In my experience, bubble tea is often sweet (there is a range in how sweet) but it is not like drinking southern sweet tea. It is more like what a starbucks specialty drink is to black coffee - that is what bubble tea is to black tea. I don't really like it but a family member went through a phase a few years ago and was always showing up with bubble tea for all. The bubbles are giant tapioca pearls that are mostly just there for texture rather than taste in the drinks I had. I tried it a couple of times but I prefer plain green tea or green mint