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0 / 30 Fotos
The origin
- Bubble tea originated in Taiwan, where it has been around since the early 1980s.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
The origin
- 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.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
The origin
- From its native Taiwan, bubble tea spread to Japan, South Korea, and China, before arriving in the US in the mid-1990s.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Popularity
- But bubble tea is also hugely popular internationally, and there are hundreds of outlets in California alone.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
The name
- The way people refer to the drink varies a lot from country to country, and also from vendor to vendor.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
The name
- Alternative names for the beverage include: milk tea, pearl tea, tapioca tea, boba tea, boba nai cha, and momi milk tea.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
The name
- In Mandarin, the word boba actually has the rather provocative meaning "big breasts."
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
The name
- The name bubble tea does not actually refer to the bubble-like pearls that are often added to the refreshing drink.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
The name
- Instead, it refers to the bubbly foam that gathers on the surface of the tea when it is shaken.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
The name
- The drink needs to be shaken well to ensure the tea is properly mixed with the flavoring.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- Tea sellers began to place tapioca pearls in the bottom of the cup and pour the mixed tea over the top.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- Don't be surprised if you're asked if you would like pearls when ordering yourself a bubble tea.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- The boba, or tapioca pearls, are made from starch extracted from the cassava plant.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- If not handled properly during cooking, they can be toxic due to residual cyanide.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- Don’t panic though–simply ensuring that the pearls are cooked for long enough will ensure that they are safe.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- The boba in the original bubble tea were considerably smaller than the ones we associate with the drink today.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- In the original Taiwanese drink, brewers would use 1/12” pearls.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- The color of the tapioca pearls depends on their ingredients. The white and translucent pearls contain just cassava starch.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- The black pearls contain cassava starch, brown sugar, and sometimes food colorings.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- Certain food colorings are known to be harmful, such as caramel coloring, which is potentially carcinogenic.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Different versions
- The traditional tapioca pearls are smooth and soft on the outside, with a chewy consistency on the inside.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Different versions
- If overcooked, they can become mushy. If undercooked, they can be crispy.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Different versions
- There is also a popping version of the pearls, which are sort of like fruit juice capsules that burst in your mouth.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
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: How to stay alert and in a good mood without drinking coffee
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
The origin
- Bubble tea originated in Taiwan, where it has been around since the early 1980s.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
The origin
- 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.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
The origin
- From its native Taiwan, bubble tea spread to Japan, South Korea, and China, before arriving in the US in the mid-1990s.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Popularity
- But bubble tea is also hugely popular internationally, and there are hundreds of outlets in California alone.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
The name
- The way people refer to the drink varies a lot from country to country, and also from vendor to vendor.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
The name
- Alternative names for the beverage include: milk tea, pearl tea, tapioca tea, boba tea, boba nai cha, and momi milk tea.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
The name
- In Mandarin, the word boba actually has the rather provocative meaning "big breasts."
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
The name
- The name bubble tea does not actually refer to the bubble-like pearls that are often added to the refreshing drink.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
The name
- Instead, it refers to the bubbly foam that gathers on the surface of the tea when it is shaken.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
The name
- The drink needs to be shaken well to ensure the tea is properly mixed with the flavoring.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- Tea sellers began to place tapioca pearls in the bottom of the cup and pour the mixed tea over the top.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- Don't be surprised if you're asked if you would like pearls when ordering yourself a bubble tea.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- The boba, or tapioca pearls, are made from starch extracted from the cassava plant.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- If not handled properly during cooking, they can be toxic due to residual cyanide.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- Don’t panic though–simply ensuring that the pearls are cooked for long enough will ensure that they are safe.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- The boba in the original bubble tea were considerably smaller than the ones we associate with the drink today.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- In the original Taiwanese drink, brewers would use 1/12” pearls.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- The color of the tapioca pearls depends on their ingredients. The white and translucent pearls contain just cassava starch.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- The black pearls contain cassava starch, brown sugar, and sometimes food colorings.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
The pearls
- Certain food colorings are known to be harmful, such as caramel coloring, which is potentially carcinogenic.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Different versions
- The traditional tapioca pearls are smooth and soft on the outside, with a chewy consistency on the inside.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Different versions
- If overcooked, they can become mushy. If undercooked, they can be crispy.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Different versions
- There is also a popping version of the pearls, which are sort of like fruit juice capsules that burst in your mouth.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
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.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
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: How to stay alert and in a good mood without drinking coffee
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
10 things you didn't know about bubble tea
April 30 is Bubble Tea Day
© Shutterstock
Gone are the days of the coffee-tea dichotomy–bubble tea is now firmly a staple beverage! Hailing from Taiwan where it emerged in the early 1980s, this fantastically fun drink has surpassed its reputation as a global trend.
Combining tea, flavorings, and an array of toppings, there is a bubble tea for everyone. Check out this gallery to learn more about one of the world's favorite drinks!
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