Where i grew up the closest I'd come to an Asian community was the family run Chinese take away in my home town. Consequently I've completely missed bubble tea, and now I'm of the age where I couldn't really stomach that much sugar in one sitting.
We always ask for zero sugar zero ice, unless it's a very hot day. We'll often get lychee jelly or something as well as the pearls so it's sweet anyway.
You can also order it heated from some places instead of having ice, I had it in winter in China, it was nice but the bubbles get very gummy if you take too long.
They come in all kinds of fruity and milky tea flavours, not all of them are sweet. You can ask for half or 0% sugar on the ones that are. The tapioca “bubbles” are optional, too.
