National Bubble Tea Day Celebrants May Want to Pause Festivities Due to Shortage

The past year has led to supply chain issues for boba and other restaurant staples.

By Chloe Arrojado | Apr 30, 2021
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While various bubble tea companies are offering promotionals in honor of , some establishments are starting to worry about future supply.

Boba pearls, the chewy tapioca balls commonly used for bubble tea, have become one of the latest of many shortages blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic. Delays in exports from Asia have been cited as one of the main reasons, .

In states like California and Michigan, , the lack of boba is concerning for some storeowners. , the shortage could even stretch into the summer.

“Some boba shops are already out. Others will run out in the next few weeks. 99% of boba comes from overseas,” bubble tea company Boba Guys wrote in an Instagram post on April 8.

Boba isn’t the only item in short supply due to the pandemic. Perhaps due to , restaurants are struggling to meet chicken wing demand with supply. A February article from found that the average price for a pound of chicken wings was $2.65, whereas the price was $1.81 the year prior.

Restaurants are also suffering from ketchup-packet shortages, as The Wall Street Journal reported that packet prices since last January. To keep up with such heavy demand, ketchup supplier Heinz . But the packets have been so sought-after that some people have .

Beyond food items, some establishments are struggling to find material such as glass and plastic as pandemic habits have upended pre-COVID supply-and-demand levels. that plastic product prices have reached their highest levels in years in the U.S. as supplies tighten. In West Michigan, a even delayed the release of Burger King’s chicken sandwiches.

Related: Semiconductor Industry Set To Benefit From Global Chip Shortage

While various bubble tea companies are offering promotionals in honor of , some establishments are starting to worry about future supply.

Boba pearls, the chewy tapioca balls commonly used for bubble tea, have become one of the latest of many shortages blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic. Delays in exports from Asia have been cited as one of the main reasons, .

In states like California and Michigan, , the lack of boba is concerning for some storeowners. , the shortage could even stretch into the summer.

Chloe Arrojado • Editorial Assistant

Âé¶¹Éç Staff
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