Bubbles in my cup: guess what? It’s tea!

NT Features

Bubble tea (also known as pearl milk tea or boba tea), is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan and quickly made its way around south-east Asia. It travelled globally by eastern immigrants.

It most commonly consists of tea accompanied by chewy tapioca balls (“boba” or “pearls”), but it can be made with other toppings as well. It is known as “bubble tea” because of the thick layer of foam that forms on top of the drink after it is shaken.

What makes it unique is the sweet taste of the tea paired with the chewy tapioca balls of boba. Iced coffee or juice have the same constant texture, but with boba, the pearls offer a sort of “break” from the monotonous consistency.

Bubble teas fall under two categories: teas wit or without milk. Both varieties come with a choice of black, green, or oolong tea as the base. It can be made from a variety of dairy or non-dairy milk.

Bubble tea has many varieties and flavours, but the two most popular varieties are – black milk tea and green milk tea, also known as matcha.

Boba, which doubles as both a beverage and a snack rolled in one, can be customised perfectly to your tastes. Almost all bubble tea shops give you the option to adjust the sweetness of your drink, change how much ice you want, and even have it hot or cold.

The warmer and fresher the pearl, the squishier it is. The longer it sits cold, the faster the pearl’s core hardens. Warm bubble teas are complemented by warm bobas. But cold bubble teas are also delicious when paired with warm bobas.
Toppings are perhaps the most important part of the bubble tea experience, you can choose from fruit puddings, grass jelly or whipped cream. If you’re feeling adventurous try red bean, aloe vera or even cheese!