Every year, crores of visitors travel to Tamil Nadu’s temple towns, beaches and hill stations – families, college groups, pilgrims and young travellers. They walk busy streets for hours, take photos and look for something special to eat and drink. If you live in one of these towns and are looking for a new business, a bubble tea shop can be a smart choice: a premium, photo-friendly drink with very few authentic shops outside the big cities. This guide covers why bubble tea suits tourist towns, the best tourist places in Tamil Nadu for a bubble tea business, and how to start with Hooba Boba.
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Flagship opposite VIT 3rd Gate, Katpadi · Already in Yelagiri hill station and at Fundera Bird’s Park, Vellore
Why bubble tea works in tourist towns
- Crowds all year. Pilgrims, school and college trips, family holidays and weekend visitors keep tourist towns busy across seasons and festivals.
- Visitors want a treat. On a trip, people happily spend on something special – a premium drink they cannot get back home.
- Hot, long days. In temple and beach towns, a chilled bubble tea or fruit tea after hours of walking is exactly what visitors want.
- Made for photos. Colourful drinks with chewy and popping pearls get photographed and shared – free promotion for your shop.
- Something new in town. Most tourist towns have tea, coffee and juice shops, but very few authentic bubble tea shops.
- Proven by us. Hooba Boba already serves visitors in Yelagiri hill station and at Fundera Bird’s Park, Vellore.
Best tourist places in Tamil Nadu for a bubble tea shop
Temple towns
Thanjavur
Home of the Brihadeeswarar Temple (the Big Temple), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws visitors from across India and abroad all year.
- Steady tourist and pilgrim crowds near the temple and main bazaar streets.
- Students from the town’s colleges as a regular local crowd.
- A chilled fruit tea or milk tea is a welcome break after visiting the temple.
Madurai
Tamil Nadu’s great temple city, built around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, with huge crowds of pilgrims, tourists and local shoppers every day.
- Busy streets around the temple and shopping areas.
- A large city population plus colleges – crowds beyond tourists.
- One of the few towns with real online searches for bubble tea.
Rameswaram
A major pilgrimage town on Pamban Island, famous for the Ramanathaswamy Temple and trips to Dhanushkodi.
- Pilgrim families and tour groups throughout the year.
- Hot coastal weather – perfect for chilled drinks.
- Few modern drink options, so a bubble tea shop stands out.
Tiruvannamalai
Known for the Arunachaleswarar Temple, the monthly Girivalam on full-moon nights and the Karthigai Deepam festival.
- Very large crowds on Girivalam days and festivals.
- A growing number of domestic and international visitors.
- Night-time crowds on Girivalam – a busy time for drinks.
Palani, Tiruchendur and Kumbakonam
Palani and Tiruchendur are famous Murugan temple towns with big festival crowds; Kumbakonam is a temple town surrounded by many famous temples.
- Festival seasons bring very large pilgrim crowds.
- Families travelling together – kids love sweet bubble teas.
Pilgrimage and beach towns
Velankanni
Home of the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, one of India’s most visited pilgrimage centres, with very large crowds during the annual feast in late August and early September.
- Pilgrims and families throughout the year, and huge crowds during the feast.
- A beach-side town with hot weather – chilled drinks sell well.
- Simple, family-friendly flavours like Mango, Classic Milk Tea and Oreo Chocolate suit the crowd.
Kanyakumari
The southern tip of India, famous for its sunrise and sunset views and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
- Tourists from all over India, all year.
- Long evenings at the beach and promenade – a great time for drinks.
- Fruit teas and fizzy boba sodas are ideal for a hot seaside day.
Mahabalipuram
A UNESCO World Heritage town on the East Coast Road (ECR), known for the Shore Temple and stone monuments, and just a short drive from Chennai.
- Weekend crowds from Chennai, plus foreign tourists.
- Beach cafés and resorts along ECR.
- A young, café-loving weekend crowd that already knows bubble tea.
Hill stations
Ooty
The “Queen of Hill Stations” in the Nilgiris, packed with tourists in the summer season and on long weekends.
- Peak crowds in summer, including the flower show season.
- Families and honeymooners looking for treats around the lake and town centre.
- Cappuccino bubble coffees and milk teas suit the cool weather.
Kodaikanal
The “Princess of Hill Stations”, famous for Kodai Lake and its walking and cycling paths.
- Steady summer and weekend crowds around the lake.
- Young travellers and college groups.
- Creamy milk teas and bubble coffees are perfect for cool evenings.
Yercaud
A hill station near Salem, popular for weekend trips and its summer festival.
