More and more people are moving away from their usual soda fix into something healthier - bubble tea or boba tea. This ‘chewy’ beverage is a fixture in Asian restaurant menus and boba tea stalls have become just as ubiquitous in the malls. Traditionally tea drinking had a more esoteric consumer base but the introduction of bubble teas gave it mass market appeal and even managed to pique the interest of younger generations.
It is widely accepted that the beverage was made in a Taiwanese tea shop around 1980. To serve their patrons a new tea drinking experience, tapioca pearls were added to an infusion of either green or black tea. These were then called bubble teas or boba teas. Typically large straws are provided to get the pearls which settle at the bottom.As per the story, the beverage was prepared by shaking to mix all the ingredients together. Interestingly, agitating the tea in such a manner produces bubbles which also inadvertently makes the drink lighter in comparison to conventional tea preparations. Another popular version of boba tea’s etymology is simply because of the tapioca pearls which are popularly known around Asia as ‘boba.’
At present, there is not just one definitive bubble tea recipe. The drink’s varieties are just as plenty as the numbers of stores that sell them. These variants seem to fall under three major categories, namely: fruit teas, milk or non-fruit teas, and combinations of both. Non-fruit flavors like coffee, chocolate, and sesame have become popular, even outselling fruit flavored ones in most regions. Nowadays, it is more common to have these drinks cold with slushie or smoothie consistencies.
Traditional bubble teas are healthier beverage options. It’s role in preventing health problems of cardiac origin are well documented. Recent studies have also shown its role in preventing malignant growths. Also, these infusions have been used extensively for regulating bowel movement, as well as serum cholesterol and glucose levels. Recent studies also show that teas help in weight loss by increasing metabolism.
Unfortunately, certain bubble tea recipe revisions, like the use of artificial flavorings and heavy cream have made the beverage more into a liquefied dessert that is loaded with overindulgent levels of sugar and fat. Needless to say, the beverage provides a new, exciting way to an otherwise plain drink. We just need to remember that some preparations aren’t as healthy and would only contribute inches to our waistlines.
