With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, and the pandemic continuing to burden everyday lives, boba tea is quickly becoming a privilege rather than a routine to many who are unable to leave the house. Fortunately, several companies are launching boba kits, which are not only the perfect gift, but are also an exciting way to make staying at home enjoyable, and a way to grab your boba fix during any time of the day. Boba Kits appear as another quarantine activity, but can be a way to reignite connections which may have been lost by the pandemic through a simple cup of tea. This article features Southern California-based shops that offer these kits for people to get their boba fix and even send one to a loved one.

Fruitea

Fruitea is a local boba shop in the city of Orange which also sells boba kits available for pickup at their store. This family-run business has humble roots, starting out from their own kitchen to the kitchens of their customers. Each kit comes with tea leaves, uncooked boba, an instruction manual and straws, along with cups, powdered creamer and simple syrup in each cup. It takes around an hour to cook both the boba and tea, making for an exciting stay-at-home activity! They offer a fruit tea or milk tea kit, each serving two to three people. Make sure you call and pick up your own kit.

146 S Main St, Unit l, Orange, CA 92868

Sammee

Sammee has some of the most aesthetically pleasing boba kits with the goal of turning each customer into boba connoisseurs by “delivering a fully curated DIY experience with everything you need to make the best boba at home,” hoping to make such a delicious drink available to all. Their kits include tea in powder or loose leaf form, uncooked boba, instructions, boba stickers, and a reusable metal straw with its own pouch. The tea and drink flavors they offer are yogurt smoothie, classic black, earl grey, matcha green, jasmine green and thai tea. Catch up with your friends and send over a kit by ordering through the Sammee website!

Locca

Locca is a boba shop based in Mission Viejo. They mail their boba boxes, which can be ordered through their website. Each kit comes with different tea leaf flavors, uncooked boba, boba straws and instructions. Some of their packages include The Daily Joy (matcha, jasmine, earl grey), Hibiscus Dream (hibiscus and rosehips, jasmine, black), Thai Bliss (thai, jasmine, black), The Classic (jasmine, earl grey lavender, black), and the Vivante kit (peach oolong, jasmine, black). Locca’s boba kits are the perfect Zoom activity since they take a bit longer to prepare, but turn out amazing and make you feel as though you’re working in your own boba shop!

27741 Crown Valley Parkway Suite, #329-5, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Bobaful

Bobaful is a Los Angeles-based shop that delivers all throughout California. Unlike many of the other boba kit companies, Bobaful sells flash boba, which only requires three to four minutes in the microwave for squishy pearls ready in an instant. They also brew the teas fresh daily. Rather than using powders which consumers would mix with hot water or milk, Bobaful teas are made fresh and delivered in jugs. If you’re looking for a boba fix ready in less than four minutes during any time of the day, make sure you order by messaging their Instagram.

Milkbox

Milkbox, previously one of Orange County’s biggest boba shops, recently converted to selling boba boxes in hopes of spreading love during these times. Each boba box feeds those who are starving, helps people needing cash during these times, and promotes local mom and pop shops by using their ingredients for the boxes. They offer a variety of flavors including earl grey lavender, thai tea, a classic black tea, and even more. Each box comes with loose leaves tea, uncooked boba, brown sugar, and instructions. Help feed families by buying your own boba box and sending one to a loved one!

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