Why is Bubble Tea Not Vegan? A Guide to Hidden Animal Products

October 27, 2025 •

4 min read

While the base of bubble tea is a simple, plant-based infusion, traditional recipes and popular variations often include non-vegan ingredients like dairy milk, honey, and certain toppings.

Quick Summary

Traditional bubble tea is often not vegan due to dairy milk, creamers, and condensed milk used in milk teas. Other culprits include honey-sweetened boba pearls, egg pudding, gelatin-based jellies, and non-vegan food colorings. Customization with plant-based alternatives is key for a cruelty-free drink.

Key Points

Dairy is a common culprit: Many bubble milk teas contain cow's milk, condensed milk, or dairy creamers by default.
Hidden animal products in toppings: Some fruit jellies use gelatin, egg pudding contains eggs, and certain bright red colorings are insect-derived.
Watch out for honey: Boba pearls are sometimes sweetened with honey, making them non-vegan despite being plant-based tapioca.
Sugar processing can be an issue: Some vegans avoid white sugar filtered with bone char, though many modern processes have changed.
Easy to customize: It is usually simple to order a vegan version by requesting a plant-based milk and verifying vegan toppings and sweeteners.
Fruit teas are often a safe bet: Fruit-based bubble teas are typically vegan, using tea, fruit syrup, and plant-based pearls.

The Core Reasons Bubble Tea May Not Be Vegan

For many, the idea of bubble tea brings to mind a fruity, refreshing drink, but for vegans, the details matter significantly. The primary reasons a standard bubble tea is not vegan stem from its most common ingredients: the creamy base, the sweeteners, and the extra toppings. While the plain tea itself is naturally plant-based, the additions quickly introduce animal-derived products, making careful ordering essential.

Dairy Milk and Creamers

The most straightforward reason that a bubble tea is not vegan is the use of dairy milk. Classic “milk teas” are almost always made with cow's milk, dairy cream, or condensed milk to achieve their signature rich and creamy flavor. In some cases, shops might use powdered creamers, which can also contain milk solids (casein) and other dairy derivatives. For those following a vegan diet, any of these standard inclusions automatically make the drink unsuitable. Fortunately, the rising popularity of plant-based diets has led most modern boba shops to offer vegan-friendly milk alternatives like oat, almond, or soy milk. The issue, however, remains that unless specified otherwise, the default assumption is a dairy-based recipe.

Honey and Other Sweeteners

Another hidden non-vegan ingredient is honey. While many recipes use a simple sugar syrup, it is not uncommon for honey to be used as a sweetener for the drink or, more subtly, to cook and sweeten the boba (tapioca pearls). As a product of bees, honey is not considered vegan. Even the sugar used in some syrups can be a point of contention for strict vegans. Some types of processed white sugar are filtered using animal bone char, a practice many vegans choose to avoid. While certified organic sugar is guaranteed to be plant-based, it can be nearly impossible to verify the sugar source at a typical bubble tea shop. Most vegans, however, focus on the more obvious animal products and consider the use of bone char in sugar processing a personal choice.

Non-Vegan Toppings and Add-ins

While the tapioca pearls (boba) themselves are made from the plant-based cassava root, their preparation or other toppings can be problematic. Traditional, chewy tapioca pearls are vegan, but a shop might use honey in the syrup they are soaked in. Popping boba, on the other hand, is typically vegan, made with a seaweed-based extract called agar-agar. However, other toppings present a higher risk. Egg pudding, a popular creamy topping, is obviously not vegan. Some fruit jellies or other dessert-style jellies may contain gelatin, an animal-derived product. Even brightly colored toppings or syrups could be a red flag, as some red dyes (like carmine) are derived from crushed cochineal insects.

Comparison: Standard vs. Vegan Bubble Tea

To better understand the differences, here is a breakdown of a standard bubble tea versus a customized vegan-friendly version.


