In current time Boba shops have already sprung up throughout America, and they are no longer restricted to the Taiwanese enclaves where they previously thrived 15 years ago. We’re here to help people who haven’t had the chance to taste the wonder of boba and find themselves gazing at an intimidating menu full of customizable options, puzzled.
In a nutshell, they’re cassava starch balls.
The lengthier answer is that the name boba may apply to the complete drink plus toppings, with the most popular topping being tapioca pearls (which are also called boba — I know, it’s complicated, but bear with me!). Depending on where you’re from in the nation, the drink is also known as bubble tea, pearl tea, or tapioca tea. As previously noted, tapioca pearls, commonly known as “boba,” are often manufactured from cassava starch, a South American root vegetable also known as yuca.
Boba is said to have originated in Taiwan, yet it is unclear where the city or store it originated in. Historically, boba pearls were coupled with syrups, beans, and delectably chewy rice balls in shaved ice sweets. The milk tea was also popular, and happily, someone thought to combine the two, resulting in the brilliant, well-loved beverage we have today.
Boba culture made its way to America through Taiwanese societies, where it thrived near university campuses and junior colleges, where teenagers gathered for study groups. Even today, most boba businesses are open late and provide inexpensive food and beverages, making them ideal for late-night hangouts and cramming for exams.
Boba Bases
Boba beverages are often made with black or green tea and can be flavored with a variety of syrups such as peach, strawberry, or lychee (know more by visiting the Tea Bear website). Teas may also be made into milk teas by adding milk to them, resulting in a more creamier, decadent drink. A black tea with milk and boba is the traditional “boba milk tea” order.
Some beverages, on the other hand, deviate from the traditional green and black tea basis. Another popular option is taro milk tea, which is brewed from the tropical taro root. Fruit teas, typically with real fruit slices put directly in, are often available and are normally caffeine-free. Most boba menus also provide bright orange Thai tea, and coffee milk tea is a popular choice for coffee lovers who want the best of both worlds. You may also choose from oolong, matcha, and white teas.
Aside from teas, most boba stores also provide slushies and milk drinks. Slushies are often produced by blending tea and syrups with crushed ice in a blender, resulting in a sweet and cold delicacy. Milk drinks are made using milk as the foundation and are frequently sweetened with honey or brown sugar syrup — a beverage that lactose-intolerant people would avoid.
Tea Bear boba shops also offer milk alternatives — like soy, almond, and lactose-free milk — which nicely accommodate lactose intolerant Americans.
Customizing a boba, which is a beverage and a snack in one, is half the joy of going out for one perfectly to your tastes. Every Tea Bear boba cafe allows you to choose the sugar of your drink, the amount of ice you desire, and even the temperature of your beverage.
Toppings
Boba tea may include any of the following things:
Boba
Pudding
Grass jelly
Aloe Vera
Sago/Tapioca
Taro balls
Red Beans
Whipped foam/cream
What is the method of serving it?
When you purchase a boba drink, you may personalize it with ice levels, sweetness, and a variety of toppings. It then passes through a unique sealing machine. Boba straws are larger than standard straws to handle tapioca, fruit, or anything else you have in your drink, and come with a sharp edge to punch through the covered top (just make sure you have your thumb pressed firmly over the top hole of your straw before you drive it through the film of plastic covering your drink, or else your drink will explode everywhere). Metal and glass boba straws are now available for purchase, reducing the need for single-use plastic boba straws.
Some boba establishments, such as Half & Half and Honey boba, feature shorter, sturdier cups filled with their delicious milk-tea nectars. Other establishments forego the sealing equipment and instead sell beverages with plastic caps like those used by Starbucks. If your hot beverage has toppings, it will come in a standard to-go coffee cup with an attached spoon.
You have a lot of other options accompanying Boba. Look at our menu and visit Tea Bear shops to know moreT about how to make your Boba drink more interesting.