| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| 2024 Market Size | USD 5.7 Billion |
| 2025 Market Size | USD 6.4 Billion |
| 2030 Forecast | USD 10.7 Billion |
| Growth Rate (CAGR) | 11% |
| Largest Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Fastest Growing Region | North America |
| Nature of the Market | Fragmented |
| Largest Product Category | Bubble Tea |
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The global bubble food and beverages market size was USD 5.7 billion in 2024, and it will grow at a CAGR of 11% during 2025–2030, to reach USD 10.7 billion by 2030. This is ascribed to the increasing demand of the millennials and Generation Z for boba-based snacks and drinks, such as bubble tea, as they are considered healthy.
For instance, Modoo, in New Zealand, specializes in agar jelly balls, popping boba, /tapioca pearls juice balls, various flavored powders, syrups, coconut fruit jellies, and tea leaves/matcha. These products are common among the young generation, which is driving the market.
Outside East Asia, the market growth is attributed to the growing influence of Taiwanese, Korean, and Japanese culture through social media, K-pop bands, diaspora, TV dramas, regional literature, and cultural centers.
There is a growing trend to experience unique flavors and combinations among demographics such as millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. Young consumers are increasingly getting inclined toward floral, fruity, and savory options that provide a rejuvenating escape from the usual coffee and tea offerings with delightful flavors and textures. Moreover, visually attractive, colorful drinks layered and topped artistically offer Instagram-worthy presentations, which resonate with the preferences of social-media-conscious customers.
Cafes and small tea corners contribute to this trend by offering an indulgent, trendy experience with bubble-infused beverages and desserts, such as puddings, crema, and ice creams, and transforming food into a lifestyle statement.
Fusion foods are also gaining popularity, blending diverse ingredients, flavors, and beverages, including cocktails, tea, mocktails, and coffee, with tapioca pearls and fruit jellies, giving an innovative and novel drinking experience. In addition to the more-classic tapioca pearls, other bubbles, such as those made from popping boba, aloe vera cubes, and chia seeds, are gaining traction. Seasonal and limited-edition flavors, such as yuzu, matcha, and lavender, attract customers who seek exclusivity and exotic alternatives.
The market for bubble food and beverages is propelled by the rising health consciousness, which drives an evolution in eating habits. Bursting boba, known for its fruit-juice-explosion-in-the-mouth experience, is a nutritious choice as it does not contain artificial additives and preservatives. This makes it easy to incorporate into an extensive range of food and beverages to improve the flavor and texture.
This rising vegan population demands vegan bubble options, including fruit boba, pearl boba, crystal boba, and popping boba. Therefore, they are increasingly being seen as snacking options in the form of drinks, puddings, and jellies. The convenience of ready-to-eat bubble snacks and energy drinks easily accommodate a busy person's lifestyle.
In terms of nutrition, bubble food and beverages contain antioxidant properties, minerals, vitamins, and low calories. The market is driven by the emerging health-conscious demographics demanding plant-based and probiotic-rich beverage options. The option to customize the amount of sugar makes bubble drinks more appealing to individuals seeking strong flavors along with a healthy indulgence.
Owing to the increasing demand, ChaPanda, a Chinese new-style tea brand known for its bubble tea and fruit-infused tea ranges, expanded its overseas reach by opening 30 outlets in Seoul, South Korea, in April 2024.
Bubble food and beverages offer multiple health benefits, specifically anti-aging effects, immunological support, and enhanced mental clarity; however, the added sugar and artificial flavors remain a concern. Most bubble teas have high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which categorizes them as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). Studies demonstrate that high sugar consumption is associated with many health implications, including obesity, inflammation, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular diseases, neuropathy, and different types of cancer. The increasing health concerns are making customers reluctant to consume such food and beverage items, hence restraining the market growth.
In 2024, bubble tea is the largest product category, and it will continue to dominate the industry over the forecast period, advancing with the highest CAGR, of 12.0%. Especially among millennials, bubble tea has been experiencing enormous growth in popularity, as it offers a pleasant and healthful beverage choice. Providers often fuse customers' changing beverage preferences to better cater to their rising wellness concerns.
Additionally, the category growth is projected to be aided by an increase in the number of product releases in important countries, including China, Thailand, and Australia. Moreover, consumers’ focus on health and wellness has strengthened significantly since the pandemic, which is why they are modifying their lifestyle choices to stay healthy in the long run. In this regard, the wide variety of bubble food flavors available is encouraging people to adopt them.
For instance, Bubble Health Food Paradise offers various options of bubble tea that are a rich source of vitamins and energy and good for digestion and diabetes. Companies are offering Bubble-approved standards, signifying there is no refined/cane sugar, preservatives, artificial dyes, fillers, or gums in their products, which is propelling the bubble food and beverages market revenue.
The desserts category is the second-largest shareholder in the market. Millennials and Gen Z prefer to experiment with their food choices, to stay healthy. Several manufacturers add different flavors to make desserts more appealing, such as strawberries, mangoes, green tea, honey melons, pomegranates, and oranges.
Numerous producers now offer gluten-free, dairy-free, lactose-free, and vegan popping boba in creative flavors, in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Water, fructose, cherry-flavored syrup, starch, seaweed extract, calcium lactate, malic acid, and potassium sorbate are some of the ingredients in these.
