TEA CULTURE
Samovar – Russian Tea Traditions
TEA CULTURE
Taiwanese Bubble Tea Culture
TEA CULTURE
Taiwanese Bubble Tea Culture
TEA CULTURE
Taiwanese Bubble Tea Culture
Sweet, bitter, milky or chewy, variations of bubble tea are plentiful as the drink has risen from local delicacy to international phenomenon throughout the years. A beloved Taiwan classic, bubble tea (also known as “black pearl tea” or “boba tea”) offers different variations to novice-drinkers to aficionados, though at its core it is a combination of tea, milk and ‘bubbles’ - anything made from tapioca to fruit jelly. It could be said that bubble tea represents change, taking what is traditional, spinning it on its head and making it modern. Competing stories fight to take credit for this iconically trendy drink, but its origins are rooted in traditional tea houses.
Sweet, bitter, milky or chewy, variations of bubble tea are plentiful as the drink has risen from local delicacy to international phenomenon throughout the years. A beloved Taiwan classic, bubble tea (also known as “black pearl tea” or “boba tea”) offers different variations from novice-drinkers to aficionados, though at its core it is a combination of tea, milk and ‘bubbles’ - anything made from tapioca to fruit jelly. It could be said that bubble tea represents change, taking what is traditional, spinning it on its head and making it modern. Competing stories fight to take credit for this iconically trendy drink, but its origins are rooted in traditional tea houses.
Bubble Tea Origins
Since the Dutch colonization of Taiwan in 1624-1662, milk and sugar have been staples in their tea culture. However, in the 1980s, two tea houses in the country paved their way into the realm of bubble tea. The Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan claims that their owner Tu Tsong-He was inspired by white tapioca balls that he spotted at the Ah-bó-liâu local market. He mixed these pearly balls into the tea to create what is known as “pearl tea”. Tsong-He then experimented by adding bigger, black tapioca balls to milk tea for a richer taste and chewy texture. The customers had to scoop out the tapioca balls with a spoon to enjoy them. Noticing this, Tsong-He worked with a plastic factory to produce customized straws that were wide enough to sip up the pearls, creating the "boba straw" that we so commonly see today (now avaliable in environmentally friendly stainless steel, gold, or even diamond encrusted for the discerning boba tea drinker!).
Bubble Tea Origins
Since the Dutch colonization of Taiwan in 1624-1662, milk and sugar have been staples in their tea culture. However, in the 1980s, two tea houses in the country paved their way into the realm of bubble tea. The Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan claims that their owner Tu Tsong-He was inspired by white tapioca balls that he spotted at the Ah-bó-liâu local market. He mixed these pearly balls into the tea to create what is known as “pearl tea”. Tsong-He then experimented by adding bigger, black tapioca balls to milk tea for a richer taste and chewy texture. The customers had to scoop out the tapioca balls with a spoon to enjoy them. Noticing this, Tsong-He worked with a plastic factory to produce customized straws that were wide enough to sip up the pearls, creating the "boba straw" that we so commonly see today (now avaliable in environmentally friendly stainless steel, gold, or even diamond encrusted for the discerning boba tea drinker!).
Another story comes from the Chun Shui Tang Tea Room in Taichung. The founder, Liu Han-Chieh, inspired by a trip to Japan, began serving their teas cold. This proved to be a success for their business as it propelled the opening of a chain of tea rooms. One day an employee poured tapioca balls into her tea and encouraged the staff to give it a try. The beverage was celebrated and it landed a place on their menu where it quickly became the company’s top selling product.
It is insignificant whether one story trumps the other. Not only did this unique drink gain local recognition, but has propelled a culture of boba drinking fans around the world. To mark the importance of this boba beverage, April 30th has been officially named as National Bubble Tea Day. There are many ways boba enthusiasts celebrate this day, whether it's by baking a bubble tea cake, hosting a bubble tea trivia night, or simply going out for bubble tea and having a friend choose your flavor for you.
Flavors For All
No matter what seduces your palate, anyone can choose from a wide array of bubble tea flavors to satisfy your cravings. From boba to pearl milk tea to tapioca tea, bubble tea goes by many names even if the drink is generally the same. Your base is typically green, black, or oolong tea. Then you choose between dairy or no dairy, sweeteners or no sweet kick, then you select your whimsical texture of either tapioca pearls or jelly. With a myriad of flavors at your fingertips, choosing the perfect pairing can be daunting. Get inspired by this list of most popular flavors worldwide:
Classic Bubble Milk Tea
tea, sugar, Creamer, black tapioca balls
Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Tea
tea, brown sugar, milk, black tapioca balls
Panda Bubble Milk Tea
tea, black tapioca balls, milk, white tapioca balls
Classic Bubble Milk Tea
tea, sugar, Creamer, black tapioca balls
Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Tea
tea, brown sugar, milk, black tapioca balls
Panda Bubble Milk Tea
tea, black tapioca balls, milk, white tapioca balls
Milk Foam Bubble Green Tea
green tea, sugar, milk foam, black tapioca balls
Flavored Bubble Latte / Coffee
flavored latte, black tapioca balls
Fruit Tea and Jellies
fruit tea, jellies
Milk Tea Pudding
milk tea, brown sugar, pudding, black tapioca balls
Bubble Tea Cocktails
cocktails, black tapioca balls
Bubble Tea Pizza
pizza, black tapioca balls
Milk Foam Bubble Green Tea
green tea, sugar, milk foam, black tapioca balls
Flavored Bubble Latte / Coffee
flavored latte, black tapioca balls
Fruit Tea and Jellies
fruit tea, jellies
Milk Tea Pudding
milk tea, brown sugar, pudding, black tapioca balls
Bubble Tea Cocktails
cocktails, black tapioca balls
Bubble Tea Pizza
pizza, black tapioca balls
Global Takeover
Bubble tea is growing into a multi-billion dollar industry - appearing on fast food chain menu's in Germany and at dedicated boba tea shops across North America.
Global Takeover
Bubble tea is growing into a multi-billion dollar industry - appearing on fast food chain menu's in Germany and at dedicated boba tea shops across North America.
Nowadays, bubble tea continues to evolve in taste and texture as it is impacted by social and health trends worldwide. With people searching for healthier consumption patterns, a new crop of shops have started to look for better alternatives to the classic drink, such as using natural brown sugar and fresh milk instead of plain sugar and creamer.
QUIRKY BUBBLE TEA FACTS:
- In 2020, April 30th was declared as National Bubble Tea Day in Taiwan.
- The image of bubble tea was proposed as an alternative cover design for Taiwan’s passport.
- A 10-year litigation kicked off in 2009 between Hanlin and Chun Shui Tang to fight about who created bubble tea. The court decided that anyone or any shop could make it.
The world-famous boba is a story of disparate parts coming together, a collision of cultural products and practices, from its humble beginnings in Taiwan to global domination. A drink now celebrated by many, it can be enjoyed in many flavors, textures, and colors.