This concern about whether popping boba is halal or haram is growing among Muslims worldwide, especially with the rising popularity of this fruity bubble tea featuring juice-filled balls. The global obsession with this drink reportedly reached a market size of $2.4 billion in 2023, and it’s projected to potentially double by 2030. Naturally, everyone wants to try this viral drink without having to pause mid-sip and worry: What if it’s haram?
If you’re looking for a simple yes or no, the answer is no, it is not haram. Essentially, popping boba is halal, but some ingredients, such as pork-based gelatin, may be questionable and could make it haram to consume.
For a detailed understanding of whether popping boba is halal or haram — and which factors contribute to its halal status — keep reading this blog.
What Is Popping Boba?
These are small, fun bubbles filled with flavored juices. Popping boba is made through a culinary process known as spherification. In this process, the juices of Blueberry, Grape, Green Apple, Lychee, Mango, Orange, Raspberry, and Strawberry are put into a seaweed-derived solution, which forms thin and small edible shells. The solution in which the fruit juices are dropped is a combination of calcium lactate and sodium alginate.
Is Popping Boba “Halal”?
Well, first, we should understand what being halal means. In Islam, God permits halal. So, a halal drink is one that a Muslim is allowed to consume under Islamic law, while those that are not are called haram. For instance, foods like alcohol, pork, or even the meat of animals that are not slaughtered in the halal way, as well as those contaminated by haram ingredients, including gelatin, are considered haram. If a halal drink contains one or more haram additives or is contaminated through the shared use of utensils, it becomes haram.
When it comes to popping boba, this is exactly the case — it is halal, but certain ingredients like pork-based jelly, the type of milk used, or the utensils in which it is prepared can make it haram.
Popping Boba Making: Halal vs Haram Food Additives
We have understood, popping boba is halal, but some of its ingredients render it haram. Most brands use water, fruit juices, sodium alginate, fruit syrup, citric acid, calcium lactate, flavoring, or coloring as their ingredients. So far, the story sounds all halal — so where does it become slippery? Let’s look at the table below to see what makes popping boba haram.
| Ingredient | Why It Might Be Haram |
| Gelatin | If derived from improperly slaughtered meat or pork |
| Artificial flavors | If made with an alcohol-based solvent |
| Secret recipes | Whenever there is a lack of transparency |
| Artificial colors | If derived from insects or alcohol |
Ensure Bubble Tea Halal Status While Buying Online
To ensure your peace of mind while drinking popping boba after purchasing it online, follow these five steps:
1- Only buy from halal-certified popping boba brands, and don’t forget to look for halal certifications and logos.
2- Read the ingredients to check if it has alcohol, gelatin, or any other non-halal additives.
3- Many of the online shops help you by sharing the ingredients for your convenience, so feel free to ask.
4- However, if the vendor is not willing to disclose the ingredients, you must avoid buying from them.
5- While buying ready-to-drink boba online, just make sure to check the halal certifications on the website.
| Did You Know? IFANCA (USA), SANHA (South Africa), HFA (UK), MUIS (Singapore), and JAKIM (Malaysia) are some of the halal certifications for boba that are recognized as authentic for popping boba brands. |
Buying From a Tea Shop: Halal Ingredients in Boba
While buying popping boba halal bubble tea from a tea shop, check if the components like tea base, tapioca pearls, milk, flavors, popping boba, and sweeteners are halal or not. Here are some key indicators for quick consideration and decision-making:
- If the tea base is black, oolong, or green, it is halal.
- If the milk is plant-based or comes from a certified source, it is halal.
- If the tapioca pearls are plain, they are halal.
- If the popping boba is free from alcohol and gelatin, it is halal.
- If the flavor doesn’t contain haram solvents or alcohol, it is halal.
- Check the sweeteners as well, although these are mostly halal.
Be 100% Sure: Make Popping Boba Tea at Home
If you don’t want to take any kind of risk and need to be 100% sure that your popping boba tea is halal, you can go DIY and make it at home. Here are the ingredients and simple instructions for making delicious halal boba tea at home.
| Ingredients & Preparation |
| Ingredients: Green or Black Tea (halal), Plant-based Milk (Almond/Soy/Coconut), Natural Sweetener (Halal Sugar/Honey), and Halal popping boba |
| Prepare tea by soaking tea leaves, and let it cool |
| Mix well with a sweetener and milk |
| Add popping boba to the mixture |
Verdict: Is Popping Boba Haram or Halal?
From the above-mentioned information, we can deduce that popping boba is halal when made with fruit juice and seaweed extract. However, to be 100% sure, either make it at home, ensuring that the ingredients, including artificial colors and flavors, are halal, or check all the necessary considerations discussed above when buying at a tea shop or ordering online.
FAQs
Q: Is popping boba halal in Islam?
A: Yes, popping boba is halal if it is free from haram ingredients and the utensils used in its preparation are not contaminated.
Q: Can Muslims drink bubble tea?
A: Yes, when made with halal-certified products or purchased from tea shops with halal certification.
Q: Is tapioca boba halal for Muslims?
A: Mostly yes, as it is made from plant-based cassava root starch. However, to be safe, check if any alcohol-based syrups or flavorings have been added.
Q: How to check if boba is halal online?
A: Read the ingredient list and look for a halal certification logo on the packaging or website.
Q: Which are halal bubble tea options for Muslims?
A: Taro Milk Tea, Matcha Latte, Thai Tea, Lychee or Mango Fruit Tea, and Brown Sugar Milk Tea.
Q: Which are non-halal bubble tea flavors for making popping boba tea?
A: Bourbon Milk Tea, Tequila Green Tea, Kahlua Vietnamese Iced Coffee, and popping boba or jellies with unclear sourcing.
Q: Does popping boba contain gelatin?
A: Mostly no, but it is important to verify with the manufacturer or vendor before consuming.
Q: Is popping boba halal in Shia and Sunni Islam?
A: Yes, as long as it does not contain haram ingredients such as alcohol or pork-derived gelatin.