HS340 Translation of Documentaries 2/2020 Asst.Prof.Dr.

Somruedee Dej-amorn
Lesson 1: History a brief history of bubble tea

A Brief History of Bubble Tea

Maybe it's the chewy, addictive texture of the tapioca balls, the creaminess of the milky tea, or
the simple satisfaction of popping the straw into the sealed plastic top—people can't get enough
of bubble tea (a.k.a. boba).

Boba culture started in the late '80s, most likely in Taipei (though other cities in Taiwan often
claim ownership). Milk tea was already well-known in Taiwan, as tea drinking was a robust
practice in East Asia. At the time, both shaved ice and tapioca balls were common desserts.
During one hot summer a savvy food stall owner thought to combine three popular elements into
one beverage—tapioca balls on the bottom, followed by a layer of shaved ice, and milk tea to fill
out the rest of the drink.

The tea became known as boba because the term is slang for breasts in Chinese (a reference the
spherical shape of the tapioca balls). Boba evolved over time as it grew more widespread
throughout Taiwan: stall owners started introducing fruit boba, using fruit powders and syrups in
lieu of actual fruit (which was too expensive and went bad quickly). The topping choices
expanded beyond tapioca balls to include elements like grass jelly, almond jelly, egg pudding,
and red beans. Even in classic boba, the milk in the milk tea was swapped out for non-dairy
creamer because it was more shelf-stable, and as a result, the drink became known for its
incredibly sweet, creamy taste.

Retrieved January 18, 2021 from https://www.foodandwine.com/tea/bubble-tea-taiwanese-street-drink-

turned-american-addiction