Boba: From Taiwan to the Rest of the World

Boba, which is also sometimes referred to as bubble tea, is a popular drink enjoyed by many. For those unfamiliar with this beverage, an explanation from one source stated, “The word “boba” can refer to either a broad category of chunky drinks — including everything from iced tea with tapioca pearls to fresh juice loaded with fruity bits — or black tapioca pearls themselves” (Nguyen-Okwu, 2019).There are multiple stories about who may have created the drink, but there is no record to determine which story is true. However, what we do know is that boba was created in Taiwan sometime during the 1980s and was introduced to America by Taiwanese immigrants in the 90s. Boba gained popularity even more because of “the growing popularity of café culture due to places like Starbucks” (Krishna, 2017).

The drink has not only become popular in the US, but all over the globe. There are boba shops in Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, and other parts of Asia. Thanks to tourism and social media, boba cafes have popped up around the world with consumption being highest amongst Gen Z. Boba is more popular in certain countries than others for different reasons. Since boba is usually made with some kind of tea, countries that consume more coffee than tea have less boba cafes (Fortune Business Insights).

The attitude towards boba has changed in recent years. It used to be seen as strange, but has become much more accepted. On an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that aired in September 2015, there was a segment where Jimmy Fallon and Jason Sudeikis played a game of “Drinko.” One person dropped a game piece from the top of the board and it made its way down to a row of cups. Once it landed in a cup, then the person dropped a second game piece. There were different types of liquids in the cups such as tequila, beer, or even pea soup. Once the two game pieces fell into the cups, the other person playing had to drink a combination of the liquids. The first combination was Capri-Sun and boba (the show called it “bubble tea”). When Jimmy poured boba into a clear glass, Jason said, “gross” and laughs were heard from the audience. Fast forward to August 2022, when Canadian actor and star of the Marvel movie, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” Simu Liu hosted the show. Simu and a guest were both enjoying boba drinks during the show instead of using the drink as some kind of punishment.

You can find a variety of offerings depending on which boba café you visit. Many offer milk teas, smoothies, and more, while others even sell coffee on their menu along with boba drinks. There are various flavors to choose from such as taro, winter melon, and strawberry. Boba can be added or omitted depending on a customer’s preference. Some cafes use fresh, natural ingredients but others use powder mixes to make their drinks. Boba products have also made their way into grocery stores. Trader Joe’s offers boba ice cream and a boba making kit.

From Taiwan to the rest of the world, boba has captured the hearts (or rather, the tastebuds) of many. With more acceptance and demand for the drink, the boba café industry has grown and continues to increase. If you haven’t given boba a try, I suggest visiting a café when you get the chance. Even if you opt for no boba, I’m sure you’ll find something else on the menu that will appeal to you.

Recommendation:
• Bopomofo – two locations: one in San Gabriel and one in Artesia
o Try the Bala Matcha and Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger

Sources:
https://www.eater.com/21551108/boba-milk-bubble-tea-explained-how-to-order
https://www.foodandwine.com/tea/bubble-tea-taiwanese-street-drink-turned-american-addiction
https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/bubble-tea-market-101564

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