What is Bubble Tea?
Bubble tea, also known as pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, tapioca milk tea, boba tea, or boba is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s. It was brought to the United States in the 1900s and became a popular success!
This delicious fruit or tea infusion can be served either piping hot or iced cold, making a delicious and ever-so-quirky drink and snack. Bubble tea is served in transparent cups with a fat straw so that – as you sip – the tapioca balls (also known as “pearls” or “boba”) come shooting up it and can be chewed as you swallow down the delicious liquid. It’s called bubble tea both because of the tapioca balls, and the floating “bubbles” created by the vigorous shaking involved in its blending.
How Bubble Tea is Made?
Bubble tea is made by blending a tea base with milk, fruit, and fruit juices, then adding the signature “bubbles” – yummy tapioca pearls that sit at the bottom. The ingredients used to make a cup of this delicious drink can vary wildly, from using a wide assortment of teas, to the type of milk used, to the fruit juices and of course, the pearls.
There are some recommendations as to how you make it. Because the drink is watered down by adding milk, it is best to use a strong flavored tea, such as Jasmine or black tea. This ensures that the flavor remains and isn’t washed out by the other ingredients.
While regular cow’s milk is the way to go, some people may choose to go with a non-dairy option, like almond or soy milk.
There are also various types of tapioca pearls that could be used. Not only is there a difference in size, but the pearls can be made with additional different flavors. There’s also the matter of having freshly made pearls or store-bought. Fresh-made tapioca pearls are obviously the best, but the time taken to make them could be lengthy. If you are short on time there are premade made tapioca pearls that can be bought.
