What is Bubble Tea, the simplest way to make it at home

Bubble Tea is a popular chilled beverage that originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and has since gained popularity around the world! It goes by several names in Asia, including Boba Tea, Black Pearl Tea, and Tapioca Pearl Tea, and there are so many variations that you can’t even imagine. Bubble Tea, a traditional Taiwanese beverage, has long been a popular Asian beverage, but during the pandemic, this bizarre concoction of a drink and snack drew the attention of many people due to its color, texture, and flavors.

Why it’s called Bubble Tea?

There are two reasons for the name Bubble Tea. When the drink is shaken for blending, several bubbles form in the drink, giving rise to the name. Second, and most importantly, the drink is served in a clear cup or glass with a large straw that allows you to suck the tapioca pearls or boba into your mouth and chew them as you swallow the drink. As a result, the tapioca pearls appear to be bubbles in the tea, hence the name.

Nobody knows where it came from, but there is a strong rumor that it was invented. The story goes that in the 1980s, a teahouse called Chun Shui Tang in Taichung (Taiwan) began serving iced tea. Lin Hsiu Hui, the company’s then-product development manager, was bored in a staff meeting one day and decided to drop her Taiwanese dessert, Fen Yuan (sweetened tapioca pudding), into her Assam Iced Tea and drink it. She liked it so much that the company decided to include it on its menu, where it quickly became the franchise’s best-selling item. And the rest, as they say, is history.

How To Make A Bubble Tea At Home?

Ingredients

1/4 cup dried boba tapioca pearls per serving
1 to 2 tea bags per serving, any kind
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
Milk, almond milk, or sweetened condensed milk
Fruit juice or nectar (optional)

Method:

Combine the boba with water: In a saucepan, combine the boba with 2 cups of water for every 1/4 cup of boba being prepared. Over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Stir in the boba until it begins to float to the surface of the water.
Cook the boba: Cook the boba for 12 to 15 minutes on medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat, cover it, and set aside for 12 to 15 minutes.
Prepare the sugar syrup for the boba: To make the boba sugar syrup, bring 1/2 cup water to a boil over high heat on the stove or in the microwave. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup sugar until completely dissolved. Place aside to cool.
Make a strong cup of tea: Allow the tea to cool completely before making the boba. 1 cup of water should be brought to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the tea bag (or bags); one tea bag for regular-strength bubble tea, and two tea bags for a stronger tea flavor. After 15 minutes, remove the tea bag and chill the tea.
Make the bubble tea: Pour the tea into a tall glass and top it with the boba. Add milk for a creamy bubble tea, juice for a fruity tea, or leave plain with a splash of water. Sweeten to taste with the simple syrup from the boba soak.

Bubble tea comes in an infinite number of variations, many of which do not even include tea! Fruit juices, fruit milk, coffee, and salted cream are a few examples. Aside from tapioca pearls, there are several other toppings that can be used. Like this post? Don’t forget to check out our other short stories in our Quick Read section