Bubble tea is a sweet, milky tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. The drink combines a tea base with milk, fruit, or syrups, and is defined by its chewy tapioca pearls, which are sucked up through a wide straw.
Bubble Tea In A Nutshell
Bubble tea has many names, including pearl milk tea, boba tea or boba milk tea. This beverage has been a favourite in Taiwan since the 1980s, and later spread to other East Asian countries like Hong Kong and China. It is made by combining a tea base with milk, and sometimes with fresh fruits or fruit juices.
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The signature ingredient is the bubbles, or tapioca pearls. Drinkers love the chewy texture and savoury taste. Bubble tea is usually served in transparent cups with a straw to showcase the bubbles. It can be served hot or cold, with or without milk. In some cases, it does not even contain tea.
Boba is a cassava starch ball. The starch, called tapioca, is extracted from the roots of the cassava plant and used to make translucent balls that have been used in desserts and ice creams for a long time. Someone thought of adding them into tea, and now we have one of the best creations in the food world.
Types Of Bubble Tea
Since bubble tea has different tea bases, flavourings and toppings, there are endless variations.
The traditional bubble tea consists of four major ingredients: freshly brewed tea, which can be black tea or any other kind, a sweetening agent, milk, and boba. Other drinks swap any of these four ingredients and add fresh fruits, shaved ice, flavoured syrups and much more.
Here are some of the common types of bubble tea you can find.
1.
Pearl Milk Tea
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The classic bubble tea has a black tea base. Mix frothy milk into the black tea and shake it with crushed ice and bubbles. This classic milk tea is the first-ever bubble tea discovered, and remains a crowd favourite. If you want to know what the classic taste is like, this is the one for you.
2.
Brown Sugar Milk Tea
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Brown sugar milk tea is the new favourite of bubble tea fans and currently the best seller in the Taiwanese market and other Asian countries. It is easily recognised by its brown swirls in between the fresh white milk. This drink is made by combining boba pearls cooked in brown sugar syrup and fresh milk.
3.
Flavoured Milk Tea
If you don’t like the classic option, you can opt for flavoured milk tea. Popular flavours include honeydew, passion fruit, strawberry, and even yogurt. Other variations use tea bases such as Oolong, Tieguanyin or Earl Grey. Try mixing the different choices and find one that suits your tastebuds.
4.
Taro Bubble Tea
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Taro is a root used in making taro milk tea. This is a milk tea blended with taro roots to make it thick and tasty. Don’t be put off by its bright purple colour. It has a smooth cream-like texture with a refreshing taste.
5.
Matcha Bubble Tea
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The green-coloured milk tea is probably one of the healthiest on this list. Matcha tea is gaining popularity around the world for its health benefits. Matcha tea is similar to green tea, but with a more creamy texture. To make this even healthier, you can order it in almond or coconut milk, without any sweetener.
6.
Iced Fruit Tea
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If you’re not a fan of milk-based drinks, there are plenty of fruit tea variations. This is a refreshing cold beverage, consisting of fresh fruits, fresh fruit juices or fruit syrups, and a tea base. Most bubble tea shops have their own house blends, so take your pick.
Customise Your Own Bubble Tea
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More than just savouring a cup of bubble tea, the best part is that you can customise your own drink.
There are various kinds of bubbles, or pearls, to choose from. Apart from the usual black pearls, new variations such as white pearls, mini pearls, flavoured pearls, and popping pearls have started making a scene in the market.
You can have your own personalised bubble tea by choosing your favourite type of bubbles to go with your milk tea.
Drinking Bubble Tea The Correct Way
When your beverage is served in a sealed cup, shake it to mix up all the bubbles before you stick your thick straw into the drink. Keep stirring your beverage every now and then, so that you can enjoy the bubbles in every mouthful.
No matter how you drink it, as long as you enjoy your bubble tea, that’s the most important thing.
Where Can I Find Them In Taiwan?
Everywhere!
Bubble tea shops are popping up at all corners on the streets of Taiwan. You'll see locals and tourists holding a cup each everywhere you go.
Some of the locals' favourite bubble tea shops are 50 Lan, TP Tea, Jenjudan, Tiger Sugar, and many more.
Bubble tea is gaining popularity all around the world. Given the diverse flavour offerings, there is something for everyone. Have a cup of bubble tea in your city, or on your next trip to Taiwan.
* This article was contributed by Akshay Sharma.
Related travel guides: Soju: All You Need to Know About Korea's National Drink and 10 Things To Do In Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
