Strawberries, cacti, blue butterfly pearls—6 ultra-creative handmade pearl drinks across Taiwan

▲ A selection of the best pearl drinks across Taiwan.

Reported by Yu Jiayun / Compiled by HowToTrip

Various flavors of fresh milk or bubble tea are no longer rare—infusing flavor into the pearls themselves is the real game-changer. Moving beyond the traditional black and white pearls, drink shops in Taiwan are now rolling out a variety of flavored pearls, all made fresh on-site without artificial coloring. Not only do they look amazing, but they taste even better too. Can’t get your hands on matcha pearl lattes? These special-flavor pearls are definitely worth a try.

Muzi Riqing Red Bean Pearl

These pink pearls are just too adorable to resist—just looking at them is irresistible. Muzi Riqing, which opened just this year, focuses on healthy beverage options. Their handcrafted red bean pearls not only offer peace of mind, but also have fewer calories than regular pearls. The shop’s signature strawberry fresh milk pearl drink is a fan favorite, featuring fresh strawberries, Luye fresh milk, and topped off with pink red bean pearls—even the K-pop girl group APINK can’t get enough of them.

No. 25, Lane 170, Siwei Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City
(02) 2706-3201

▲ Fresh-brewed lemon pearl green tea. (Photo / from Muzi Riqing’s official Facebook page)

▲ Strawberry fresh milk pearl. (Photo / from Muzi Riqing’s official Facebook page)

Bobii Frutii Pearl Fruit Specials Blue Butterfly Pearl

This bubble tea shop known for its fruit-flavored gradient pearl drinks is all the rage in Taipei’s Eastern District. The highlight—blue butterfly pearls—not only sound dreamy but also bring a truly unique twist to any drink. Aside from blue butterfly, there are currently four types of pearls available: original, brown sugar, blue butterfly, and seasonal limited editions. They also occasionally release hidden versions. Each gradient pearl drink is a feast for both the eyes and taste buds—so pretty you almost don’t want to drink it.

No. 17, Lane 187, Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Da’an District, Taipei City
(02) 2772-9887

▲ From left to right: Yuzhu Chuxue, Don’t Wanna Grow Up, Mermaid’s Tear, Don’t Wanna Work. (Photo / provided by Dakou)

▲ The blue butterfly pearls above are made from butterfly pea flowers. (Photo / provided by Dakou)

Tabi Q Chili Pearl

Can you add spice to bubble tea, not just adjust sweetness or ice level? The chili pearl, which caused a huge stir upon launch, is the signature product of Tainan’s Tabi Q. These pearls are actually made with chili powder—the taste starts off sweet and finishes with a hint of spicy aroma, making it extremely unique. Another popular option is the Tieguanyin pearl, whose dark green sheen is super appetizing, and the subtle tea flavor is a fantastic bonus.

No. 47, Chenggong Rd., West Central District, Tainan City
06 - 222 - 2012

▲ Chili pearls with added chili powder. (Photo / mimi Han)

▲ Freshly made Tieguanyin pearls. (Photo / mimi Han)

LOHASS Lohas Fresh Fruit Tea Wildberry Pearl

Focusing on freshly squeezed, additive-free fresh fruit teas, the health-conscious LOHASS Lohas even uses all-natural, high-quality pearls. Their handmade pearls currently come in three flavors: white jade, black sesame, and wildberry. Whether paired with 100% fresh milk, fresh milk green tea, or fresh fruit tea, they all work wonderfully. Plus, the pearl-making process is fully transparent, giving pearl lovers peace of mind with every sip.

No. 188, Xinxing Rd., Zhongli District, Taoyuan City (Zhongli SOGO branch)
03-4261838

No. 92, Jianguo Rd., Zhongli District, Taoyuan City (Zhongli Station Front branch)
03-4277423

▲ Lohas Q milk and pearls are a perfect match. (Photo / Dakou)

▲ Sweet and tangy wildberry pearls. (Photo / Dakou)

Marin Zushi Tea Cactus Pearl

Originating in Tainan, Marin Zushi Tea has since expanded to multiple branches across Taiwan. It’s also the pioneer of on-site pearl-making among bubble tea shops. Current pearl flavors include white jade, caramel, cactus, and black sesame, all made with natural ingredients and free from chemicals. Marin Zushi Tea recently launched Uji Matcha Cactus—a mix of Shizuoka matcha, fresh milk, and cactus pearls—with red and green creating the perfect Christmas vibe.

▲ Wanzuo Dessert Tea’s colorful tapioca pearls. (Photo / mimi Han)

Red Sun Pearl Artisanal Handmade Strawberry Tapioca Pearls

Located in Taipei’s Gongguan commercial district, Red Sun Pearl Artisanal Handmade specializes in freshly made handmade tapioca pearls, offering flavors such as strawberry, mango, black sesame, collagen, and four other varieties. The fruity strawberry and mango pearls are not only visually appealing but also burst with a sweet and tangy fruit flavor in the mouth, pairing uniquely well with fresh milk drinks.

No. 13, Lane 24, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
02-2368-7668

▲ A super generous mix of pearls. (Photo / Screenshot from Red Sun Pearl Artisanal Handmade’s official fan page)

▲ Golden-yellow mango pearls. (Photo / Screenshot from Red Sun Pearl Artisanal Handmade’s official fan page)