What is bubble tea?
Debuted in Taiwan in 1985, Bubble tea refers to the genre of frothy and refreshing concoctions, usually of tea [Red tea (also confusingly called, black tea), Jasmine green tea] and a myriad combination of other flavors, served with or without milk or cream, with or without tapioca pearls. (Made from tapioca starch, brown sugar, and caramel) Because tapioca pearls seem to be the common denominator among all these various beverages, the term “bubble” in “bubble tea” has now come to refer to the tapioca pearls.
Bubble tea is a mixture of iced or hot sweetened tea, milk, and often other flavorings. The distinctive characteristic of bubble tea is the black gummy balls made of tapioca, called “pearls” or “boba,” that sit at the bottom of the cup, and are consumed through a very thick straw. Bubble tea is extremely popular in Asia, California, and Canada.
