Crystal Boba Market is predicted to reach USD 94.50 million at a CAGR of 6.47% during the forecast period

Pune, India, March 2023, MRFR Press Release/Market Research Future has published a Cooked Research Report on the Global Proppants Market.

Global Crystal Boba Market

Crystal boba is a specialty boba made from the konjac plant, a plant native to Southeast Asia, and has a lesser chewy texture compared to conventional boba. The crystal boba texture resembles a jelly or firm gelatin product. The main difference between crystal boba and tapioca boba is the calorie, the former has lesser calories making them a better alternative to conventional boba balls. Also, the crystal boba does not influence the other ingredients of the product to which they are added which helps in the incorporation of it into any desired beverages, thus making the customization of the product easier. The growing preference for healthy beverages and the rising consumption of tea across the globe is expected to drive the growth of the global crystal boba market during the forecast period.

Market Synopsis

According to the MRFR analysis, the global crystal boba market is projected to reach USD 94.50 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.47%.

Crystal Boba also widely known as white boba or agar boba, is a type of boba unlike traditional boba whose base raw material is tapioca. The crystal boba is made from the konjac plant and is less gelatinous than the other forms. Colors or flavors can be achieved in the crystal boba by soaking it in the desired solution for 10 minutes and are also available readily offered by different brands in various flavors including citrus flavor, nutty vanilla, brown sugar, mango, lychee, matcha, strawberry, etc. Crystal boba is used majorly in milk teas, bubble teas, and other varieties of tea apart from the use of it as a topping in smoothies, flavored drinks, coffees, frozen yogurt, and iced beverages.

One prominent factor driving the growth of the crystal boba market is the rising popularity of bubble tea across the globe owing to the increasing content on social media and the availability of other country’s music videos, web series, and films which serve as a window for exploring new food items. Moreover, the increasing prominence of social media influencers is expected to create opportunities for the players in the crystal boba market during the forecast period. However, the wide availability of conventional drinks might hamper the growth of the crystal boba market.

COVID-19 Impact on Crystal Boba Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted numerous industries throughout the world. Since the COVID virus has spread, people are more aware of the value of consuming healthy food and beverages, positively impacting the demand for crystal boba. However, most of the tier-2 companies are sourcing finished crystal boba products from Chinese production centers. During the initial days of the pandemic, as cross-border movements were restricted to contain the spread of the virus, affected the shipping of finished products from the procuring areas. In addition, the shortage of laborers, declining availability of raw materials, and social distance measures have impacted the production of the crystal boba market significantly.

Competitive Landscape

The global crystal boba market is fragmented and consists of a few organized and unorganized industry players. When comparing prices and quality, as well as product availability across regions, different suppliers will use different metrics. As the consumer’s food preferences and habits are constantly evolving, the businesses in the sector need to concentrate on increasing product portfolio and collaborations with social media influencers & agencies to market the product and boost brand awareness among consumers. In addition, the manufacturers are focusing on an expansion strategy, product launches, expansion of production capacities, and retail stores to capitalize on the increasing demand for the product. These strategies help in gaining a competitive advantage over other players in the market. Key players include Fokus Inc., Leadway International, Inc., Bubble Boba Co., Fanale Drinks, Brexonic, and Leamaxx International Co., Ltd.

Segmentation

By Flavor

• Citrus Flavor: Citrus Flavor is the most used flavor of crystal boba. The citrus flavor is developed using citrus fruit essence or syrup including grapes, lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc. The bubbles of crystal boba give a burst of citrus fruit taste. The citrus flavors help in manufacturing various colored crystal boba products.


• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar crystal boba has the characteristic flavor and taste of sugar. The flavor also acts as a sweetening agent when added to the drink. Also, brown sugar offers several health benefits compared to traditional sugar as they have several vitamins and minerals. The increasing preference for healthy beverages is expected to drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period.


• Nutty Vanilla: Nutty vanilla is a sweet flavor in the crystal boba, and the flavor is achieved using vanilla syrup. It has a soft crunchy texture and generally has a light purple or lavender color. It is commonly used in tea and iced beverages.


