8 Best Milk Teas in the Philippines 2024 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian
Filipinos love samalamig like halo-halo and gulaman, which is why milk teas have continuously been one of the most popular drinks in the country. Served hot or iced, they are the perfect thirst quenchers, no matter the weather. However, knowing where to buy and which variant to choose can be difficult.
Worry not, as we’ve put together a list of the 8 best milk teas you can have delivered to your home. Each one has a distinct taste and comes with different add-ons. To help you decide, the buying guide, fact-checked by nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales, serves as a reference as to which factors you should bear in mind when looking for milk tea.
Quick List - Top Milk Teas
Happy Lemon
Has the Perfect Balance Between Salty and Sweet Flavors
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
- How to Choose a Milk Tea - Buying Guide
- Buying Milk Tea From Well-Known Shops Is a Fail-Proof Choice1
- Choose From the Most Common Milk Tea Variants2
- Keep Your Eyes Peeled for the Shop’s Specialty and Limited Edition Drinks3
- Consider Adding Sinkers and Toppings for That Extra Flavor and Texture4
- Customize the Sugar Level Based on Your Preferred Sweetness5
- Go for a Size That You Can Finish6
- Look for the Best Milk Tea Shop Nearest Your Location7
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Milk Tea Have Caffeine?
- Where Did Milk Tea Originate?
- How Many Calories Does Milk Tea Have?
- Satisfy Your Sweet Cravings With These Desserts
- How We Chose and Ranked Our Product Recommendations
How to Choose a Milk Tea - Buying Guide
Here are some key points to consider:
- Buying milk tea from well-known shops is a fail-proof choice.
- Choose from the most common milk tea variants.
- Keep your eyes peeled for the shop’s specialty and limited edition drinks.
- Consider adding sinkers and toppings for that extra flavor and texture.
- Customize the sugar level based on your preferred sweetness.
- Go for a size that you can finish.
- Look for the best milk tea shop nearest your location.
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Buying Milk Tea From Well-Known Shops Is a Fail-Proof Choice
When looking for the best milk tea, the first order of business is to choose which shop you will buy from. In order to narrow down your choices, stick to the popular stores since they are already tried and tested by loyal customers. Doing this ensures the quality and taste of the beverage. They also have branches nationwide, so you can have your milk tea fix anywhere you go.
Whether you choose a shop that is well-known or relatively new, the best option is to get any of their best-sellers. Also, most people already have a go-to drink from their favorite store. But if you haven’t found yours yet, select one which has the most similar or identical flavor to what you usually have from your preferred milk tea shop.
Choose From the Most Common Milk Tea Variants
Milk tea is versatile such that it comes in many versions and variations. Before anything else, let us go back to basics. In this section, we will discuss some of the most common variants of milk tea – black milk tea, green and matcha milk tea, and Thai milk tea. Each one has distinct qualities that can suit different palates.
Black Tea-Based Milk Teas if You Want Something Simple and Neutral Tasting
Black tea is often used for milk teas, as it has a neutral taste that serves as a great base for this beverage, especially when it's mixed with milk and sweetener. Its variations stem from the kind of black tea used. For instance, Earl Grey gets its citrusy taste from the bergamot, while Assam is rich and malty because it is considered as one of the strongest black teas.
If you’re one who prefers simple and less complicated flavors for your drink, go for a milk tea with a black tea base. It can also serve as an entry point for people who haven’t tried milk tea yet. Want to enhance the taste of your black milk tea? Get creative by adding sinkers and toppings instead.
Green Tea and Matcha Milk Tea if You Want Something Earthy and Slightly Bitter
Aside from black milk teas, green and matcha milk teas are also popular choices. Both may fall under the general term green tea with the addition of milk, but they have some differences. Regular green tea is thin and has a translucent appearance. It can also be infused with flower tea such as jasmine for a subtle floral taste.
Contrary to green tea, matcha is made with powdered leaves. Matcha milk tea has a more concentrated flavor and creamier consistency. Apart from this, it has a vibrant and unmistakable green color. It is important to know the difference between regular green tea and matcha so that you can order the right drink.
