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The origin -

Bubble tea originated in Taiwan, where it has been around since the early 1980s. It came about when street vendors began to realize that they should take advantage of the demand for a refreshing drink at the end of a long day at school or work.

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The origin -

From its native Taiwan, bubble tea spread to Japan, South Korea, and China, before arriving in the US in the mid-1990s.

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Popularity -

In Taiwan, the native country of bubble tea, it is impossible to walk any great distance without finding a shop that serves the nation’s favorite drink.

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Popularity -

But bubble tea is also hugely popular internationally, and there are hundreds of outlets in California alone.

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Popularity -

The global bubble tea market is expected to grow significantly over the next few years and is predicted to reach US$3.49 billion by the end of 2026.

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The name -

The way people refer to the drink varies a lot from country to country, and also from vendor to vendor.

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The name -

Alternative names for the beverage include: milk tea, pearl tea, tapioca tea, boba tea, boba nai cha, and momi milk tea.

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The name -

In Mandarin, the word boba actually has the rather provocative meaning "big breasts."

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The name -

The name bubble tea does not actually refer to the bubble-like pearls that are often added to the refreshing drink.

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The name -

Instead, it refers to the bubbly foam that gathers on the surface of the tea when it is shaken.

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The name -

The drink needs to be shaken well to ensure the tea is properly mixed with the flavoring.

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The pearls -

In fact, bubble tea in its original form does not include pearls at all; these were a late addition that proved very popular.

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The pearls -

Tea sellers began to place tapioca pearls in the bottom of the cup and pour the mixed tea over the top.

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The pearls -

Don't be surprised if you're asked if you would like pearls when ordering yourself a bubble tea.

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The pearls -

The boba, or tapioca pearls, are made from starch extracted from the cassava plant.

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The pearls -

If not handled properly during cooking, they can be toxic due to residual cyanide.

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The pearls -

Don’t panic though–simply ensuring that the pearls are cooked for long enough will ensure that they are safe.

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The pearls -

The boba in the original bubble tea were considerably smaller than the ones we associate with the drink today.

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The pearls -

In the original Taiwanese drink, brewers would use 1/12” pearls.

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The pearls -

It was only when one shop owner chose to use ¼” pearls as his unique selling point that the larger pearls were introduced.

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The pearls -

The color of the tapioca pearls depends on their ingredients. The white and translucent pearls contain just cassava starch.

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The pearls -

The black pearls contain cassava starch, brown sugar, and sometimes food colorings.

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The pearls -

Certain food colorings are known to be harmful, such as caramel coloring, which is potentially carcinogenic.

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Different versions -

The traditional tapioca pearls are smooth and soft on the outside, with a chewy consistency on the inside.

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Different versions -

If overcooked, they can become mushy. If undercooked, they can be crispy.

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Different versions -

There is also a popping version of the pearls, which are sort of like fruit juice capsules that burst in your mouth.

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Nutritional value -

The traditional perception of bubble tea is that it is quite unhealthy, largely due to the high amount of added sugar. What's more, there are claims that a single bubble tea drink can easily contain up to 300 calories.

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Nutritional value -

However, it is possible to opt for a healthier version by asking for less added sugar, fresh milk, and plain tea without the tapioca pearls.

See also: The top tea-producing countries in the world

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