Imagine a tea drink that is rich, thick and milky, filled with chewy, squishy, delicious spheres that pop inside the mouth. Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? That’s bubble tea. It is the most talked-about tea globally. Bubble tea has become the trendiest beverage everywhere, from England to America and Australia. The bubble tea scene, especially in Sydney, is blowing and catching the younger generation’s attention. The increased number of bubble tea franchise grossing over AUD 2.4 billion is estimated to double by 2024. One might wonder where this unique tea concept originated.
The origin story of bubble tea dates back to the 1980s in the lands of Taipei, Taiwan. Tea prepared with milk is not new in Taiwan as it is a robust practice in East Asian countries. On one blistering summer, one food stall owner got the idea of combining the three elements of tapioca balls, shaved ice and milk tea in layers to fill a cup. It later became popular as ‘boba’ as the spheres in the tea are shaped like breasts (boba in Chinese). Over time, as the tea globalised, franchises innovated the concept with non-dairy creamer substitution as it is shelf-stable and caters to customers who are increasingly going vegan.
So, What Is the Modern Bubble Tea?
Over the decades, bubble tea has transformed into boba tea or pearl milk tea. The basic form of bubble tea stays true to the origin and contains milk, black tea, shaved ice and tapioca pearls. Once they combine, the contents are shaken like a martini and served in a cup with a big straw that can fit the marble spheres that form the bottom of the cup. Although the name suggests that the tea might have frothy bubbles in it, there are no bubbles, and at times, there is no tea either. They have bases with coffee, fruit, milk or chewy pearls made from other substances. Today, the word boba resonates with a broad category of beverages with chunks in them.
While It Tastes Great, How Healthy Is Bubble Tea?
As a standard, bubble tea uses organic tea leaves and milk as bases, which allows drinkers to experience several health benefits while enjoying a delicious cup of trendy-looking tea. Green tea and black organic tea have proven to improve a person’s metabolism and brain functioning. The health benefits don’t end here. A healthy serving of bubble tea is filling enough and provides enough calories as a meal. Reports show that a single cup of bubble tea with tapioca spheres includes 38 grams of sugar and 300 calories, including calcium and antioxidants. As an adult consumes 2400 calories a day, one can add a delicious cup to their daily meal plan without guilt.
Boosts Energy
The combination of caffeine in black, green or white tea and the appropriate amount of sugar provide an incredible energy boost for those who consume it. While consuming too much of this delicious Taiwanese drink may not be in one’s best interest, a healthy dose enhances the metabolism. It provides enough energy to get through the day, even on moody Mondays.
Strengthens The Immune System
One of the most popular flavours in the bubble tea franchise is green tea which contains a wide range of antioxidants. It allows the immune system to strengthen and prevent oxidative stress. Furthermore, one can receive a substantial dose of vitamins and minerals by adding fresh fruit to the drink, like exotic mangoes and strawberries. The anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants in the drink increase cardiovascular health as it prevents arteries from becoming opaque.
