Bubble tea is a ubiquitous treat these days. From university students burning the midnight oil to young professionals grabbing a morning pick-me-up, parents treating their kids to kids treating their parents – everyone enjoys the rich flavors and sensory experience of a big glass of boba.
However, how much do you really know about the world’s new favorite drink? This article explores five facts every bubble tea lover should know – from the drink’s origins and expansion to its endless customizability.
Fingers on your buzzers. Here’s some quick trivia about bubble tea!
Bubble Tea Traces Its Origins to 1980s Taiwan
Because bubble tea underwent such a meteoric rise in popularity, several people assume the drink is much older than it is. However, bubble tea only started its life in the 80s, when an enterprising Taiwanese teahouse owner named Lin Hsiu Hui dreamt of merging Taiwan’s two culinary obsessions: milk tea and tapioca pearls.
From there, bubble tea remained a local obsession for a couple of decades. A few visiting foreigners to Taiwan tried it (and raved about it), but the drink never strayed beyond the island’s borders. That is, until Chatime entered the chat…
The World’s Largest Bubble Tea Franchise Has Shops Across the Globe
Credit: EyeEm Via Freepik
Chatime is the largest bubble tea franchise in the world, operating over 2,500 outlets in 38 countries. Its founder, Henry Wang, started the company in 2005 with two innovative goals: Let’s make bubble with the finest ingredients available, and let’s bring it to the world.
His idea worked. Not only is the company the largest boba franchise, but Chatime bubble tea is also the most well-loved.
The “Bubbles” Might Have Begun as Tapioca Pearls, But They’re So Much More Now
When boba got its start, “bubble” meant one thing, and one thing only: Tapioca pearls. And while these chewy delicacies remain a staple on toppings menus the world round, innovative tea shops have branched out into several other “bubbles.”
The Chatime menu, for instance, lists several toppings to choose from:
- Grass jelly
- Coconut jelly
- Popping boba
- Pudding
- Sea salt crema
- QQ, and more
Sure, some of them don’t resemble a bubble, but that’s beside the point. Bubble tea has always been about innovation and inclusivity, welcoming any and all great ideas and delicious flavors. And speaking of delicious innovations…
Even The Bases Are Creative These Days
While the classic base is still milk tea, forward-thinking bubble tea shops are experimenting with a wide range of alternative bases for their bubble tea. Some keep the spirit of the original alive with slight twists, like Matcha milk tea, Oolong milk tea and roasted milk tea. Other bases, meanwhile, swing for the fences. On the current Chatime menu, you’ll find:
- Fruit juice bases, like strawberry and mango
- Fruit tea bases, like lychee tea and passion fruit tea
- Comforting creations like chocolate hazelnut and taro
- Decadent smoothies, refreshing slushies, and more
There’s something for everyone at a modern bubble tea shop.
If you’re a fan of this exciting, endlessly customizable drink (how could you not be), keep these facts up your sleeve next time you order a boba. Understanding the origins and evolution of bubble tea will help you enjoy it even more!
