Cultural Diet: Bubble Tea! 珍珠奶茶!

For those of you out there who are not familiar with Chinese beverages (饮料 yǐn liào), here is one of the most satisfying drinks someone can have. Originating in Taiwan in the 1980’s, bubble tea （珍珠奶茶 zhēn zhū nǎi chá) has been a favorite among the Chinese population in America!

So, what is this beloved drink?

Bubble tea (also known as “boba”) is sweetened milk tea with tapioca “bubbles,” which look like black pearls and are extremely chewy. This tea may come in a variety of flavors (口味kǒ wèi）, including regular (原味 yuán wèi）, mango（芒果 máng guǒ）, passion fruit（百香果 bǎi xiāng guǒ）, honey dew（哈密瓜 hā mì guā）, green apple（青苹果 qīng píng guǒ), and coffee (咖啡 kā fēi)! The pearls are not the only additions to the tea （茶 chá）that can be made: other additions may be different flavored jelly,  popping bobas (juice-filled balls), and aloe. This beverage is drunk through a thick straw in order for the toppings to be tasted! Many brands of bubble tea have come to the United States, such as ChaTime, Gong Cha, Kuaikeli/Quickly, and CoCo.

Many students, both heritage and non-heritage, at Jericho High School have expressed their love for bubble tea, calling it “yummy, chewy, and bubblicious” and describing it as a “gummy candy milkshake.”

If you have the chance, be sure to try out this delicious Taiwanese classic!