What is bubble tea?

Bubble tea is black or green tea mixed with cream and sugar. The large and chewy tapioca balls are the "bubbles" in bubble tea. Syrups and flavored powders are also added to create a variety of sweet flavors. They are served in clear plastic cups with a fat half-inch-diameter straw.

The joy of tasting a visually and sensually unique beverage is an important part of bubble tea. Tapioca pearls provide texture to the drink. The consistency of tapioca pearls is somewhere between gelatin and gummy candy. The pearls usually are the size of marbles, hence the exceptionally large straw. When you take your first sip, the tapioca pearls slowly roll up the straw, assembly-line style, and raid your entire mouth.

Contemporary bubble tea traces its roots back to Taiwan. Legend has it that a particular tea establishment attracted young customers by combining fruit juices with chilled tea. The concept proved to be such a success that in a short time the drink became ubiquitous throughout Taiwan.

But where did the tea-with-milk idea come from? Asians traditionally drink their teas plain - without milk, without sugar. This practice stems from European countries most notably England, famous for its afternoon tea times.

Over the years, this drink has evolved into many sophisticated incarnations, enticing veteran bubble tea drinkers and novices alike - even people who don't like tea. Most bubble tea shop also sell smoothie-type drinks with tapioca, milk shakes with tapioca, clear teas with fruit syrups and tapioca, and milk tea with flavored jelly instead of tapioca. You can even get your bubble tea without the "bubbles" - or hot, if you like