• Others: The others segment includes flavors like mango, strawberry, lychee, and matcha flavors. Mango, strawberry, and lychee flavor are achieved using the respective fruit syrups infusion in the crystal boba. Matcha crystal boba is also called green tea pearls which are used in ice cream, frozen yogurt, and bubble tea.

By Application

• Tea: Crystal boba is used in milk tea, bubble tea, and iced teas. Crystal boba as an ingredient can be used directly in the preparation of tea without the requirement of any further cooking. Tea as a refreshing drink is popular in various cultures in the world and has been gaining prominence due to its health benefits. Owing to the ability of the boba to pair well with different types of teas along with the increasing popularity of bubble tea across the globe is expected to boost the growth of the segment during the forecast period.  


• Smoothies: Nowadays, smoothies are becoming widely consumed as part of a healthy diet routine as part of the wellness trend. Crystal boba is also used as a topping in smoothies to enhance the taste and appeal of the drink.  


• Others: The others segment includes the use of crystal boba as an ingredient or topping in coffee, ice cream, frozen yogurts, and other iced beverages. The translucent characteristic of the boba and its ability to pair well with other ingredients helps in its use in these items.

By Distribution Channel

• Supermarkets & Hypermarkets: Hypermarkets & Supermarkets play a significant role in the sales and distribution of crystal boba as they have a wide range of grocery items, toppings, and ingredient products of various brands. Hence, when distributed through supermarkets & hypermarkets, the product awareness of crystal boba among the masses will increase and help in impulsive buying. This segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021 in the global crystal boba market. 


• Convenience Stores: Convenience stores are those small-size retail shops with day-to-day groceries. As these stores generally store small SKU products, it helps first-time buyers to try them in their drink and beverage preparations. 


• Specialty Stores: Specialty stores are retail stores that cater exclusively to food ingredients and tea shops. As most tea stores that sell bubble tea also sell tea powders, tapioca boba, crystal boba, etc. These stores have trained professionals and experts involved in the preparation of bubble tea who help in selecting the best flavor and brand by the customers.  


• Online: The online-based retail formats include e-commerce websites and the company's online platforms where the customers can buy the products through a single click.


• The growing awareness among consumers regarding the benefits associated with online channel purchasing coupled with the hectic schedule of the working population is expected to increase the overall sales of crystal boba products owing to its convenience. Moreover, online shopping provides various discounts, offers a wide range of product assortment, the ability to compare different products and brands, and saves time. Also, most of the small and niche players are majorly dependent on e-commerce shopping websites for their distribution across various regions of the world. This segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.


• Others: The others segment covers discount stores and grocery stores. Discount stores are expected to be preferred by customers as price inflation and recession have affected consumers' buying behaviour across the globe.

By Region

• North America: The North American crystal boba market growth is mainly attributed to countries like the US and Canada. The increasing content of crystal boba on social media and other digital media content along with the increasing Asian American population in the country is expected to drive the growth of the region. Also, the consumer’s habit of exploring different culture’s cuisine and healthy beverages is anticipated to create opportunities for the player in the market. The region is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.


• Europe: Europe comprises countries, namely Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and the Rest of the European countries. The growth in this region is mainly attributed to the growing consumption of tea. Also, the increasing tourism in the region from other countries is expected to create opportunities for crystal boba manufacturers in the region.


• Asia-Pacific: In Asia-Pacific, the increasing urbanization along with the growth of e-commerce sales in various countries of the region, is expected to drive the market's growth. Also, the relatively cheap production resources available in countries like China with the presence of contract manufacturers, create opportunities for the key players in the market. In addition, influencer marketing on social media platforms is expected to create more opportunities for crystal boba manufacturers in the upcoming years.


• Rest of the World: The Rest of the World includes regions like South America, the Middle East, and Africa. The increasing popularity of bubble tea in these countries is driving the growth of the region. The Key companies are expected to expand their presence through varied product offerings in these regions. Additionally, expanding further in these regions requires proper marketing of their goods on e-commerce websites by the market players.