This viral tea trend is taking over the world! Find out what’s it about!
Table of Contents
What Is Bubble Tea or What is boba Tea?
Bubble tea or Boba tea is a popular Taiwanese drink that has become viral all over the world. The base of the tea is either green tea or black tea and it can be served cold or hot. You can customize it in different ways with milk, fruit flavors, syrup or by adding sugar.
The key feature of this viral tea that gives the tea this name is that there are small round chewy bubbles at the bottom of the drink which can actually be sucked up and eaten through the wide straw. This gives the tea a unique texture and appearance and makes it a lot more fun to drink.
What’s The Difference Between Bubble Tea and Boba Tea?
There is no difference! “Bubble tea” and “boba tea” both mean the same drink! Bōbà is actually a Chinese word for the chewy tapioca balls inside the drink and bubble is the term that became popular when the drink went viral on the internet because the pearls look like round colorful bubbles because of their sphere shape and jelly texture. So, there is essentially no difference between them, they both mean the same delicious drink.
What are the Bubbles in Bubble Tea?
The round balls that look like bubble are actually chewy eatable tapioca pearls that are a part of the drink experience. These pearls are made from starch powder that comes from cassava root and are cooked until they reach a consistency where they are chewy. They are then flavored with ingredients like brown sugar or honey. When the pearls are added to the tea, they sink to the bottom of the cup.
Who Invented Bubble Tea And Where Is Boba Tea From?
This viral tea was invented in Taiwan in the 1980s and it is said that a small tea shop owner named Liu Han Chieh started adding different fruit flavors to traditional tea and then experimented with adding tapioca pearls to it to make it unique and refreshing.
How To Drink Boba Tea?
Drinking bubble tea is an amazingly enjoyable experience for all ages because when the tea is served, its usually in a clear cup and you can see all the beautiful colorful layers of fruit, tea, milk and the boba at the bottom. When you first come close to take a sip, the subtle tea scent mixed with the fruit is very enticing and when you take the first sip, you immediately taste a burst of flavor that comes from the creaminess of the tea mixed with the fruit.
The cup comes with wide straw so that when you drink it, you can catch some of the boba too. The tapioca balls are chewy in texture and help balance out the overall flavor and texture of the tea. You can add different flavors and toppings to your tea like fruit jelly, pudding, or popping boba!
What Does Bubble Tea Taste Like?
Bubble tea can taste different according to what type of flavor you are choosing and how you are customizing it but in general it tastes pretty sweet and refreshing. The base of the tea is from the brewed tea which can be black or green tea and that brings out earthy or floral notes in the tea. If you chose to add in milk for boba milk tea or a fruit flavor for fruit bubble tea , your tea will have an extra layer of creamy and slightly sweet taste from the milk or a slight sweet and tart taste from the fruit.
Often bubble tea is sweetened with sugar brown sugar and sometimes honey according to preference. The boba inside the tea will have subtle flavor and texture all their own that will create a party in your mouth.
Bubble Tea Flavors
There are different kinds of boba tea flavors, so many that maybe you might find it hard to choose. Here are some popular ones!
Classic Milk
This classic version of the tea offers the classic black tea with milk or sugar. This is the most popular form of the drink and is creamy and sweet in taste.
Green Tea
One of the other popular flavors in green tea which is offered on its own or with milk and sugar. This has a slightly floral scent.
Taro
This flavor is more unique and slightly purple in color because it’s made from taro root. It also has a sweet and nutty taste.
Matcha
The match version of this tea is made from finely ground matcha and it has a bold green color and a rich earthy flavor.
Thai Milk Tea
Thai tea boba is one of the new trending flavors of tea which is flavored with spices like star anise, cloves, cinnamon and cardamon and paired with condensed milk to create a sweet, creamy experience.
Fruity Fruits
Bubble tea can include a variety of fruit flavorings but tropical fruits like strawberry, mangoes, lychee and peach are very popular and refreshing.
Coffee Flavor
Coffee boba tea is a popular choice for people who love their caffeine and they tea is then actually called coffee bubble tea.
