What are the origins of bubble tea?
Bubble tea was born in Taiwan in the 1980s. Several tea rooms dispute the authorship of the invention, but all share the same initial idea: combining a cold tea base with tapioca pearls to give a unique texture to the tasting.
Tea-based drinks were already very anchored in the country's habits. To stand out, marketers have started to include gourmet ingredients in their recipes.
The addition of tapioca pearls immediately hits the spot. Consumers like this contrast between the freshness of the tea and the soft texture of the balls sucked through a straw.
In a few years, the phenomenon spread throughout Asia, then crossed the Pacific to North America before settling in Europe.
The bubble tea is today one of the most recognizable symbols of contemporary Asian food culture.
What are the pearls of the bubble tea ?
Contrary to popular belief, bubble tea pearls are not compressed tea balls.
They are made from cassava starch, also called tapioca, extracted from the root of this tropical plant grown in several regions of the world.
Once cooked, the pearls take on a soft, elastic, slightly “chewy” texture — it is precisely this particular chewiness that gives all the charm of the bubble tea among its fans.
The different varieties of pearls
The bubble tea market has become very diversified. Today we find:
| Type of beads | Composition | Texture |
|---|---|---|
| Classic tapioca pearls | Cassava starch | Soft and elastic |
| Black beads | Tapioca and brown sugar | Gourmet and caramelized |
| Flavored pearls | Flavored tapioca | Varies depending on aroma |
| Popping boba pearls | Gelled shell and syrup | Explosion in the mouth |
| Fruit jellies | Gummy fruit juice | Fondant |
This variety allows you to compose an almost tailor-made drink, whatever your tastes.
What teas are found in it?
The choice of tea is not a detail: it gives most of the aromatic profile of the drink. Specialized brands generally operate on several bases.
Black tea. Historical reference of bubble tea, its malty and full-bodied notes go naturally with milk and tapioca pearls.
Green tea. Fresher, more vegetal, it brings lightness and goes well with fruity recipes or frozen versions.
Tea oolong. Very popular in Taiwan, it strikes a balance between the character of green tea and that of black tea, with often floral or slightly toasted notes.
Infusions and fruity creations. Many brands now offer recipes without tea, based on infusions, fruit juices or vegetable bases.
How do you prepare bubble tea?
The recipe follows a few simple steps, but each one counts.
Tapioca pearls are first cooked until they achieve their characteristic soft texture, then often coated in brown sugar syrup to intensify their flavor.
The tea, for its part, is prepared separately and then cooled.
According to the recipe, we then add:
- milk or a vegetable drink;
- syrup;
- fruit puree;
- ice cubes;
- tapioca pearls.
Everything is shaken in a shaker before being served in a large goblet, with a large straw essential for sucking up the pearls at the bottom of the glass.
Large families:
If bubble tea has conquered the world, it is largely thanks to the richness of its variations.
Milk tea. This is the bubble tea of origin: black tea, milk and tapioca pearls. The brown sugar used to coat the pearls gives it a taste that is sometimes reminiscent of certain caramel milk drinks.
Brown sugar bubble tea. Very trendy in recent years, it features pearls coated with brown sugar, for a delicious result with caramelized accents.
Fruit tea. Lighter, it combines green tea or black tea with fruity flavors — mango, passion fruit, lychee, peach.
Cheese tea. More surprising version, topped with a slightly salty creamy foam which contrasts with the sweetness of the tea.
Bubble tea store: where to buy it?
At Kusmi Tea, we offer you a selection of quality teas that are perfect for preparing homemade bubble tea. Black tea, green tea, jasmine tea or even fruity blends, our recipes make it easy to create a bubble tea personalized according to your wishes. To complete your preparation, also find our fruit balls and flavored syrups to obtain a delicious and refreshing drink. If you prefer to enjoy your drink without going through the preparation stage, most of our stores Kusmi tea offer bubble tea to go during the summer season. Find your store at bubble tea over here !
