Bubble Tea

Diana Zhang and Angelina Xu
Mar 10, 2021
3 min read

And everything in between.

Introduction

Through its divine tastes and the continuous marketing, this signature Taiwan drink had officially made its way internationally in the 21th century. Authentic to its name, bubble tea’s main ingredients are creamy milk tea and “bubbles''- tapioca balls. Its popularity also increases due to its alternative flavors such as Mango and Lychee. However, few bubble tea lovers are aware of its history nor acknowledge its influences and impacts on the Asian Community in the western world. If you are one of them, read more about your favorite drink in this article!

History

Bubble tea was created in the late 80s in Taiwan. One food stall owner decided to combine

all 3 signature desserts: tapioca balls, shaved ice, and milk tea into one container- tapioca balls at the bottom, then a layer of shaved ice, topped with milk tea. Thus, the famous beverage was created. The drink gained national adoration, then slowly reached the shores of the United States in the 90s when Taiwanese people mass-immigrated. In modern days, a bubble tea shop is likened to the “Starbucks of Asian Culture” as its popularity never ceases to increase.

Secrets of the Ingredients

Bubble tea only consists of milk, tea, sweetener and tapioca balls. It’s not challenging to make. However, cooking tapioca balls has always been a struggle to many. These black pearls are very tricky in nature- if you boil them incorrectly, they can become too mushy or too sticky. Therefore, it is recommended to leave them in their cooking water after boiling so it can retain its tangy structure.

As for the tea, many choose black tea for its color and delicious taste. The English Breakfast Tea or the Chinese Breakfast Tea are common choices; some even choose Jasmine tea to create a floral taste. Additionally, one benefit of making your own bubble tea is to customize your preferred sweetness level!

Surprisingly, bubble tea’s main ingredient- milk, is not actually milk. During the early days of bubble tea in Taiwan, tea shop owners discovered that fresh fruits and dairy are convenient in mass production. Hence, the milk was replaced with non-dairy creamer, or even powdered materials that are more sustainable. Similar situation happened with fruits, where shop owners found fresh fruits difficult to preserve, therefore they swapped with fruit-flavored syrups and powders. With expansion, innovative stall owners also provided alternatives to “bubbles”, such as pudding and jelly.

Bubble Tea vs. Boba

For many, there is a degree of mystery surrounding the differences between bubble tea and boba. While these two terms may seem to have different meanings, in reality, they are often used interchangeably. Both terms are used to refer to the same drink. The reason for the two different names lies in the location : People in the East Coast of the U.S. often refer to it as ‘bubble tea’, whereas people in the West Coast of the U.S. often refer to it as ‘boba’.

ABG- Asian Baby Girl Trend

This new trend has stirred up a storm, predominantly in California. The ABG, an acronym for Asian Baby Girl, trend refers to Asians girls that have several notable characteristics such as tattoos, balayage hair, fake eyelashes, among many. One key aspect of Asian American is the ‘Asian Baby Girl’ is drinking boba. As the popularity of drinking bubble tea/bubble has risen in recent years, it has been incorporated into pop Asian culture in western countries.

Best Bubble Tea Places in NOVA

Gong Cha

13945 Metrotech Dr, Chantilly, VA 20151
4 out of 5 stars on Yelp

TeaDM

6779 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22044
Also has locations at Arlington and Vienna
5 out of 5 Stars on Google Reviews
Popular drinks: Seasalt matcha green tea, vietnamese sea salt coffee, fruit teas

T.Zone

45999 Regal Plaza #110, Sterling, VA 20165
4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews
Popular drinks: Brown Sugar Boba

One Zo

10780 Fairfax Blvd Ste 103 Fairfax, VA 22030
4 out of five stars on Yelp
Has takeout and sit down dining options

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