It's been called the hottest trend in the specialty beverage industry today; but unless you live in close proximity to major Asian-American town centers, chances are, you probably have not heard of "bubble tea," let alone enjoyed your first perfect cup yet. Depending on how you feel about adventure today, the name alone is either catching and intriguing or completely alien. One thing we need to get clear on right away though, bubble tea is not bubble gum tea.
Bubble tea started in the far-off subtropical island of Taiwan about a decade ago. Legend has it that, one hot day, a street vendor (let us call him Mr. Wang) decided not only to serve his tea cold, as was only sensible, but also, to stay one step ahead of his competition, to infuse his tea with tropical fruit flavors. While tea infused with fruit may not be wholly new, what was totally inspired about Mr. Wang's cold, fruit-infused tea was the way he prepared it, giving all his customers a good show for their money in the process. Showing once again that necessity is the mother of invention, Mr. Wang used a cocktail shaker cup to make his tea. Shaking gets the tea ice-cold and mixes all of the ingredients into one refreshing drink. Shaking also forms the froth or "bubbles" on the drink -- hence, Mr. Wang's tea came to be known on the streets as "bubble tea." [1]
Now, when we speak of "bubble tea," we tend to refer to the whole genre or category of drink that has tapioca pearls as a special added ingredient. [3] These tapioca pearls now came to be considered the "bubbles" in bubble tea. Tapioca pearls are simply balls of tapioca starch, about the size or rather smaller than the size of marbles, cooked to a soft and chewy consistency and texture.[2] These tapioca pearls are added to either a tea-based drink (not unlike Mr. Wang's original bubble tea) or to a flavored milk drink (not unlike strawberry milk) to provide textural difference, interest and character, to the final beverage. Not only do we drink these new bubble teas, but we also get to chew on them as well. All in all, bubble tea is a unique beverage concept and definitely provides an exciting beverage experience. As one bubble tea aficionado says, you'll never look at coffee the same way again.
[1] To read our take on the history of bubble tea, please see the article "A Brief History of Tea -- or the Road to Bubble Tea," found on our website http://www.bruceandclark.com/historyofbubbletea.htm.
[2] To read about tapioca pearls, please read our article, "The Nature of Tapioca Pearls," found on our website http://www.bruceandclark.com/tapiocapearls.htm.
[3] To learn more about bubble tea, please see the original Bubble Tea Schema, found on our webpage, http://www.bruceandclark.com/bubbleteaschema.htm. By analyzing bubble tea in terms of its various components, the Schema aims to provide a conceptual framework of bubble tea for bubble tea novices and devotees alike.
Contemporary Bubble Tea traces its roots back to Taiwan. Legend has it that a particular Tea establishment attracted young customers by combining fruit juices with chilled Tea. The concept proved to be such a success that in a short time the drink became ubiquitous throughout Taiwan.
