Croydon High Street has got its first boba tea shop, after Cupp opened its latest branch at The Arcade yesterday.

Tea time: Cupp, on Croydon High Street, ready for its opening

Boba or bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s, and is a big thing in California.

Bubble tea usually consists of tea accompanied by chewy tapioca balls (“boba” or “pearls”), but it can be made with other toppings as well.

It has many varieties and flavours, the two most popular varieties are pearl black milk tea and pearl green milk tea.

Cupp has grown the popularity of boba tea across Britain, with its branches also offering premium coffee and snacks.

Cupp of cheer: boba tea has arrived in Croydon

They are well known for their brown sugar boba series, fresh fruit teas and traditional taro.

They also offer a wide range of toppings, including cloud tops, traditional tapioca that’s cooked fresh on site every day, along with a variety of new additions including boba ice cream and sushi.

“With its fully customisable boba tea menu, customers can make their own drinks to ensure they have their perfect bubble tea, exactly how they want it,” the company says.

Cupp Croydon is at The Arcade, 32-34 High Street, CRO 1YA.

Inside Croydon – If you want real journalism, delivering real news, from a publication that is actually based in the borough, please consider paying for it. Sign up today: click here for more details

• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com

• As featured on Google News Showcase

• We offer FREE ads to community groups when they have members who are paid subscribers to Inside Croydon

• Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here

• Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network

• Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London

• ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine