Bubble Tea – What is it and Why is it so Popular?

Bubble Tea – What is it and Why is it so Popular?

Have you heard of bubble tea? I’m sure you will have come across it in city centres even if you haven’t tried it yourself yet. Bubble tea is becoming increasingly popular here in the United Kingdom with bubble tea cafés popping up here and there for fans to enjoy this interesting beverage. In this article, we are going to explore everything bubble tea, where’s it from, why it’s so popular and more.

• What is Bubble Tea?

Bubble tea is a tea beverage that is usually made with black tea, milk, sweetener, and tapioca pearls. The drink is enjoyed chilled, often with ice. The tapioca pearls, also known as boba, make the “bubbles”. They are soft and chewy little balls made from tapioca which comes from the cassava plant. Tapioca is starchy and you combine it with water and brown sugar to make the pearls for bubble tea. The tea can be made vegan if a plant-based milk is used.

• How is Bubble Tea served?

Bubble tea is usually served in transparent cups so that you can see the bubbles that sink to the bottom of the cup. The drink is served with a wide straw so that you can draw up the tapioca balls while you drink the tea, then chew them as they reach your mouth.

• Where is Bubble Tea from?

Bubble tea is a Taiwanese drink that’s been around since the 1980s. It’s not completely clear who invented the concept of bubble tea as there are a few theories about who was the true inventor. We do know that it was invented in Taiwan. These days, people all over the world enjoy this fun beverage.

• Why is Bubble Tea so Popular?

Though bubble tea has been around for around 40 years, it’s only recently that it’s gained such a large following and increased in popularity outside of East Asia and this is most likely due to social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram intruding the drink to the world. Bubble tea is especially popular with the young adult demographic who spend the most time on social media.

The fact that there are so many different types to choose from when it comes to flavours is probably another reason for the beverage’s popularity. It also looks interesting and cute, which is part of the fascination with bubble tea.

Bubble tea can be customised in lots of different ways by adding different fruit juices, syrups, powders, different flavoured bubbles and more.

• Can you Make Bubble Tea at Home?

Once you find something delicious that you enjoy eating or drinking when dining in cafés or restaurants, it’s nice to be able to recreate the treat at home sometimes too for convenience when a craving kicks in or to save money.

The answer is yes, you can make bubble tea at home following a simple recipe! Most of the required ingredients will be things that you already have at home, except for the tapioca balls. Look for quick-cook tapioca balls that you can buy online to use in homemade bubble tea. Then you will be ready to make your own bubble tea at home to enjoy whenever you fancy this refreshing beverage.

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