

Milk Tea Is Bubbling Over

Bubble Tea also known as “Milk Tea” and “Boba Tea” is a Taiwanese tea-based drink usually made with sweetened tea, milk and boba (tapioca pearls). It is so popular, it’s flooding the U.S. market. Milk Tea is available in a variety of flavors and some do not even include tea. 

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global bubble tea market was worth $1.89 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach $3.49 billion by the end of 2026 with an 8.09% CAGR. 

Chicago-based Grubhub’s “Year in Food 2019” report analyzed “tens of millions of orders placed by more than 21 million diners on its platform” and found Brown Sugar Milk [Bubble] Tea was one of the top 10 trends rising 281% in popularity throughout the year. Bubble Tea is so well-liked that in 2018 it received its own National Bubble Tea Day, which is observed annually on April 30.

Spill The Tea

Bubble Tea is so prevalent it’s spilling into other food applications and inspiring beauty and fashion products. 

For example, in Malaysia, Kentucky Fried Chicken offered a limited-time Brown Sugar Boba Tea Tart while Domino's Pizza in Taiwan featured a limited-time Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea Pizza. Mistine in Thailand launched a Milk Tea Body Lotion that has a milk tea scent. 

This year, a Bubble Tea emoji was one of 117 new emojis chosen by the Unicode Consortium and added to the final Emoji 13.0 list. Skateboarding and lifestyle brand Vans launched a sneaker line inspired by the adored drink. The sneakers are available in three colors: “Gentle Milk Cream,” “Hazelnut Flavor,” and “Smoked Milk Tea.” 

Watch for more Bubble Tea inspired products and services.

For more information visit www.comaxflavors.com or email carmstrong@comaxflavors.com for a milk tea flavor sample