Bubble tea? Boba tea? Or plain old boba? Whatever you call this sweet drink, you know it is delicious. With the rising popularity of boba tea, a tea-based drink with tapioca pearls, I decided to test out local boba shops to find out which one is the best.

First Stop: Lollicup

Cost: $4.00 for a 16 oz.

Distance: Lollicup has two locations nearby. One shop is located in Diamond Jamboree, and the other is at the corner of Jeffrey Rd. and Walnut Ave.

Milk Tea Quality: I personally like my tea not too sweet, and this tea blend fits the bill! The boba itself is relatively large and has a tender, chewy center.

Customer Service: The biggest flaw of Lollicup was the waiting time. It took fifteen minutes just to take my order and an additional ten minutes to get my drink. Maybe it was a slow day, but twenty five minutes to get one drink is insufficient.

Environment: Both shops, especially Diamond Jamboree, have difficult parking and are quite small. The seating inside is cheap, but there is always a place to sit down.

Second Stop: 7 Leaves

Cost: $3.50 for a 16 oz.

Distance: 7 Leaves is located at the corner of Jeffrey Rd. and Walnut Ave.

Milk Tea Quality: The tea blend is high quality, and there is a wide selection of unique drinks besides the classic, milk tea. There is no weird aftertaste from the boba or the tea. Overall, 7 Leaves excels most at its flavor.

Customer Service: The service is reasonably quick, and the staff is friendly.

Environment: To my surprise, 7 Leaves is really clean and the decor is reminiscent of a charming coffee shop.

Third Stop: Tutti Frutti

Cost: $2.99 for a 16 oz.

Distance: Tutti Frutti is located in Woodbury Town Center. This shop is the closest and cheapest.

Milk Tea Quality: The milk tea tastes watered down a tad bit and the aftertaste of the jasmine tea is quite strange. It has the perfect level of sweetness and the tea is adequate, though. The boba is unusually small, but has great texture and color.

Customer Service: There usually are no lines, and the customer service is notably quick. The servers are very friendly, too.

Environment: Tutti Frutti’s decor is very colorful and inviting. The shop itself is relatively small, but the Town Center provides seating outside.

I personally am impatient and do not enjoy a long drive, so Tutti Frutti Boba tea is my winner!