Bubble tea

Bubble tea (also known as pearl milk tea, or boba-milk tea) (Chinese: 珍珠奶茶 or 波霸奶茶) is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in Taichung in the 1980s. Most bubble tea recipes contain a tea base mixed/shaken with fruit or milk, to which chewy tapioca balls or fruit jellies are often added. The "bubble" refers to the foam created by shaking the tea, which itself is called "pàomò" (泡沫) tea, meaning "frothy/foamy" tea. Ice-blended versions are usually mixed with fruit or syrup, resulting in a slushy consistency.

There are many variants of the drinks, and many kinds of ingredients may be added. The most popular bubble drinks are bubble milk tea with tapioca and bubble milk green tea with tapioca.

Description

Bubble teas are typically of two distinct types: fruit-flavored teas and milk teas. However, some shops offer hybrid fruit milk teas. Most milk teas include powdered dairy or non-dairy creamers, but some shops also offer fresh milk as an alternative. Other varieties are 100% crushed-fruit smoothies with tapioca pearls and signature ice cream shakes made from local ice cream sources. Many American bubble tea vendors sell milk smoothies, which are similar to bubble tea but do not contain any tea ingredients. Some small cafés offer sweetener substitutes, such as honey, agave, stevia, and aspartame, upon special request.