Thai Milk Tea if You Want Something Sweet and Spicy
Thai milk tea stands out mainly because of its distinct orange color. Of course, the taste is also what makes it unique. It uses a tea base of either or both Assam and Ceylon. Its spicy notes come from the combination of orange blossom water, star anise, and crushed tamarind seeds. In order to balance the spiciness of the drink, condensed milk is included for sweetness.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled for the Shop’s Specialty and Limited Edition Drinks
Aside from the usual variants stated above, other flavorings can also be incorporated into milk tea. If you're feeling adventurous, go for the unique specialty drinks of the shop. Tiger Sugar has their signature brown sugar milk tea series, while Happy Lemon is known for their rock salt and cheese series and Milo dinosaur drinks.
Other milk teas are mixed with caramel, taro, chocolate, and coffee which you can find in nearly all shops. On the other hand, Yakult milk tea is a staple in most milk tea chains for avid fans of the probiotic drink.
Want a fruity flavor? Chatime has a banana milk tea that is reminiscent of the famous Korean beverage. Another popular choice for those who want a sweet and fruity drink is wintermelon. Make sure to check their social media pages or ask their staff about the store's latest offerings!
Consider Adding Sinkers and Toppings for That Extra Flavor and Texture
After choosing your drink, you are given an option to include add-ons. Sinkers like pearls, pudding, and jellies that rest at the bottom of your cup provide extra texture and chewiness to your drink. On the other hand, toppings such as ice cream and rock salt and cheese add creaminess and another flavor dimension to your beverage.
Add Texture to Your Drink by Opting for Sinkers
If you want to add some texture to your drink, get at least one sinker for your milk tea, such as tapioca pearls, jellies, and pudding. Across all milk tea chains, the chewy and sweet black tapioca pearls are always on the menu. Some stores even have smaller white pearls similar to what is included in taho.
If you want something a bit softer yet more filling, opt for jellies. You can choose from grass jelly, nata de coco, and aloe vera for that rich and earthy taste. Coffee jelly does not only have that coffee flavor, but it also gives you a caffeine boost. Lastly, pudding, custard, and panna cotta are sweet and melt in your mouth.
Do note that some stores provide you with one free sinker for your milk tea, while others may not. If it is the latter, bear in mind that each serving costs a minimal fee. Although this may be the case, sinkers are worth getting for that added bite and texture to your milk tea.
Toppings Provide Creaminess to Your Milk Tea
Other than sinkers, you can also choose which topping you want. The most common choices are cream, ice cream, or salty cream, also known as rock salt and cheese. The term rock salt and cheese was popularized by Happy Lemon, while Coco’s version is called salty cream. When you buy from Gong Cha, you can go for an extra scoop of ice cream for a velvety texture on top.
Choosing to include toppings may already be over the top for some, but it adds creaminess to the milk tea. Not only that, but it also brings a depth of flavor and tones down the sweetness of the drink with its slightly salty taste. This is best if you’re the type who loves desserts but not those that are too sweet.
Customize the Sugar Level Based on Your Preferred Sweetness
If you're keeping an eye on your sugar intake or don't prefer overly sweet drinks, lower the sugar level so that you can still satiate your milk tea cravings. The default sugar level is 100%, but you can change it to 70-75%, 50%, 25-30%, or 0%. An exception to this is wintermelon milk tea because it uses wintermelon syrup concentrate to flavor the milk tea.
Not sure which percentage is best? A simple tip is to lower it to at least 50 to 75% if you decide to add sinkers. They are generally sweet on their own, especially black pearls that are soaked in sugar. In this case, you may want to lower the sugar level so that the milk tea will not be overwhelmingly sweet, and you can still taste the distinct flavors of the drink.
However, for bottled milk teas, the sugar level isn't customizable as they are already pre-packaged. If you're at home, you can dilute it with ice if the milk tea is a tad too sweet for your liking. On the other hand, if you find that it's bland, you can sweeten it with a bit of sugar or honey.
Go for a Size That You Can Finish
When you order milk tea, it is often placed in a plastic cup where you can see the layers, especially if you got sinkers and toppings. If you plan to have two or more add-ons, go for at least the medium size so that you can have an equal ratio of milk tea and sinkers or toppings.
If you’re on the go and don’t have time to wait for your milk tea to be made, bottled milk teas are your best bet. They can be found in convenience stores, so you can drink them right away. You can also buy some from online shops so that you have ready stock at home. Each bottle contains between 250ml to 500ml of milk tea per serving.
Whether you opt for freshly-made milk teas or bottled ones, get them in a size that you will be able to finish within a few hours to ensure their quality. Only you can determine the amount you can drink that is not too much or bitin. If it is your first time buying from a brand or shop, get their smallest size in case the milk tea isn’t quite your type.
