While ice cream has always been a refreshing pleasure during the summer, bubble tea is a creative way to stay cool. It's an iced, gummy beverage. In order to customize bubble tea, one can add milk, sugar, and "pearls," which are flavorless tapioca balls that are also known as "boba." In contrast to popular belief, the name of the tea originates not from the pearls but rather from the foamy bubbles that form on top of the drink when the tea is mixed.
Although the tapioca pearls are spherical, you can also add rectangular fruit jellies to the tea. By choosing the components, people may customize the drink in many ways to suit their tastes.
The History Of Boba Tea
The beginnings of boba culture are unclear, although it began in the late 1980s. Since drinking tea was a common habit across East Asia, milk tea was already well-known in Taiwan. At the time, tapioca balls and shaved ice were both regarded as common sweets. Someone at some time had the bright idea to blend three widely consumed ingredients into one drink: milk tea to finish off the drink, a layer of shaved ice on top, and tapioca balls at the bottom.
Because of the spherical form of the tapioca balls and the fact that the term "boba" is Taiwanese slang for breasts, the tea gained its name. It is said to have come from Chinese characters. Over time, as boba became increasingly popular throughout Taiwan, it changed. First, stall owners introduced fruit boba, substituting fruit powders and syrups for real fruit (which was too costly and rapidly went bad). Beyond tapioca balls, other topping options included things like red beans, egg pudding, almond jelly, and grass jelly. Even in traditional boba, non-dairy creamer was used in place of milk in the milk tea, which led to the creation of the drink's renowned very sweet, creamy flavor.
Here are a few simple boba tea recipes to try to enjoy the drink from the comfort of your kitchen:
Classic Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls
Ingredients:
- 2 black tea bags (or 2 tsp loose-leaf black tea)
- 90 gm tapioca pearls
- 70 ml milk (or non-dairy milk)
- 12-24 gm sugar or syrup (adjust to taste)
- Ice cubes
Method:
- Cook: Cook the tapioca pearls by boiling them in water for the duration specified on the box, which is typically five minutes. After cooking, rinse with cold water and drain. Put aside.
- Brew tea: Give the black tea bags five to seven minutes in boiling water. Take the tea bags out and let the brew cool.
- Mix: Place the cooked boba pearls in a glass. Add the milk, sugar, and cooled tea. Add ice and stir well.
- Serve: Suck it down with a wide straw.
Strawberry Milk Boba
Ingredients:
- 85 gm fresh strawberries, mashed
- 70 ml milk (or almond milk)
- 12 gm sugar
- 50 gm tapioca pearls
- Ice cubes
Method:
- Cook tapioca pearls: After preparing, set aside the tapioca pearls.
- Prepare strawberry milk: To make strawberry milk, mash the strawberries with sugar and set aside to extract the juices for about 5 minutes.
- Mix: Fill a glass with the cooked tapioca pearls, then top with the strawberry mixture and milk. Stir in the ice.
- Serve: Enjoy it cold.
Matcha Green Tea Boba
Ingredients:
- 2 gm matcha powder
- 70 ml milk (or non-dairy milk)
- 12 gm sugar or honey
- 45 gm tapioca pearls
- Ice cubes
Method:
- Cook tapioca pearls: Follow the package directions and set aside.
- Prepare matcha: Whisk together the matcha powder and a little amount of boiling water until smooth. Add milk and sugar, and mix again.
- Mix: In a glass, combine tapioca pearls, matcha mixture, and ice cubes. Stir thoroughly.
- Serve: Sip and enjoy!
Mango Boba Tea
Ingredients:
- 125 gm mango puree (or fresh mango chunks)
- 150 ml black tea or green tea
- 60 ml milk (optional)
- 12 gm sugar or honey
- 45 gm tapioca pearls
- Ice cubes
Method:
- Cook tapioca pearls: Follow the directions and set aside.
- Prepare Tea: Brew black or green tea and allow to cool.
- Mix: In a blender, combine mango puree, sugar, and cooled tea. If you like a creamier taste, add more milk.
- Combine: Pour tapioca pearls into a glass, add ice, and mix.
Taro Boba Tea
Ingredients:
- 65 gm taro root (or taro powder)
- 60 ml milk (or coconut milk)
- 12 gm sugar
- 45 gm tapioca pearls
- Ice cubes
Method:
- Cook taro root: Boil the taro root until soft, then combine it with milk and sugar to form a creamy sauce. Alternatively, combine taro powder with milk and sugar.
- Prepare tapioca pearls: Cook, then put aside the tapioca pearls.
- Mix: In a glass, combine the cooked tapioca pearls, taro mixture, and ice cubes.
Serve: Stir and enjoy.