What Is Boba Drink?

A boba drink is a cold, sweet beverage originating from Asia, known for the presence edible balls of tapioca called "boba" or "tapioca pearls." There are many names for boba drinks, including boba tea, bubble tea, pearl milk tea and tapioca tea.

Ingredients

Boba drinks typically consist of milk, sugar, tea and the tapioca pearls as well as additional ingredients like fruit syrup to give the tea a specific flavor. The actual process of mixing boba tea and specific ingredients depends on the vendor making the drink.

Boba

The boba themselves sit at the bottom of the drink and get sucked up through the typically large straw that comes with the drink. There is a risk, however, for the unprepared, as the tapioca pearls are large enough to be a choking hazard.

Taste

The taste of the boba drink depends on the flavor chosen, but boba tea is typically sweet while the boba themselves are soft and chewy like a gummy snack.

Popularity

Boba tea first appeared as a drink for children in 1980s Taiwan and made its way to other Asian countries. Soon it carried over to North American cities with sizable Asian populations like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver as well as college towns.

References

• What's Cooking America: Bubble Tea
• SFGate: Taiwan Tapioca on Tap
• Time: Boba Drinks

Resources

• How to Make Bubble Tea