Could popping boba overtake nata de coco and other chewy inclusions in Southeast Asia’s packaged beverage innovations? While chewy boba continues to lead the way in texture-driven concepts, brands in the region may soon expand the role of popping boba beyond foodservice, venturing into packaged juices and other beverage categories. This potential shift is fueled by growing consumer interest, driven by popping boba’s growing popularity in foodservice and increasing interest for diverse chewable textures.
Popping boba is gaining traction beyond APAC, especially in Europe and North America, across both packaged beverages and foodservice channels. While smaller brands currently lead the charge by introducing popping boba into bubble tea and tea drink formats, the recent launch by Cappy—a fruit juice brand under Coca-Cola İçecek A.Ş., a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company in Turkey—signals broader potential for integrating popping boba into mainstream juice drinks. Cappy Bubble serves as a creative spark for Southeast Asian beverage brands exploring their next product innovation that offers a mouthfeel.
