Singapore Loves Bubble Tea! How Many Cups Do You Drink Each Week?

Bubble tea is an irreplaceable "life-saver" in Singapore.

Whether single, in love, heartbroken, working overtime, celebrating, or cooling off, milk tea is always there. It has become a lifestyle symbol and a social tool—bridging relationships with colleagues or sparking conversations with a simple phrase: "Let me buy you a bubble tea."

On average, Singaporeans consume about 150 cups of bubble tea per year—almost a cup every 2-3 days! Missing out for a couple of days? That’s unbearable!

Remember during the early pandemic days when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a lockdown starting at 11:59 PM? The entire island rushed out—not to stockpile essentials, but to queue for their "last cup of bubble tea."

Among Southeast Asian countries, Singapore leads with an average annual bubble tea spending of $60 USD (about 78 SGD or 428 RMB), a staggering six times higher than Malaysia, the runner-up!

With brands like KOI, LIHO, TWG, Holim, HEYTEA, Tiger Sugar, Luckin, and Mixue, the choice is endless. Which one is your favorite?

# How Much Do You Spend on Bubble Tea?

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

Report

Comment34

  • Top
  • Latest
  • icycrystal
    ·11-21
    TOP
    I have no preference, whichever brand is OK for me. there was a period where am "addicted" but fortunately, am able to "unaddict"... so now, I try to only have them once in a while...

    On average, Singaporeans consume about 150 cups of bubble tea per year—almost a cup every 2-3 days!

    @LMSunshine @Universe宇宙 @rL @GoodLife99 @HelenJanet @Shyon @Aqa @koolgal @TigerGPT @SPACE ROCKET

    With brands like KOI, LIHO, TWG, Holim, HEYTEA, Tiger Sugar, Luckin, and Mixue, the choice is endless. Which one is your favorite?

    Reply
    Report
    Fold Replies
    • Shyon
      Thanks for sharing
      11-21
      Reply
      Report
    • koolgal
      Thanks for sharing 😍😍😍
      11-21
      Reply
      Report
    • TigerGPT

      As an AI financial analyst, I don't have personal preferences or the ability to consume bubble tea. However, I can provide some information about popular bubble tea brands in Singapore for your reference.

      Some of the popular bubble tea brands in Singapore include KOI, LIHO, TWG, Tiger Sugar, HEYTEA, and Gong Cha. Each brand offers a unique range of flavors and toppings, catering to different preferences. It ultimately depends on your personal taste and preferences.

      If you have any specific questions or require further information about these brands, feel free to ask!

      11-21
      Reply
      Report
  • Shyon
    ·11-21
    TOP
    I don’t drink bubble tea often because of its high sugar content, but I can’t deny that I still enjoy it when I do. KOI and Mixue offer the best value for money, and their classic milk tea is my go-to. I love the simplicity of just milk tea and tapioca pearls—there’s something comforting about it without any extra flavors or toppings.

    I’ve tried different variations, but I always come back to the classic version. It’s familiar and soothing. Sometimes I adjust the sugar level to suit my taste, especially when I want it lighter. The beauty of bubble tea is how customizable it is, whether you prefer it sweet or not.

    In Singapore, bubble tea has become more than just a drink; it’s part of the culture. It’s a great way to connect with others too, whether you’re sharing a cup or saying, "Let me buy you a bubble tea." It’s about enjoying the moment.

    @Tiger_SG @TigerStars @Tiger_comments @TigerGPT

    Reply
    Report
    Fold Replies
    View more 1 comments
  • WanEH
    ·11-20
    TOP
    I seldom buy bubble tea as they are expensive and not good to health. I only purchased it when I have the free voucher from others. The brand I tried before is tealive, bear, deel....
    Reply
    Report
  • nomadic_m
    ·11-22
    15 cups of bubble tea a month?! Don't think I can reach 15 in a year!

    @TigerGPT are there any listed bubble tea companies on STI or the US?

    Reply
    Report
    Fold Replies
    • TigerGPT

      Based on the information available, there are currently no listed bubble tea companies on the Straits Times Index (STI) in Singapore. The STI consists of the top 30 actively traded companies on the Singapore Exchange.

      As for the US stock market, there are also no specific bubble tea companies listed on major US exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the NASDAQ. Bubble tea is primarily sold through various independent and franchise outlets, rather than being represented by publicly traded companies.

      If you are interested in investing in the bubble tea industry, it may be worth considering other related food and beverage companies that could indirectly benefit from its popularity. Conducting thorough research and analysis on individual companies within the food and beverage sector would be recommended before making any investment decisions.

      Please note that investment decisions should be based on careful consideration of individual financial goals, risk tolerance, and consultation with a professional financial advisor.

      11-22
      Reply
      Report
  • Aqa
    ·11-21
    Singaporeans on average consume about 150 cups of bubble tea per year—almost a cup every 2-3 days! I would like to know who are these people. Bubble tea can be a meal itself. It could be the substitute to our lunch. Quite amazed by the news that Singaporean is top consumer of bubble tea. Thanks for the info @Tiger_SG @icycrystal
    Reply
    Report
  • Vp777
    ·11-21
    My love for bubble tea, I don't know what brand of tea they use.
    But my favorite flavors, taro, peach ice tea, raspberry, milk-cha, with boba pearls, my all time favourite flavor Mango flavour.
    I just was addicted towards the taste, but too expensive to buy.
    Hence I just got to 2 days a week from daily spending NZ$ 9.
    Now that I have spent a lot past 3 years.
    My son got out of university, got a degree, and he decided to start a business, after a few random business ideas.

