What Is Bubble Tea Called?

Origin and Name

Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, pearl tea, and tapioca tea, originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. Its creation, credited to a tea house owner named Liu Han-Chieh, involved adding tapioca pearls to iced tea as an experiment. The term "boba" is derived from the Chinese word "bōbà," referring to the tapioca pearls that are an essential component due to their resemblance to bubbles.

Components of Bubble Tea

The basic bubble tea consists of brewed tea, milk or non-dairy milk, flavor and/or sweetener, and tapioca pearls. The chewy texture of the pearls and the combination of flavors have contributed to its popularity. Bubble tea is typically served with a big fat straw for enjoying the pearls with each sip.

Bubble Tea Variations

Bubble tea is a cold tea drink mixed with milk, fruit flavors, or syrup and tapioca pearls. It offers versatility with options for customized flavors, toppings such as grass jelly, aloe vera, and red bean. The drink is served cold in a transparent cup with a fat straw, allowing for simultaneous sipping of milk tea and chewing of tapioca pearls.

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