Look for the Best Milk Tea Shop Nearest Your Location
Milk teas are best enjoyed ice-cold or piping hot. If you do not want to be bothered going out, have your drinks delivered instead. However, this might not give you the optimum experience as the ice might have melted, or the beverage might have gotten cold along the way.
To remedy this, you may place the drink inside the refrigerator or add more ice. In order to receive milk tea as fresh as possible, browse through food delivery applications such as GrabFood and Foodpanda to see which shops cater to your area.
Besides that, look for one that is nearest you and has the highest customer rating. On the other hand, bottled milk teas are readily available on E-Commerce sites such as Shopee or Lazada. Just remember to pop them in the fridge, so you always have ready-to-drink milk tea to quench your thirst!
10 Best Milk Teas to Buy Online
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Alley Royal no. 9 | | A Rich and Fruity Milk Tea Infused With Real Blueberries | |
2 | Coco 3 Buddies Milk Tea | | Enjoy a Variety of Flavors and Textures With Three Sinkers | |
3 | Happy Lemon Milk Tea With Rock Salt and Cheese | | Has the Perfect Balance Between Salty and Sweet Flavors | |
4 | Cha Tuk Chak Cha Yen | | Have a Taste of Authentic Thai Milk Tea | |
5 | Tiger Sugar Black Tea Latte Boba or Pearl With Cream Mousse | | The Classic Combination of Milk Tea, Pearls, and Cream Mousse Will Satisfy Your Taste Buds | |
6 | Serenitea Hokkaido Milk Tea | | Savor the Remarkable Creaminess of Milk and Butterscotch | |
7 | Gallontea Wintermelon Milk Tea ｜One Gallon | | Share a Gallon of Wintermelon Milk Tea With Your Friends and Family | |
8 | Schlurp Brewed Assam Black Milktea | | Delicious Bottled Assam Black Milk Tea With Chewy Jelly Sinkers |
A Rich and Fruity Milk Tea Infused With Real Blueberries
The Alley has continued to expand the menu over the years, but their Royal no.9 milk tea still stands as the perennial favorite locally and internationally. When you first see it, its appearance doesn't seem like much, but what makes it special? The black tea base is infused with real blueberries, creating a unique fragrance and fruity taste.
They also use their own cane sugar as a sweetener for this drink, ensuring its freshness. Moreover, Royal no.9 milk tea comes with tapioca pearls, or as they call it, Deerioca. Each ingredient is handmade from scratch, too, so you can expect an exceptionally soft and chewy texture that goes well with the milk tea base.
Enjoy a Variety of Flavors and Textures With Three Sinkers
While some are already satisfied with the classic combination of milk tea and pearls, others might want to go the extra mile by getting more add-ons. If you can't decide which ones to get, worry not, as Coco's got you covered. The 3 Buddies Milk Tea is composed of their signature black milk tea with three sinkers — black pearls, grass jelly, and pudding.
The chewy black pearls provide sweetness, while the soft grass jelly gives it a subtle earthy taste. On the other hand, the pudding is soft and melts in your mouth. Because of the number of add-ons, it is best to go with the largest size, so you get the most out of your drink!
Has the Perfect Balance Between Salty and Sweet Flavors
Across milk tea shops in the Philippines, there have been several iterations of salty cream, cream cheese, cheesecake, and whatnot. Happy Lemon remains the OG when it comes to this, as they are known for their rock salt and cheese series. Indeed, this signature topping on their milk tea is delectably lip-smacking!
The top choice is Cocoa With Rock Salt and Cheese, but the Milk Tea With Rock Salt and Cheese is for those who prefer milk teas over chocolate-based drinks. Certainly, the creamy topping takes it to a higher notch. When you're craving a sweet and salty combination, go ahead and order this!
Have a Taste of Authentic Thai Milk Tea
If you're looking for authentic Thai teas, there is no better shop to order them than Cha Tuk Chak. Although they offer trendy items with their dalgona and sea salt cream series, their signature Thai drinks are a must-try, especially Cha Yen.
It has an eye-catching bright orange hue and the distinct taste of condensed milk and spices that will transport you to the streets of Thailand. Aside from this plain variant, they have Thai Milk Tea Cheesecake, which has a sweet, salty, and creamy blend.