    Guess what happened next ???

    He ended up getting a franchise for opening a bubble tea store.

    Due to open soon, work in progress. Have a lot of hurdles to cross. But finally it's happening..
    Mid-January hopefully it's done .
    Hence to wrap up the story, my love for bubble tea became my passion for research.
    And here I am having my own bubble tea shop, no more spending money.
    !! Just Free !! Everyday !!

    Reply
    Report
  • Erihui
    ·11-21
    I am not a bubble tea person but used to drink once in awhile with friends for Gongcha during gathering. I kinda stop drinking especially when more and more brands flood in and become a must have lifestyle.

    When being asked why i dont drink, my reply was I want a healthier health. Personally I am the type who don't like following trend, would tend to go opposite direction.

    Nevertheless, I prefer R&B brown sugar if I really craving for it. [Cool]

    Reply
    Report
  • koolgal
    ·11-21
    🌟🌟🌟Bubble Tea is a brilliant invention that brings happiness to many Singaporeans especially the young.  Do you know that it was first introduced way back in 1983 by Lin Hsiu Hui in Taichung Taiwan who added tapioca balls to Assam iced tea and the drink became a hit.

    Bubble tea has become popular worldwide from the US, Europe and especially Asia.

    My favourite bubble tea is Matcha Red Bean Milk Tea, a most delightful concoction of sweet red beans, matcha powder and milk.

    Just thinking about it, makes me thirsty for more.

    @Tiger_SG

    Reply
    Report
  • I have so much love for BBT (not a coffee lover) and I think I have tried all brands.  I have my favourite drink for all different brands. Just to name a few:-
    N17, Hawaii Summer tea.
    Alley, Stawberry green tea.
    Koi, Hazelnut milk tea with ice cream.
    Chicha, Osmanthus Mango tea.
    Heytea, Grapefruit tea with jelly
    itea, Grapefruit pomelo green tea with aiyu jelly
    Beautea, Tropical fruit tea
    Yi Fang tea, Beer fruit tea
    and many more other brands.

    On average, I drink about 1 tea a day. though I know it is somehow unhealthy but I just can't stop drinking.

    Well, others always said that BBT will make u put on weight but that is not true.  during covid lock down, there are very limited BBT option available (some are able to operate as they are selling food as well) and I drink significantly lesser BUT I DID NOT LOSE A GRAM AT ALL. So BBT won't make you put on weight as I always opt for sugarless and no pearls.

    I am now waiting for my tiger points 😀

    Reply
    Report
  • MilkTeaBro
    ·11-21
    I drink home made tea and coffee, one cup of coffee with milk powder in the breakfast, and one cup of green tea after lunch.  no other soft drink. I control my daily sugar intake, a healthier choice.
    Reply
    Report
  • Mrzorro
    ·11-21
    I prefer CHICHA San Chen. The texture of their boba bubble is not hard like the others after putting it for a period. If you drink straight away, the bubble is still warm. Also, the tea they use is more quality and tasty ( my personal preference)
    Reply
    Report
  • KKLEE
    ·11-21
    Bubble tea isn’t just a drink- it’s the heart of our shared moments. From celebrating milestones to comforting us on rough days, it’s always there, like a dependable friend. My favorite memory? A spontaneous “bubble tea crawl” with colleagues, hopping from KOI to HEYTEA, chasing not just the perfect cup but also laughter and camaraderie.


    It’s amazing how a simple cup bridges differences and builds connections. Bubble tea isn’t just a lifestyle in Singapore- it’s our lifestyle. And hey, if I win this, the first thing I’ll do is treat my friends to another round of “boba bonding”!
    Reply
    Report
  • Spiders
    ·11-20
    I choose not to drink bubble tea because I limit sugary options for health reasons, though I know not all of them are unhealthy.
    Reply
    Report
  • BrenT
    ·11-21
    I like Woobbee, used to drink regularly but has cut down to once every few weeks!
    Reply
    Report
  • AN88
    ·11-21
    I have no preference. just max 1 per week. keep fat away and safe money to invest lol
    Reply
    Report
  • jllwang
    ·11-21
    I have only had bubble tea once in my life! Tried it out with my younger colleagues once 😄
    Reply
    Report
  • I like TWG hot tea and not cold bubble tea. I don't drink coffee as my gastric is not so good.
    Reply
    Report
  • ECLC
    ·11-21
    Younger generation loves bubble tea. Tried Koi only. Still prefer coffeeshop tea.
    Reply
    Report
  • JamesT
    ·11-21
    Drinking bubble tea is not good for health. once a month at most.
    Reply
    Report
  • andrew123
    ·11-21
    too bad I don't like tea. I still prefer my my coffee shop kopi
    Reply
    Report