Loose-leaf tea vs powder mixes

Short answer: loose-leaf shops brew real tea; powder shops mix a premade base. You can taste it.

Loose-leaf

The shop steeps actual tea leaves, like oolong, black, or jasmine green. The base tastes like tea, with body and a slight bitterness that balances the sugar.

Powder mixes

A flavored powder is dissolved in water or milk. It's faster and cheaper, but the result is often flatter and mostly just sweet.

How to tell

• Ask: "Is your milk tea brewed from leaves or a mix?"
• Look for a tea station with brewers behind the counter.
• Powder taro is bright purple; real taro is more grey.

Why it matters

Brewed tea is the clearest quality signal a boba shop gives you. It's the difference between a drink that tastes like tea and one that tastes like sweetener.

Have a boba question we should answer? Email hello@bobanight.com.