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 – 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 make an endless range of delightful bubble tea blends.

Popular Variations You Might Not Know About

To keep up with what people are loving, let’s take a look at a few types of bubble tea that are getting a lot of attention lately:

Taro Bubble Tea

Taro is a root vegetable with a naturally sweet, nutty flavour and a bright purple colour. Taro milk tea is creamy, comforting, and just a little earthy. Think of it like the purple cousin of your usual milk tea.

Cheese Tea

It might sound strange at first, but cheese tea has a bit of a cult following. It’s cold tea (usually green or black) topped with a whipped cream cheese foam that’s slightly salty, which cuts through the sweetness perfectly. Try it once. You might be surprised.

Vegan-Friendly Options

If you're vegan or just dairy-free, no worries. Most bubble tea shops offer plant-based milks like oat, almond or soy. Just ask about toppings too. Some popping boba might contain gelatine, but there are loads of vegan-friendly choices out there.

Flavour Breakdown: What's Your Go-To?

There are loads of bubble tea flavours, but here are a few fan favourites:

Toppings Guide: What’s What?

Here’s a quick comparison table to help you work out which toppings suit your bubble tea style:

Topping What It Is Texture Best With
Tapioca Pearls Classic chewy balls made from cassava starch. Chewy Milk teas
Popping Boba Fruity, juice-filled balls that burst when you bite. Popping, juicy Fruit teas
Grass Jelly Mild herbal jelly, great if you want something less sweet. Soft, wobbly Oolong or jasmine tea
Aloe Vera Cubed aloe pieces – light and refreshing. Crisp, juicy Fruit teas
Red Bean Sweet, mashed adzuki beans. A classic in Asian desserts. Soft, creamy Matcha or taro teas
Cheese Foam Whipped cream cheese topping with a bit of saltiness. Rich, fluffy Black or green teas

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, a passion for bubble tea, and reliable bubble tea wholesale solutions, contact us today to find out how Taipec can help your business thrive.