What is Bubble Tea (Boba)?
Boba, or bubble tea, is a well liked drink that has made a recent upsoar in popularity. This drink consists of just two basic ingredients- a tea base, and the natural or artificial flavoring you choose. From there, you are able to customize it with more flavors, toppings, and even cosmetic additions like edible sparkles! Out of the numerous toppings that are available to add into your drink, the tapioca boba towers above everything else and is by far the most commonly ordered.
What is tapioca boba, anyway?
The tapioca, pearls, or balls, which they are commonly referred to as, is simply a seasoned starch that comes from the tapioca plant’s (cassava) roots. The starch is rolled into balls and boiled in water allowing for it to have a soft, sometimes gooey texture. It can then be seasoned with honey, sugar, or other natural ingredients to give it the desired flavor.
Where does bubble tea originate from?
Bubble tea has been around since the 1980s, having its origins from Taiwan. Many people believe the absolute origin was from a taiwanese tea vendor who often experimented with adding various flavors and syrups into his drinks, eventually stumbling upon what we now know as bubble tea. From that point on, we’ve been able to create endless flavors and toppings from mild black milk tea to crazy popping boba that explodes flavor into your mouth!
How far has bubble tea come?
According to a recent study done by Grand View Research, reports show that even back in 2016, the bubble tea market was close to selling nearly half a billion drinks:
That is approximately 1.30 drinks per person in the United States! In addition to this, the projected bubble tea market is expected to exceed well over one billion products sold in 2027. This would bring the total to approximately 3.20 drinks per person in the United States!
Exponential growth of the bubble tea market is expected for years to come.
Why Bubble Tea is for Everybody:
There are many reasons one may want to drink bubble tea. From health reasons, to just pure enjoyment, there is sure to be a place for bubble tea in everyone's life. If you are looking for health benefits, try using green or jasmine tea as your base. Studies show that this can lower risk of heart disease, blood pressure, and overall cholesterol. If you are sugar conscious, the sugar levels that are added into your tea can be completely customized to your exact liking. Mental health can also be benefitted by drinking tea due to its calming effects.
If you are looking for just the taste and enjoyment of bubble tea, there are thousands of different combinations and flavors to choose from, not to mention the creative toppings you can add!
Below is a study done by Grand View Research displaying the most popular types of tea flavors people choose when buying their bubble tea:
Overview:
- Bubble tea consists of just two basic ingredients- a tea base, and the natural or artificial flavoring you choose. The topping is completely optional, but a good addition!
- The most common topping people add to their bubble tea is tapioca boba. - Tapioca boba is a seasoned starch that comes from the tapioca plant’s (cassava) roots. The starch is rolled into balls and boiled in water allowing for it to have a soft, sometimes gooey texture. Flavors can vary depending on the type of seasoning. - Bubble tea has been around since the 1980s, having its origins from Taiwan. - The projected bubble tea market is expected to exceed well over one billion products sold in 2027.
- Studies show that tea can lower risk of heart disease, blood pressure, and overall cholesterol.
Works Cited:
"Bubble Tea Market Size, Share, Growth Report, 2020-2027." Market Research Reports & Consulting | Grand View Research, Inc,
www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/bubble-tea-market. Accessed 10 Aug. 2022.