These bubble food products are offered to customers through a variety of distribution channels, including merchants, supermarkets & hypermarkets, convenience stores, and e-commerce. Thus, easy accessibility is another factor driving the market for bubble food and beverages.
Fruit snacks are the third-largest market share holder, as they are quite popular among children, many of whom prefer jellies over real fruits. Products offered by Del Monte Foods, for instance, contain real fruits in jelly form, with no artificial flavors or sweeteners, thus offering children a healthy snacking option. Consumers are becoming more focused on health and wellness and are now more inclined toward convenient buying and buying from brands they trust.
The products analyzed here are:
Tapioca-based food and beverages dominate the market in 2024, accounting for USD 4.0 billion, majorly due to the health benefits they offer. Tapioca is a starch derived from the cassava root that consists of pure carbohydrates, with proteins, fibers, and other nutrients. Products made from tapioca are popular among the youth due to their appealing tastes and flavors. Thus, tapioca is becoming a popular ingredient in puddings, desserts, snacks, or bubble tea.
Additionally, customers are switching to gluten-free and vegan choices from carbonated drinks. Consequently, the majority of the food service vendors are now looking at tapioca as a substitute for wheat flour for their gluten-free bubble food and beverages.
Bursting bubbles are the faster-category category in the market as they come in various flavors, such as strawberry, passionfruit, dragon fruit, lychee, and peach bursting boba. They are full of fruit juices, offering a mélange of flavors in one drink and improving the experience of drinking beverages. They are utilized in several types of beverages and desserts and attract consumers looking for fresh, exciting experiences.
The sources evaluated here are:
The on-trade distribution channel dominates the market, and it is expected to witness the highest CAGR of 13.0% during the forecast period. The shift in demographics, disposable rise in income, swift urbanization, and the increase in the impact of Western culture drive product sales through this channel. With the bubble food and beverages market trends inclined toward the exploration of cafes, restaurants, clubs, and other fine-dining places, people are also becoming open to experimenting with bubble snacks and beverages.
In India, which is a growing market for bubble foods and beverages, there are lots of cafes serving bubble tea and bubble puddings. Bubble tea is a refreshing drink that can be easily customized to cater to different taste palates. Moreover, café owners keep experimenting with flavors and low-calorie options. Other healthy choices available in such products include vegan chickpea brownies, and sweet potato brownies, which are appetizing at the same time.
The distribution channels analyzed here are:
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The APAC region is the largest market, with a revenue share of 40% in 2024. This is due to the various desserts, waffles, and pies available with boba pearls, including shaved ice desserts, boba waffles, and boba wheel pie. Chefs are utilizing boba pearls to improve the flavors of iced and hot desserts because customers are interested in experiencing new pudding flavors at high-end restaurants and cafés.
This situation is increasing the popularity of desserts made with boba. Additionally, the market has seen a considerable increase in the customer demand for drinks, juices, and cocktails that contain boba pearls. The other major factor driving the consumption of such products here is the presence of a large number of bubble food and beverage manufacturers in China, Thailand, India, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
North America is expected to witness the fastest growth in the bubble food and beverages market, with a 12.0% CAGR. To cater to the rising demand for such eatables, various restaurants are opening, especially for bubble tea lovers. Bubble tea is essentially a milk-based drink that contains ingredients such as chewy tapioca balls and fruit jellies.
Due to the fast-paced lifestyle of the young, they prefer drinks that are convenient to carry and better than carbonated drinks. For instance, MBambu, which has a strong presence in New York City, serves a variety of fruit juices, boba milk teas, Vietnamese coffees, and fresh, healthful, and authentic Chè dessert drinks. Additionally, the increasing investments in research and development, along with the growing consumer awareness about the advantages related with products containing organic, vegan, and natural tapioca pearls, have encouraged manufacturers to launch new products and open more outlets.
The geographical breakdown of the market is as follows:
This market is fragmented in nature since the food and beverage options in the bubble market are diverse. Bubble tea of many assortments, snacks, and desserts are hyper-customizable to personal taste. Regional variations and local brands with diverse unique flavors also contribute to this fragmentation.
The rising establishment of off-trade and on-trade distribution channels, such as supermarkets, convenience stores, multiple-food joints, small startups, and independent cafes, is further adding to the competition. Additionally, the continuously evolving consumer preferences, especially of millennials and the Gen Z, necessitate endless innovation by brands.
The rise of e-commerce and delivery platforms also opens up chances for smaller brands to connect directly with consumers, thus enhancing the diversity of the offerings and ensuring no single brand is dominant.
In August 2024, Del Monte Foods Inc. introduced Bubble Fruit Gel, a snack option incorporating real fruits, popping boba, and flavorful gel. The company collaborated with a content creator for a limited-time merchandise drop, featuring products inspired by this Fruit Cup snack.
In June 2024, Gong Cha Tea LLC secured a 30-unit development agreement with SID Tea LLC to further extend its bubble tea product availability in Puerto Rico. It already has approximately 2,200 locations in 24 countries. Building on the success of its initial two stores in San Juan and Manatí, which opened in the spring of 2024, the brand aims to open shops across the island.
In May 2024, Del Monte Foods Inc. expanded the production and distribution of JOYBA bubble tea, a range of refreshing fruit-flavored tea with popping boba, in the U.S. Designed to offer the original boba shop experience, these beverages are now available at key retailers, such as Target, Costco, Walmart, Sam's Club, and Albertsons.
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