Bubble tea facts for kids
A cup of bubble tea
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| Alternative names | Boba Pearl milk tea Boba milk tea Boba tea Boba nai cha Tapioca tea |
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| Course | Drink |
| Region or state | Worldwide |
| Serving temperature | Hot or Cold |
| Main ingredients | Tapioca, milk, creamer, brewed tea, sugar, flavorings |
Bubble tea is a super popular drink that started in Taiwan in the early 1980s. It's also known as boba tea or pearl milk tea. Imagine a yummy tea drink with chewy little balls at the bottom!
Taiwanese people who moved to the United States brought bubble tea with them in the 1990s. It first became popular in places like California. Now, you can find bubble tea all over the world, especially where many East Asian people live.
The most common type of bubble tea has tea mixed with chewy tapioca balls. These are often called "boba" or "pearls." But you can also find bubble tea with other fun toppings. These include things like grass jelly, aloe vera, red bean, or even "popping boba" that burst in your mouth! There are tons of different flavors and types. The two most famous are black milk tea with pearls and green milk tea with pearls.
What is Bubble Tea?
Bubble teas usually come in two main types: teas without milk and milk teas. For both types, you can pick your favorite tea base. This might be black tea, green tea, or oolong tea.
Milk teas often have powdered or fresh milk added. Some places might use condensed milk, almond milk, soy milk, or even coconut milk instead.
The very first bubble tea drink was a mix of hot Taiwanese black tea, tapioca pearls, condensed milk, and a bit of syrup or honey. Today, most people enjoy bubble tea served cold.
The chewy tapioca pearls are what give bubble tea its name. They are made from the starch of the cassava plant. Cassava is a tropical plant with starchy roots. It was brought to Taiwan from South America a long time ago. Over time, bigger pearls became more popular.
Today, many cafes specialize in making bubble tea. While some might serve it in a glass, most Taiwanese bubble tea shops use a plastic cup. They use a special machine to seal the top of the cup with heated plastic. This way, you can shake your tea without spilling it! When you're ready to drink, you just pierce the seal with a special, extra-large straw. This "boba straw" is big enough for the chewy toppings to pass through.
Because bubble tea is so loved, it has inspired many other treats! You can now find bubble tea flavored snacks like bubble tea ice cream and bubble tea candy.
Images for kids
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Tapioca (boba)
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Bubble tea packaged in a fun lightbulb shape
See also
In Spanish: Té de burbujas para niños
