5 Things To Know About Bubble Tea
From the bustling streets of Taipei to the trendy cafés of London, bubble tea has become a global sensation. This sweet, colourful drink, complete with its iconic tapioca pearls, has captured the hearts and taste buds of millions. Beyond its delightful taste, bubble tea has a rich history, culture, and ongoing innovation that many people do not know about. In this post, we explore five intriguing facts that might change the way you enjoy your next boba. Grab your straw and let’s dive in.
Whether you prefer a classic milk tea with soft, chewy tapioca pearls or a fruity popping boba with an explosion of flavour, these five facts are worth knowing. Some might even surprise you!
5 Things To Know About Bubble Tea
1 – Bubble tea is wildly popular in the UK
The UK was initially slow to catch on to bubble tea, but once it arrived, people could not get enough. Today, bubble tea is thriving across the country, and its popularity continues to grow. A recent article on Vice.com, How Bubble Tea Conquered the British High Street, highlights London’s insatiable appetite for this Taiwanese delight.
2 – It goes by many names
Bubble tea has a lot of names. Like, a lot. From bubble tea and boba to milk tea and pearl tes, we explored the differences and similarities between them in a previous post, Bubble Tea? Pearl Tea? Boba? What’s The Difference?. Because of this, boba novices can be confused. But whatever your favourite, you should know your pearls from your popping boba!
3 – The bubbles do not come from the pearls
A common misconception is that the bubbles in bubble tea come from the tapioca pearls or popping boba. In fact, the ‘bubbles' appear when the tea mixture is shaken. Now you know!
4 – Tapioca pearls are made from roots?
Another surprising fact is that tapioca pearls are actually made from roots. Specifically, the tapioca starch comes from the cassava root. These chewy pearls are what makes bubble tea unique and we stock a wide range of tapioca balls boba toppings here at Taipec.
5 – It all started back in the 1980s
The history of bubble tea is shrouded in mystery. There is no definitive story of who first invented bubble tea, but we do know that it first appeared in Taipei tea houses during the 1980s and quickly spread across south east Asia. From here, bubble tea conquered the world. From Taipei to Toronto, and London to Lusaka, you can find yourself a boba.
Interested in starting your own bubble tea journey?
Taipec is the UK’s leading bubble tea wholesale supplier of products, equipment, and Taiwanese ingredients, and we’re on hand to support you every step of the way. Contact us today!