Boba, or bubble tea, is having a moment. It seems that new bubble tea joints are popping up everywhere you turn. Chains like Kung Fu Tea and Gong Cha are easy to come by, and there are even at-home boba kits for sale in grocery stores so you can have boba anytime.
Now, we can add Starbucks to the list of places to get our boba on. On May 7, Starbucks dropped its 2024 summer menu, and it of course includes bubble tea.
In a press release, the brand introduced its version of boba, which comes in “raspberry-flavored pearls.” They’re featured in three of the new summer drinks, but if you really love the chewy treats, you can add them to any drink.
The coffee company said it took inspiration from East Asian beverages with tapioca pearls when crafting the new drinks, focusing on adding a “refreshing pop of flavor and color” to the creations. The three featured drinks are all bright blue, and made of a “sweet and summery blend of raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry.” One drink is blended with water, another with lemonade, and another with coconut milk.
It’s a smart move for Starbucks, given bubble tea has never been more in demand. That popularity has largely been fueled by Gen Z—the social media generation that posts everything they eat and drink, meaning they lean into items that are fun and aesthetically pleasing. Bubble tea is both, and it’s beloved by celebrities and influencers—and right up Gen Z’s alley, and now, it’s also being sold by their favorite coffee chain.
While bubble tea is likely at the top of every Gen Zers next order, there are also fruity new bakery items including Orange Cream Cake Pop and Pineapple Cloud Cake. Starbucks is also offering some discounts to sweeten the deal: From May 15 to May 31, customers with the app can snag 50% off one handcrafted beverage every Friday, and on Mondays from May 13 to May 27, personalized offers will pop up in the app.