Does the phrase ‘Boba tea’ or ‘Bubble tea’ ring any bells? You must have heard of these dessert-like drinks a few times, but have you tried them yet? Well, if you have not, then you must know about this drink before sipping it. Here, you will learn a lot about Boba it.
What is Boba Tea?
You must be interested to know what is Bubble tea. It is a unique Taiwanese recipe that blends tea with fruit juices, fruits, milk, and tapioca pearls. This mixture is shaken vigorously, which creates a layer of bubbles at the top. This is why another name for Boba tea is Bubble tea. You can serve this delicious drink either ice cold or piping hot. It is served in transparent cups with a wide straw and plastic cellophane lid. While sipping through the straw, you can enjoy the delightful bubbles at the top. Besides the delicious taste, Boba tea has some aesthetic significance.
What is Boba?
The Boba is nothing but the bubbles found in the Boba drinks. These bubbles in Boba tea are edible balls made from tapioca. Tapioca is a starch extracted from cassava root. Normal tapioca pearls are black because they are made with brown sugar. For this reason, the pears in the tea have a sweet flavour and chewy texture.
With the increasing popularity of Boba tea, new creativity, and flavours have been introduced. At present, there are so many topping options available for you to consider with Boba tea. From jellies and jams to flavoured popping pearls, there are endless topping options with Boba tea for you to consider per your unique preference.
Who Invented Boba Tea?
The exact origin of Boba tea is still being determined. What is known is that it was first crafted in the 1980s in Taiwan. Ever since its inception, it has become a game changer in the industry. During the 1980s, tapioca pearls and shaved ice were hugely popular treats. So, it’s not surprising that someone had the idea of adding these delights to milk tea. This is how it was born.
Boba tea was an instant hit and a success across many generations. On the one hand, children wanted it for their after-school treat, and on the other hand, the workers picked Boba tea as their favourite drink for refreshment. It made the vendors put extra effort into adding newer recipes and flavours to make their drinks unique and delicious. Some people even crafted their flavours and recipes to make Boba tea unique.
The Global Success
After its inception in Taiwan, Boba Tea was open to more than just this geographical location. It reached far outside this country. It started quenching the thirst of people on a global scale. It has spread to the UK and USA from Southeast to East Asia. Since the 1990s, it has also become a hit drink in the USA. It is still a popular drink in the USA to this day. Whether you prefer to have it cold or hot, with fruits or with anything else, Boba is there for you to grab.
The Reasons for the Popularity of Boba Tea
There are various reasons why Boba has become a popular drink around the world. I have described a few of such reasons for your information.
Unique Drinking Experience and Taste
It is your must-have drink if you wish to have a unique drinking experience. You only need to puncture a straw through a plastic cup of Boba tea. Depending on your topping and flavour, you can now drink it through a straw and taste the bursting pearls. It is indeed quite different than slurping a smoothie.
Different Toppings and Flavours
It has different toppings and flavours available, which is another reason for its extreme popularity. It is served with either a fruit or milk base. A few bubble tea flavours are unique.
On the other hand, some flavours include pudding, red bean, jelly, popping boba, honeydew, taro, or matcha. So you have many options regarding toppings and flavours while drinking it. Other options include kiwi, coconut, avocado, banana, pineapple, etc.
Aesthetic Value
Another reason for it’s extreme popularity is its aesthetic value. People take pictures of it and share them on social media for its aesthetic value. This appeal and uniqueness of It has contributed to its rising popularity around the world.
For purchasing boba tea, visit here.
How is it Made?
The root of the Cassava plant is cut into small pieces and boiled for around 30 minutes. This makes the root soft, from which juice is extracted. This juice is then used to make tapioca balls. These balls are then dried and packaged. Different kinds of tools are used to make different-shaped tapioca balls.
For example, cube cutters are used to craft cube-shaped tapioca balls, and flower cutters are used to make flower-shaped tapioca balls. These balls are then stored in the refrigerator for 48 hours and used in the Boba drink.
Is Boba Vegan?
Yes, mostly. The Boba in milk is basically starch. There is no gelatin in it. Hence, if you decide to make Boba tea at home, you can easily make it following a vegan diet.
On the other hand, the popping pearls are made with a calcium compound and seaweed extract. Therefore, they do not contain gelatin. Their fruit flavour is obtained from a syrup or puree, which is also vegan.
Only the milk in Boba tea is not vegan. However, there are some vegan alternatives, such as nut milk, almond milk, and oat milk.
You just need to ask different shops whether they offer vegan Boba tea. These days, many shops provide vegan-friendly Boba tea to their customers. All you need to do is find the right shop.
Is Boba Tea Unhealthy?
It depends on the ingredients, toppings, and flavours you choose. Contrary to popular belief, it is unhealthy due to sugar, fat, and calories. On average, it contains more sugar than soda.
As tea is a healthy drink, people think that Boba is also nutritious. Besides sugar, Boba tea contains several syrups and other artificial sweeteners. Tapioca pearls are starch, so they are high in calories. Therefore, this delicious drink could be healthier. You must consider this aspect before deciding to sip.
Where to Buy Bubble Tea?
You can look it up on the internet. You will get several results when you search “Boba shop near me.” These days, many Asian grocery shops and restaurants sell Boba tea. In the USA, more than half of Boba shops are in California.
Conclusion
Boba tea is a very delicious and popular drink around the world. Apart from its taste, its aesthetic aspect is another reason for its vast popularity. Since its inception in Taiwan in the 1980s, this drink has become popular worldwide. If you are also interested in this drink, consider several factors first. For example, if you are health-conscious, you should know that Bobba tea is full of sugar, artificial sweeteners, and other additives. Drinking this tea might give you a temporary kick, but this will never be good for your health. So it all depends on your personal preference whether you would opt for this drink or not.