Feature	Standard Bubble Tea (Often Non-Vegan)	Vegan Bubble Tea (Customized)
Milk Base	Cow's milk, condensed milk, or dairy creamers	Plant-based milk (oat, soy, almond) or fruit base
Sweetener	Cane sugar (potentially bone char filtered), honey	Cane sugar (often organic), agave, or maple syrup
Boba Pearls	Tapioca pearls cooked and soaked in honey syrup	Tapioca pearls cooked and sweetened with sugar syrup
Other Toppings	Egg pudding, gelatin-based jellies, milk foam	Agar-agar jellies, fruit jellies (confirm gelatin-free), aloe vera
Flavoring	Powdered mixes (often with dairy), sugary syrups	Fruit purees, fruit syrups (confirm vegan), tea concentrates

How to Order a Vegan-Friendly Bubble Tea

With a little communication, ordering a vegan bubble tea is very achievable at most modern boba shops. The key is to be clear and specific with your requests. Start by asking for a fruit-based tea or a milk tea with a plant-based milk substitute, such as oat, almond, or soy milk. Explicitly state that you do not want any dairy products. When it comes to toppings, specify gelatin-free fruit jellies or stick with the safer options like traditional tapioca pearls, asking that they be prepared without honey. Most fruit teas are a safe bet, as they are often made with a fruit base, tea, and vegan boba pearls, omitting the dairy entirely. Always remember that bubble teas are often made to order, giving you the power to customize and create a completely cruelty-free drink. For more peace of mind, you can also look up reviews of local shops on sites like Yelp or vegan food apps to see if they are known for accommodating plant-based diets.

For those who enjoy cooking at home, crafting your own vegan bubble tea is the easiest way to ensure every ingredient meets your standards. You can use your favorite plant-based milk, a natural sweetener like maple syrup or agave, and easily sourced vegan tapioca pearls. This allows you complete control over the ingredients and flavor profile, opening up a world of creative combinations. For example, a simple yet delicious vegan option is a cold-brewed black tea mixed with oat milk and sweetened with agave, served over plain tapioca pearls and ice. For a fruitier option, a blended mango juice with green tea and popping pearls made from agar-agar is a refreshing choice. The possibilities are truly endless once you know what to look for.

Conclusion

The reason bubble tea is not vegan by default is a combination of dairy-based milk in many traditional recipes and potential hidden animal products in toppings and sweeteners. However, this is far from a death sentence for vegan boba lovers. By being an informed customer and clearly communicating your dietary needs, you can easily customize your drink. Requesting plant-based milk, verifying sweeteners, and selecting safe toppings are the simple steps to enjoying a delicious and cruelty-free bubble tea. With so many vegan-friendly alternatives readily available, bubble tea can be a treat for everyone.

Optional Outbound Link: To discover more information on vegan dietary considerations for sweeteners and other food products, visit the Vegan Society website: https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/why-go-vegan

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, traditional tapioca pearls are naturally vegan as they are made from cassava root starch. However, they are often soaked in a syrup that can contain non-vegan ingredients like honey, so it is important to confirm with the barista or check the label if purchasing pre-made pearls.

Vegans should specifically avoid egg pudding or custard toppings, as they contain eggs. You should also be cautious with fruit jellies, as some brands use animal-derived gelatin. Always ask the staff to confirm if the toppings are vegan.

No, not all bubble tea is made with dairy. While classic milk teas traditionally use cow's milk, many shops offer fruit teas or milk teas with plant-based milk alternatives like soy, almond, or oat milk. Always specify your milk choice when ordering.

Yes, making bubble tea at home is a great way to guarantee it's vegan. You can use your favorite plant-based milk, a natural sweetener like maple syrup or agave, and vegan tapioca pearls cooked in a simple sugar syrup.

Oat milk is often recommended for its creamy texture that closely mimics dairy milk. Other great options include soy milk, which is a classic alternative, and coconut milk for a richer, tropical flavor.

Most popping boba are vegan. They are typically made through a process called spherification, using a seaweed-based extract like agar-agar to create the outer casing that bursts with fruit juice. Always confirm that the liquid inside is not sweetened with honey.

If you are concerned about animal-derived products, specify a vegan-friendly sweetener like agave, maple syrup, or plain white sugar if you are comfortable with potential bone char filtering. For ultimate peace of mind, opt for fruit-based drinks that use fruit concentrates.