Honeydew
This flavor is perfect for summer day with a refreshing twist of honeydew melon paired with the cold tea and the chewy tapioca pearls.
Coconut
A tropical drink, the coconut flavored boba tea has a mildly sweet flavor with a good punch of coconut. It is often served with coconut cream.
Chocolate boba
This one is a delight for kids because it combines the sweet rich chocolate with milk making it like a cold chocolate drink which goes amazingly with round chewy balls.
Rose flavored
This is an acquired taste as it features more aroma than flavor and offers a delicate and fragrant rose experience.
Bubble Tea Ingredients and Recipe
If you want to learn how to make boba tea or need the bubble tea recipe or are just curious like me, the ingredients listed below are all you will need.
Boba tea calories: A standard cup of bubble tea with tapioca balls will typically have 200 to 400 calories or more depending on the ingredients which can be:
Tea
Tea is a standard ingredient present as the base of the tea, it is first brewed and then cooled before adding into the tea. Black or green tea is usually used.
Milk
Milk is an optional ingredient and can be included or not according to preference. The milk gives the drink a delicious creaminess. Dairy, condensed, almond, soy or coconut milk can be used.
Sweetener
Sweeteners like sugar, brown sugar, honey, flavored caramel or vanilla syrups are usually added to the drink because the sweetness compliments and balances out the tea flavor.
Tapioca Pearls
The main part of the drink is the tapioca pearls or boba which give the bubble appearance to the drink. They are made from tapioca starch powder which comes from cassava root. They are made in advance to add to the drink.
Flavorings
From matcha powder, taro powder to fruit syrups and fruit purees to coffee, the variety for flavoring the tea is endless.
Ice
Ice is an optional ingredient and can be added to make the tea super cold to enjoy on a hot summer day.
Toppings
In addition to tapioca balls, the tea can also be topped with other different optional toppings like jelly, pudding and popping boba.
How To Cook Boba For Bubble Tea?
If you want a boba tea recipe, you need the right ingredients and instructions but first you need to cook the boba. Cooking boba involves a lot of steps so that the boba comes out perfectly chewy, so this is just a basic guide. You will need two ingredients, mainly tapioca pearls and water.
Cooking Boba
6 cups of water is needed for every 1 cup of tapioca pearls. Bring the water to a boil and add in the tapioca pearls, stir to prevent them sticking to the bottom of the pot. After 15-20 minutes, the pearls will start to become translucent and will get bigger in size. At this point, you should check the texture. They should be chewy but not hard. If they are hard, cook them for a few more minutes. When they attain the perfect texture, drain them and rinse immediately with cold water. Now you can make your bubble tea!
Bubble Tea Recipe and Assembly
After cooking the tapioca pearls, you will need:
1/4 cup boba (cooked and chilled)
2 tablespoons sugar/sweetener (optional)
1/2 cup brewed black tea, chilled
1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
Wide straw
Leta Assemble
First add the boba to the bottom of the glass. Then slowly pour in the cold black tea until the glass is three-quarters full. Now pour the milk to fill the rest of the glass. Stir to combine. Serve cold. You will need to add a wide straw to your drink to make sure you can catch the boba too! Enjoy!
Frequently asked Questions
Does Boba Tea Have Caffeine?
Yes, this kind of tea can have caffeine, the amount depending on what tea is being used. Black tea which is used traditionally certainly contains a lot of caffeine but sometimes green tea is used and it contains less caffeine than black tea.
Is Boba Tea Healthy?
Whether or not bubble tea is healthy depends on how often you drink it and what ingredients are in it. Bubble tea especially with milk, sugar and caffeine and being mindful of the calories might not be a healthy option for everyday or regular consumption but it can be enjoyed as an occasional treat as a part of a balanced diet.
Where Can I Buy Bubble Tea?
Since this tea went viral, you can find it in a lot of places including bubble tea shops and small cafes, Asian restaurants and tea houses. Food courts are notorious for bubble tea stalls and sometimes you can find prepackaged bubble tea drinks in grocery stores too! You can also find supplies to make it at home online!