- Weekend crowds from Salem, Bengaluru and Chennai.
- Families and college groups.
Yelagiri
A hill station near Vellore – and a place where Hooba Boba already serves visitors.
- Weekend and holiday crowds from Vellore, Chennai and Bengaluru.
- Adventure and camping groups, families and college trips.
- Proof that bubble tea works for hill-station visitors.
Tips for choosing your location in a tourist town
- Pick a spot on the main walking street, near the temple entrance, beach promenade, lake or bus stand.
- Look for steady footfall all year, not only during festivals.
- Plan extra stock and staff for festival and holiday seasons.
- Check local rules for shops near temples, beaches and protected monuments, and get your FSSAI registration.
- Make sure you have water, drainage and power for your counter.
A note from the people behind Hooba Boba
We never compromise on quality. We run our own quality checks on every order and use our own formulations, so every cup tastes the same in Vellore, Yelagiri or your town. We want to work with serious business people who care about quality, taste and customer satisfaction first – when the quality is right, the business follows.
Sathiya Panneer Selvam, Founder & CEO · Raju Inkarsal, Head of Operations – Hooba Boba
Two ways to start
Option 1: Your own bubble tea shop
- Your own shop name.
- One-day hands-on training on our recipes.
- Startup support and menu guidance for your town’s visitors.
- Equipment and imported ingredients supplied separately by us.
Option 2: Hooba Boba brand partner shop
- Open under the Hooba Boba brand.
- For selected premium locations.
- Recipes, imported ingredients, staff training, menu support and quality checks.
- Everything agreed in writing first.
What you need to start
- A 10 × 10 feet preparation area.
- An ice cube machine and a freezer.
- A wash basin with water and drainage.
- A storage cupboard.
- Power for your machines – we guide you on the rest of the equipment.
The secret to success: open every day, on time – visitors arrive every day, not only on weekends.
Drinks visitors will love
- Real-fruit teas: Mango, Kiwi, Guava and Jamun.
- Fizzy boba sodas: Passion Fruit Blast, Kiwi Magic Blast and Masala Bubble Blast.
- Signature milk teas: Taro, Thai, Kyoto Matcha, Classic, Vanilla, Mango, Honeydew and Cardamom Almond.
- Cappuccino bubble coffees: Cold, Espresso, Irish, Mocha, Caramel, Hazelnut and Vanilla Cappuccino Bubble Coffee.
- Dessert drinks and shakes: Oreo Chocolate, Oreo Chocolate & Cheese, Red Velvet, Cold Chocolate, Irish Cheese and Banana Bubble.
Launching soon: sugar-free bubble teas sweetened with monk fruit and allulose. See our best bubble tea flavours guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is bubble tea a good business in Tamil Nadu’s tourist towns?
Tourist towns have large crowds of families, young travellers and pilgrims throughout the year, and very few authentic bubble tea shops. A chilled, colourful, premium drink is exactly what many visitors look for.
Which tourist towns in Tamil Nadu are best for a bubble tea shop?
Towns with steady crowds all year work well – such as Thanjavur, Velankanni, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Mahabalipuram, Madurai, Tiruvannamalai and hill stations like Ooty, Kodaikanal, Yercaud and Yelagiri.
Does Hooba Boba already run in a tourist town?
Yes. Hooba Boba is already present in Yelagiri hill station and at Fundera Bird’s Park in Vellore, alongside our flagship opposite VIT 3rd Gate, Katpadi.
Is this a franchise?
No. There is no franchise fee. You can open your own bubble tea shop with our training and startup support, or – for selected premium locations – a Hooba Boba brand partner shop.
How much space do I need?
A 10 × 10 feet preparation area is enough, with an ice cube machine, freezer, wash basin and storage cupboard. Our hands-on training takes just one day.
Do I need permission to open near a temple or tourist spot?
Yes. You need your own FSSAI registration, and you should check local rules for shops near temples, beaches and protected monuments before you open.
How much does it cost to start?
It depends on your town, location, shop size and equipment. Call or WhatsApp us with your plan and we will guide you.
Start your bubble tea shop in your town
Book a FREE tasting and tell us about your town.
Raju Inkarsal – Partnerships & Business Opportunities
Call / WhatsApp: +91 90929 39697
Email: rajuinkarsal@hoobaboba.com
Send an enquiry → · Download the partner brochure (PDF) →
Also read: bubble tea business in Chennai · bubble tea business in Coimbatore · bubble tea for resorts & theme parks · Madurai · Salem · Trichy