Bubble tea, also known as boba, is becoming more difficult to find as another COVID-19-related shortage catches up.
Marketwatch reports both the boba balls from Taiwan and the tapioca starch used to produce them are experiencing large shipping backlogs on both the east and west coasts of the U.S.
The delays are affecting products apart from boba, such as microprocessors and just about anything else shipped from Asia to the U.S., but boba is heavily affected because it relies heavily on ingredients from Asia.
The shipping delays can be attributed to a combination of bad weather, pandemic-related logistical problems and increased general demand as consumer spending recovers.
Boba Guys, a boba tea company with a flagship store in San Francisco, said in an Instagram post it could take months for the boba tea supply to recover and shops are already running out.
"This is an industrywide shortage," the company wrote. "Some boba shops are already out. Others will run out in the next few weeks. Ninety-nine percent of boba comes from overseas."
Over the past year, the COVID pandemic has had an effect on all aspects of life - not to mention the U.S. economy and supply chain. Virus fears fueled an increase in demand for products such as face masks, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and disinfecting wipes in the first few months of 2020.
Later, as the weather warmed up and gyms stayed closed, people went outdoors to exercise or keep their children occupied - resulting in a shortage of bicycles, kayaks and camping equipment.
And 2021 is seeing new shortages on unpredicted items like gardening seeds and Heinz ketchup packets.
Kraft Heinz has since confirmed it is working to boost supplies, such as by adding manufacturing lines that will increase production by around 25% for more than 12 billion packets each year.
As for boba, bubble tea shop owners are urging patience and understanding.
"Don't get mad at boba shops for running out of boba," Boba Guys said.
