Bubble Tea Ingredients Guide

Bubble tea is big. Like, really big. Every year millions of bobas are consumed, and by 2027 the global bubble tea industry is expected to become a £3 billion business. Although the UK was initially slow to catch on to the bubble tea trend, its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. With popularity really taking off in around 2014, the following decade has seen boba shops open in all corners of the country. With the growing popularity of bubble tea, you may be wondering, what's it all about? In this post, we'll answer that and more. Giving you an overview of bubble tea's history before delving into a bubble tea ingredients guide. Interested? Read on.

Bubble Tea Ingredients Guide – What You Need To Know

The beauty of bubble tea lies in its simplicity. To understand how to make bubble tea, start with the basics: mix tea, a sweetener, and some tasty pearls, and voilà, you have a boba. The world of bubble tea offers an infinite range of styles and flavours. In this post, we'll delve into just a few of them, helping you explore your boba passions. Who knows? Maybe you'll be inspired to launch your own boba shop one day. But before that, let's dive into some history.

Bubble Tea – A Short History

There is no agreement as to who first invented bubble tea, but all stories share a common theme. Bubble tea was invented sometime in the 1980s in one of Taiwan's many tea shops by mixing tea with tapioca pearls. These tapioca pearls are a feature of all classic bobas. Formed by mixing tapioca starch from cassava root with hot water and soaking the resulting balls in brown sugar syrup, it results in a unique and tasty treat.

Over the years, bubble tea grew in popularity. First across Southeast Asia and then to the Americas. From then, boba made its way to Europe and the UK. Bubble tea's popularity in the UK makes it one of the most popular drinks in the UK. Walking down any high street in the UK on a summer's day, you will probably see groups of people sipping boba tea.

Are you eager to unravel more about this beloved drink? Dive into our Bubble Tea Ingredients Guide or check out our piece on the 5 things to know about bubble tea.

Bubble Tea Ingredients Guide

The three key ingredients of bubble tea are tea, sweetener, and tapioca pearls or popping boba. In this short bubble tea ingredient guide, we will explore all three and how they come together to create some amazing boba.

Bubble Tea – Tea

At the heart of our Bubble Tea Ingredients Guide is, of course, tea. It forms the very essence of every boba drink. Whether you're partial to Earl Grey, Green tea, Black teas, Assam Black Tea, or Oolong, there's a boba blend tailored just for you.

Generally, black tea and Assam tea are favourites for traditional milk tea, and green tea is a favourite for fruitier popping boba. The key difference between traditional milk tea and fruity popping boba teas is the pearls used.

Bubble Tea – Pearls

There are two major types of pearls: tapioca pearls and popping boba. While traditional pearls are made from tapioca starch, popping boba is a fruity alternative made by a process of spherification. When bitten into, they release a pool of sweet flavouring. And with flavours as diverse as chocolate and pineapple, there's a popping boba for everyone.

These pearls are what really set bubble tea apart. Distinct from both desserts and teas, boba stands in a category of its own.

Bubble Tea – Sweetener

While tea and pearls are fundamental to boba, it's the sweetener that truly refines and perfects the drink. As part of the diverse Bubble Tea Ingredients palette, sweeteners offer a world of flavourful possibilities. From plum and ginger to citron and lychee, the options are vast, allowing you to craft an endless range of delightful bubble tea blends.

Can Taipec help grow your business?

Here at Taipec, we are passionate about sharing our love of bubble tea with you. We are proudly UK-based and have a dedicated team in Taiwan sourcing the highest quality products for import. With decades of experience and a passion for bubble tea, contact us today to find out how Taipec can help your business thrive.