Boba tea is a popular Taiwanese drink that traditionally incorporates chewy tapioca pearls with a tea base. However, in recent years, the beverage has gained increasing popularity worldwide, particularly in the United States. If you’re in search of a refreshing drink or a unique, flavorful experience, search no further! We’ve listed the top boba shops in the DMV area for your next sweet treat run.
Key Takeaways:
- Boba tea has recently become increasingly popular in the United States.
- Boba tea is a popular Taiwanese tea-based drink with toppings, like the popular tapioca pearls.
- These top-rated and unique boba shops in DC, Maryland and Virginia are worth a try.
Washington, DC
Sharetea
Sharetea is a boba tea spot in Washington, DC’s Chinatown that serves authentic Taiwanese boba teas, including their signature Classic Milk Tea, Mango Green Tea and Brown Sugar Boba Milk. The hidden boba shop is located on H Street Northwest in a tiny basement cafe that adds to its charm.
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- Address: 519 H St. NW, Washington, DC
- Hours: 10:45 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Friday; 10:45 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday
- What to try: Wintermelon Tea with Lemon, Okinawa Pearl Milk Tea or QQ Happy Family Milk Tea
Spot of Tea – Dupont Circle
Spot of Tea is a boba tea shop with several locations in DC (Dupont Circle, Union Market, Georgetown). It serves unique and creative boba tea drinks including their Vanilla Taro, Mango Sticky Rice Matcha and Blue Jasmine. Their colorful drinks match their colorful and inviting interior with brightly painted walls, neon light signs and cute seating. In addition to boba tea, they also serve coffee, matcha and specialty drinks.
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- Address: 2101 P St NW, Washington, DC
- Hours: 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
- What to try: Matcha Cloud Latte or Black Sesame Matcha
Taichi Bubble Tea
Taichi Bubble Tea is a boba tea shop located in Georgetown that serves Asian-inspired drinks with reimagined flavors. Their unique menu selection includes their Dragon Fruit Lemon Tea, their Brown Sugar Zang Zang and their Cheesy Milk Foam Tea. In addition to this, Taichi Bubble Tea also serves poke bowls, sushi burritos, ramen and more fun fusion items.
- Address: 1357 WIsconsin Ave NW, Washington DC
- Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
- What to try: Vanilla Taro, Mango Sticky Rice Matcha or Blue Jasmine
secreTea
secreTea is a boba tea shop on E Street Northwest that serves unique boba tea drinks that merge Asian and modern flavors. They serve top quality drinks, importing most of their original teas directly from Taiwan. Their menu includes fresh milk teas, fresh fruit teas, cold brew teas and monthly surprise drinks. In addition to beverages, secreTea also serves unique all-day croissants, well-known for their Monk Temple Tofu croissant, as well as dessert croissants, like their Boba Croissant.
- Address:1959 E St, NW, Washington, DC
- Hours: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
- What to try: Tiramisu Cake Milk Tea, Black Sesame Series or Signature Bunny Drinks
Maryland
Ding Cafe
Ding Cafe is a popular drinks shop in Rockville that serves a wide variety of teas, coffees, matchas and smoothies. Ding Cafe serves drinks that intersect tradition with innovation, with menu items ranging from Vietnamese Egg Coffee and Ceremonial Matcha to options like Ube Coffee and Taro Milk Tea.
- Address: 785 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
- Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Sunday
- What to try: Vietnamese Egg Coffee or Coco Avocado Coffee Blend
Sweet Bamboo Boba
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Sweet Bamboo Boba is a DIY bubble tea shop located in College Park. Customers can build their own boba by selecting their own toppings, syrups and base drinks from a wide variety of options. The store also features suggested recipes on the wall, free stickers for visitors and a secret menu.
- Address: 545 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard, Severna Park, MD
- Hours: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Saturday; 11a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
- What to try: Sweet Bamboo Brew, Hunter’s Elixir, Matcha KitKat or Japanese Lavender Field
TasteTea
TasteTea is a boba shop located in College Park, popular with local college students with favorites including their brown sugar milk tea, their butterfly mango fruit and their peachme sweetea. They also serve delicious Hong Kong-Style Chinese food takeout.
- Address: 5403 East Drive, Unit 1/2, Arbutus, MD
- Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday
- What to try: Matcha Oreo Tornado, Brown Sugar Crème brûlée or peachme sweetea
Virginia
Tea Do Fairfax
Tea Do Fairfax is a boba tea shop located in Fairfax with a wide variety of creative drinks along with seasonal drinks. Their signature menu includes their Brown Sugar Milk, Tiger Milk Tea, Cold Brew Vietnamese Coffee, Wintermelon Jasmine and Fire Dragon drinks. Don’t miss out on their season menu that includes their Coconut Coffee and Mango Berry Citrus.
- Address: 11075 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA
- Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday
- What to try: Cold Brew Jasmine Milk Tea, Tiger Milk Tea or Hello Kitty
BoBaPoP Tea Bar
BoBaPoP Tea Bar is a boba tea shop located in Kingstowne, in Alexandria City County. Its expansive menu and cute interior, including adorable dog murals, are immediately inviting and intriguing. Their featured drink items include their Dragon Colada Slush, BoBa PoP (Ceylon Black) Milk Tea and Japanese Brown Rice Fresh Tea. They also serve a variety of croffles on their signature croffle menu.
- Address: 7013a Manchester Blvd., Alexandria, VA
- Hours: 11:45 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11:15 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday
- What to try: 3Q Milk Tea, Lotus Biscoff Croffle or S’mores Croffle
Teas’n You
Teas’n You is a boba tea shop located in Falls Church City County, known for their variety of unique fusion teas and drinks and their contemporary cafe. Their unique tea flavors include a series of Thai teas, Vietnamese coffees, matchas and fruit teas in addition to their seasonal tea series including their February Situationsips series and New Year series.
- Address: 8032 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA
- Hours: 7:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday-Thursday; 7:30 a.m.- 4 a.m. Friday-Saturday
- What to try: Pistachio Milk Tea, Fusion Fruit Tea or Pandan Thai Tea
