Tea, milk, syrup and sweet pearls ... Do you know what it is the basis of? A phenomenon called bubble tea! Surely, one of you has noticed young people passing by, holding a transparent colorful cup with balls inside. This drink became a hit quickly because of its appearance, and its popularity is still growing. Originally, however, it was sold by people at markets in tea stands. Gradually, it reached us, and today we will introduce it to you in more detail.
What exactly is bubble tea?
The origin of the phenomenon dates back to Asia, specifically it is a Taiwanese drink that appeared in the 1980s in the city of Taichung, where it began to be served in tea stalls at markets.
The recipe consists of a combination of high-quality green or black tea with milk or fruit, which is complemented by tapioca pearls. The popularity of this drink sharply increased in the 1990s and spread further to Hong Kong, Japan, and through the US to Europe. Today, bubble tea is consumed as often as a smoothie, and in various modified versions, it can be found in most shopping centers.
The success of the drink lies in...
...mainly in its original, colorful appearance and people's curiosity. Bubble tea quickly became a phenomenon on social media, where people enjoy taking photos with the drink and influencers heavily promote it.
The taste of the drink depends mostly on us - on what flavors we prefer and how we have the bubble tea mixed. Among the currently most popular flavors are strawberry, apple, blueberry, banana or mango. The drink can be further enhanced by adding various syrups, which significantly affect the taste of tea. The overall taste and appearance will finally be fine-tuned by dark, jelly-like balls, which are often referred to as "pearls". These pearls are made from tapioca and acquire a specific structure through cooking. They can be made in various shapes and flavors.
The mystery of tapioca
Tapioca is a form of starch obtained from the root of the manioc plant, which grows in South America. In local cuisine, this starch has an important place, as it provides quick energy and satisfies hunger. Its counterpart is potato or corn starch used in our cuisine. Tapioca is almost allergen-free, does not contain gluten, is easily digestible, but as it is a higher form of carbohydrates, it has relatively high calories.
The milk juice is then dried and used for the preparation of flour, flakes, and also pearls. We can encounter tapioca pearls in two color variations:
- with light ones: which are made from the white flesh of the tubers of the cassava plant,
- with black ones: they owe their dark color to the brown sugar that is added to them during preparation and are the basis of the already mentioned Bubble tea
Unflavored tapioca pearls are also commonly available in our stores. They can be used for tapioca pudding, which you can prepare by adding milk or cream, fruit and sweetener to taste. In any case, the preparation is very similar to the preparation of the popular chia pudding.
Recipe: How to make homemade Bubble tea?
Preparing bubble tea is easy and can be made in a healthier form right at home. If you use real fruit juices, quality black or green tea, and fresh fruit, you can create a delicious drink that also has plenty of antioxidants and vitamins. When you add fresh fruit juices or fruits, you don't have to use as much sugar or sweeteners, and it will be a little healthier. The drink can be flavored with honey, coconut milk or chia seeds.
We will need:
- 100 g of boiled tapioca pearls
- 1 cup of quality chilled black or green tea to taste (e.g. black with soursop or pure green)
- 1 cup milk (can be cow's milk or any vegan alternative)
- 4 ice cubes
- honey or syrup to taste for sweetening
- fresh fruit/fruit juice (of your choice)
Method:
Cook the tapioca pearls for about 5 minutes until they float to the surface. Then rinse them with cold water. Put the pearls prepared in this way into the jars.
Add a cup of tea, milk, ice and other ingredients you like (fresh fruit, fruit juice, seeds,...)
You can also sweeten the drink with honey or fruit syrup. Mix everything well and go for it!
Tip: On the internet, you can buy so-called popping boba, which are small bursting balls filled with fruit juice. If you want to bring your homemade bubble tea to perfection, you can also opt for this variant. However, be prepared to "dig into your pockets."
You can adjust the recipe however you like according to your tastes. For example, you can blend the fruit, or add crushed ice and mix everything in a shaker. You will make countless variations and always try something new! You can even replace the tea with espresso and create a summer coffee drink.
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Nehodlám hodnotit zásluhy – jsem v tématu spíše laik… Nicméně Váš styl vyjadřování a celkové vedení tématu mě přesvědčuje a je plusem. Budu tu častěji, s pozdravem 🙂
Děkujeme za povzbudivá slova 🙂