It was inevitable. Just as Starbucks made overpriced coffee drinks a daily necessity for millions of Americans and consumers around the world, boba tea has started to gain its own loyal following. With a large Asian immigrant population, Houston has started to see a rise in the popularity of "bubble tea."

Boba tea originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s at the small tea stands on every corner. The teas are flavored with different juices, milk and fruit. The addition of small marbles of tapioca creates bubbles when the drink is shaken vigorously. The novelty of the chewy tapioca balls and other "sinkers" has huge appeal to young people, especially teens and college students.

I got hipped to this phenomenon by my own teen. After driving her and her friends back and forth to the tea shops, I decided to see what this trend is all about.

We found five great places on Houston's north side to bubble up, some with better hangout potential than others.


5. Heavenly Beverages

Right off Tomball Parkway, this small tea shop shares real estate with a Mexican restaurant and a pho joint next door. The decor is simple — a few tables, ottomans and a sofa. We were greeted right as we walked in the door.

Being new to this, I went for the Heavenly Cream Tea, a milky black tea that was, fortunately, not too sweet. I had the addition of coconut gels, but they didn't taste anything like coconut. They were just chewy little rectangles that I could have done without.

The teen queen had the Berryheaven, a blended ice drink of fresh berries and juice. Heavenly Beverages calls these "snowies." She also added strawberry boba. These little bobas are small round gels that are filled with flavored juice. Once they're chewed, the juice pops out. A definite kid-pleaser.

There were a number of regular customers, as evidenced by the employees who remembered their usual drinks.

We liked the option of choosing the small or large size. Committing to one bubble tea can be daunting, so being able to choose a smaller version helps. Heavenly Beverages also offers a limited selection of sandwiches and dumplings.

It has hangout potential, but the paint job needs some refreshing, as does some of the furniture. There are board games available if kids these days still do that sort of thing.

4. DrinkabiliTea

This cozy tea room is hidden in a tree-filled strip center on College Park Drive in The Woodlands. We were the only ones in the restaurant, probably because the skies were turning supernaturally black the day we visited. I liked the low lighting of this elegant business, but the teen thought it too dark.

The drinks at this establishment are a little pricier, but the whole feel of the place was more upscale than at most boba tea shops. DrinkabiliTea also offers a lot more in the way of actual teas and food, including a number of vegetarian options.

The couple behind the counter were very friendly and our drinks came out quickly. I had the taro cream tea with tapioca. I liked the taste of my tea, which came in a larger size than at some of the other stores. I wasn't too crazy about the tapioca itself. I thought it had a coffee taste. I like coffee, but not in my tea.

The daughter ordered the Orange Oasis, a smoothie that tasted just like an orange Dreamsicle.
She liked her tapioca boba, which were a bit larger than those at some other places.

For those who live in The Woodlands, this is a tranquil place in which to sit and have a pot of green tea and a veggie wrap. For teens, it might be a bit too zen.