Tiger SugarBlack Tea Latte Boba or Pearl With Cream Mousse
The Classic Combination of Milk Tea, Pearls, and Cream Mousse Will Satisfy Your Taste Buds
Tiger Sugar's signature refreshments are mostly milk based with the unmistakable brown sugar 'tiger stripes', but they also have tea lattes specially made for milk tea lovers. The Black Tea Latte With Cream Mousse is by far the frontrunner in the line-up in which you can choose either the larger boba or smaller pearls for some chewy sinkers.
The quintessential combination of milk tea and pearls is already a winner, but the addition of the velvety cream mousse just makes this even more mouth-watering. This is also available in different tea bases such as Jasmine green tea and golden black oolong. If you prefer not to have sinkers on your drink, the Black Tea Latte With Cream Mousse is right up your alley.
Savor the Remarkable Creaminess of Milk and Butterscotch
Serenitea is known for brewing tea with the use of espresso machines for a stronger and refined blend. One of their bestsellers, alongside Wintermelon Milk Tea and Okinawa Milk Tea, is Hokkaido Milk Tea. Hokkaido Milk Tea is often compared to Okinawa Milk Tea, which has a brown sugar taste due to the kokuto sugar from Okinawa.
What makes the former distinguishable is the creaminess from the rich Hokkaido milk while having a sweetness likened to butterscotch and caramel. Each cup comes with a maximum of two sinkers, free of charge when you order from GrabFood or Foodpanda.
GallonteaWintermelon Milk Tea ｜ One Gallon
Share a Gallon of Wintermelon Milk Tea With Your Friends and Family
This list wouldn't be complete without winter melon milk tea, one of the country's most popular milk tea flavors. For this reason, stores such as Gallontea offer what every milk tea fanatic longs for—milk tea in gallons. They are best to share during special occasions with your friends and family.
This sweet, fruity, and milky drink can serve 10 to 15 people. Though it doesn't come with add-ons, a tub of sinkers or toppings only costs between PHP100 to PHP200. On top of that, Gallontea provides the Philippines' first milk tea subscription service. You can have one gallon of milk tea, and a tub of sinker delivered either weekly or monthly, depending on your consumption.
Delicious Bottled Assam Black Milk Tea With Chewy Jelly Sinkers
Whoever said bottled milk teas are bland surely hasn't got a slurp of Schlurp milk teas. Their bottled milk tea comes in four flavors — Assam black, wintermelon, butterscotch, and caramel. Each one has no added preservatives, artificial coloring and flavors, and high fructose corn syrup. Plus, it tastes like the milk tea you order from shops.
The best-seller is the Assam Black Tea which contains purified water, premium Assam black tea leaves, non-dairy creamer, brown sugar, and jellies. The full-bodied and high-caffeine Assam tea will keep you energized throughout the day, as it is considered one of the strongest black tea variants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Does Milk Tea Have Caffeine?
Depending on the tea used, milk teas can contain caffeine. Usually, caffeine is present when black teas, green tea, and other teas like oolong are used for your drink.
Where Did Milk Tea Originate?
The milk tea that we know originated from Taiwan. Although it's more commonly called bubble or boba tea there, it's the same drink we all love: tea-based and accompanied by tapioca balls and other sinkers.
How Many Calories Does Milk Tea Have?
A regular 500ml milk tea with boba can consist of around 325 calories. However, the exact count can still depend on the type of milk, sugar, and toppings used on a milk tea. A bigger serving will also come with a higher calorie count.
Satisfy Your Sweet Cravings With These Desserts
Can't get enough of all things sweet? These desserts are the perfect way to cap off any savory meal. You can even have them as a late night snack or merienda! Check out the most decadent cupcakes, sans rival cakes, and brazo cakes in the country. Want something cool to beat the heat? Go for a slice of ice cream cake!
10 Best Cupcakes in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian
10 Best Sans Rival Cakes in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian
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Author: Patricia Catimpo
Editor: Aprille Jarcia
How We Chose and Ranked Our Product Recommendations
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
Top 5 Milk Teas
No. 1: The Alley｜Royal no. 9
No. 2: Coco｜3 Buddies Milk Tea
No. 3: Happy Lemon｜Milk Tea With Rock Salt and Cheese
No. 4: Cha Tuk Chak｜Cha Yen
No. 5: Tiger Sugar｜Black Tea Latte Boba or Pearl With Cream Mousse
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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