Have you had boba tea yet? Maybe you call it bubble tea, pearl milk tea or boba milk tea. Either way it is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in tea shops in Taichung, Taiwan, during the 1980s. They sometimes call it “bubble” as that is an Anglicized imitative form derived from the Chinese boba meaning “large breasts,” which is slang for the large, chewy tapioca balls that are commonly added to the drink. Most boba tea recipes contain a tea base mixed with fruit or milk. There are the ice-blended versions which are usually mixed with fruit or syrup resulting in a slushy consistency. My favorite is coffee milk boba tea which is iced coffee with a lot of milk and the boba pearls.
Back before I accidentally deleted my personal blog I had a recipe I had written out with step by step instructions on how to make boba tea. As there are so many different version, like soup or salad, I will leave you to find a recipe that suits you.
Today, one can find shops entirely devoted to boba tea, similar to juice bars or coffee shops of the early 90s. Some of these cafés such as Tea Station use plastic dome-shaped lids, while other boba tea bars such as Anime Ramen serve it using a machine to seal the top of the cup with plastic cellophane. This method allows the tea to be shaken in the serving cup and makes it spill-free until you are ready to drink it. The cellophane is then pierced with an oversized straw large enough to allow the pearls to pass through.
Let’s back up a bit, yes, it is true. You suck the boba tea pearls right up through the straw and chew on them. They have the consistency of a Gummy Bear.
The basic idea is you get these tapioca pearls from the store and there are many different styles. When I make boba tea I will take the pearls and soak them for 24 hours in a honey, water, and sugar mixture before I add them to the drink.
Here is a before and after shot:
Like I said there are so many styles and ways to prepare boba tea it is impractical to say what is right or wrong. The best thing to do is find an establishment that sells it near you and try a few different styles. It is a super fun drink and always makes me smile.
Have you ever had boba tea? What style did you have and what were your thoughts on it? Where did you first learn about it? Let me know in the comments below. Would love to hear from you.