UK Bubble Tea Market Expected to Reach $243.0 Million by 2033—Allied Market Research

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “UK Bubble Tea Market by Flavor, Base Ingredient, Component, and End User: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024–2033,” The UK bubble tea market size was valued at $167.2 million in 2023 and is projected to reach $243.0 million by 2033, registering a CAGR of 4.0% from 2024 to 2033.

Bubble tea, also known as boba tea or pearl milk tea, is a Taiwanese tea-based drink that originated in the 1980s in Taichung, Taiwan. It typically consists of tea mixed with milk or fruit flavors, sweetened with sugar or syrup, and served with chewy tapioca balls (also called "boba" or "pearls") at the bottom. The drink is often shaken to create a frothy texture, and it’s usually served with a wide straw to allow the boba pearls to be sucked up with the liquid.

Changing consumer preferences has played a pivotal role in the remarkable growth of the bubble tea market. One of the key indicators of shifting preferences is the rising demand for diverse flavors and innovative concoctions. Traditional tea flavors have given way to exotic and adventurous choices such as taro, lychee, matcha, and various fruit infusions, expanding the market's appeal. Moreover, the customization aspect, where customers can choose their sugar levels, toppings, and even dairy alternatives, reflects a consumer-driven trend towards personalized, health-conscious choices.

The success of bubble tea also aligns with the Millennial and Gen Z generations, who prioritize experiences and shareable moments. The visual appeal of bubble tea with its colorful pearls and Instagram-worthy aesthetics has made it a staple in social media culture. Consequently, as consumer preferences continue to evolve, bubble tea's adaptability and innovation remain pivotal drivers and the UK bubble tea market trends of its market success.

However, excess sugar content in these drinks leads to health issues restricting market growth. In addition, due to the presence of artificial preservatives in bubble tea, consumers have changed their preference toward organic beverages, which hampers the UK bubble tea market growth.

The UK bubble tea market is segmented into flavor, base ingredient, component, and end user. By flavor, the market is classified into original flavor, coffee flavor, fruit flavor, chocolate flavor, milk flavor, and others. By base ingredient, the market is categorized into black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and white tea. As per component, the market is divided into flavor, creamer, sweetener, liquid, toppings, and others. Topping subsegment is further classified into tapioca pearls, konjac jelly pearls, popping pearls, and coconut jelly. By end user, the market is divided into generation Z, millennials, generation X.

On the basis of flavor, the fruit flavor segment was the most prominent segment accounting for the highest UK bubble tea market share. This is attributed to the change in preference of consumers toward healthy beverages and better taste. However, the chocolate flavor segment is expected to witness the highest growth, owing to an increase in its popularity in all age groups.

According to the UK bubble tea market analysis, in 2023, the black tea segment generated the highest revenue and is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period. This is attributed to the rise in the popularity of bubble tea with black tea as the base ingredient across the globe. However, the green tea segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to growth in the number of health-conscious consumers across the globe.

On the basis of component, the liquid component segment generated maximum revenue in 2023 and is expected to continue this trend throughout the UK bubble tea market forecast period. This can be attributed to the availability of various options such as a combination of various liquid flavors and syrups. However, the sweeteners segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to the availability of organic sweeteners such as honey-based sweeteners for bubble teas.

On the basis of end user, the millennials segment was the most prominent segment accounting for the highest share in the bubble tea market. The millennial generation's demand for distinctive, personalized drinks and lively social media trends are propelling the growth of the bubble tea industry. Bubble tea is becoming more popular as a choice for both social sharing and casual consumption since this population values innovative tastes, health-conscious options, and visually appealing presentations.

The key players operating in the UK bubble tea market include Cuppo Tee Company Limited, Boba Box Limited, Bubble CiTea, Lucky Bubble, Bubble Tea House Company, Chatime Global LLC, Mooboo Bubble Tea, Bubbleology , Gong cha Global Ltd, and CUPP Bubble Tea.

Key findings of the study

• By flavor, the fruit flavor segment was the highest contributor to the market in 2023.
• By base ingredient, the black tea segment was the highest contributor to the market in 2023.
• By component, the liquid component segment was the highest contributor to the market in 2023
• By end user, the millennials segment dominated the UK bubble tea market in 2023.
• By distribution channel, the offline segment was the highest revenue contributor to the market in 2023.