Top Boba Spots

Whether you call it boba, bubble tea, milk tea, or pearl tea, there's no denying that this sweet drink from Taiwan is delicious! Pasadena is full of bubble tea shops packed with unique flavors and toppings like fruit jelly, grass jelly, tapioca balls, and puddings to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Motto Tea 100 W. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91105

Located on the edge of Old Pasadena, Motto Tea Café isc onveniently nestled on the path to the Pasadena Convention Center, perfect fora quick pit stop. Motto prides itself in using genuine, natural ingredients.They use real taro in their boba, rather than taro powder, and organic, natural milk and tea leaves. Their specialty drink, the Motto Original Matcha Mousse Tea is not one to miss out on.

Prolece Tea – 19 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA91105

Walking into this quaint, little shop, you're greeted by shelves of tea leaves, displays of ingredients, and friendly faces. You've heard of green tea, rose tea, and black tea. But have you heard of tiramisu milk tea? Prolece's one-of-a-kind drink has the perfect ratio of cheese foam to milk tea providing a sweet and salty sensation for any adventurous palate.

Tpumps – 524 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101

Can't make it to Old Pasadena? No worries. Tpumps is in the South Lake Avenue District, just a short walk from The Shops on Lake Avenue and provides the area with its own source of sweet, honey boba and premium loose tea leaves. Local tip: try to go early. A line of boba enthusiasts typically builds as the day goes by and continues out the door.

Miss Cheese Tea Café – 238 S. Arroyo Pkwy #110,Pasadena, CA 91105

Hop off the train at Del Mar Station and you come face-to-face with Miss Cheese Tea Café, one of Pasadena's newest additions to the boba family, that's rapidly gaining in popularity and social media presence. The menu not only includes everyone's favorite Taiwanese drink, but also a slew of Japanese pastries like taiyaki and souffles. They even have dairy-free options!

Ginger and Spice Noodle and Grill – 451 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101

We haven't mentioned the Playhouse District yet, but don't worry. The area has its many boba shops as well, including Ginger and Spice.Not only can you stop in for a variety of boba drinks, but Ginger and Spice also includes an entire menu of mouth-watering Asian cuisine like pho, summer rolls, and more.

Jin Tea Shop – 2008,18 W. Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105

The embodiment of Pasadena's little secret, "hole-in-the-wall"Jin Tea puts the "tea" in quali-tea. Jin Tea uses BP Specialty's organic tea from Taiwan certified by CERES that meets USA's NOP (National Organic Program)standards. Their tea undergoes strict organic verifications ranging from location,altitude, airborne substances, neighboring crops, and other categories to make some of the best boba you can imagine.