What’s The Difference Between Boba Tea and Bubble Tea?

Check out a trendy cafe or browse the internet for foods and you’ll probably discover bubble teas and boba tea with colorful drinks and chewy pearls at the base. No matter the term you use, these beverages are often known as Boba tea, bubble tea, pearl milk tea or simply boba. But since these names are tossed around so often, the main question people still ask is this:

What sets bubble tea apart from boba tea? Or, are they both names for the same thing or are they actually different types of cappuccino?

So, to see the bottom, we’ll look at where tea comes from, the main ingredients and the traditions behind its names as a worldwide hit.

Where it all began: Taiwan in the 1980s

In the early 1980s, tea shops in Taiwan started to come up with boba tea by adding sweet milk, chewy pearls and serving it cold. Many local youth became fans of this combo food with its special texture and flavors they could add.

Both Chun Shui Tang and Hanlin Tea Room say they first created the original beverage. Whatever the story, there’s no denying the invention a drink that mixes tea, milk and tapioca balls. Within only a few years, the drink grew very popular in Asia and then around the globe.

Boba Tea vs Bubble Tea: The Naming Game

What’s the story behind their names? Both boba tea and bubble tea normally refer to the same type of drink. It’s common for different regions to use their own term:

The term “boba tea” is especially common on the West Coast, mainly in California, because Asian-American communities were responsible for bringing it there. Bubble tea is known as such in cities along the East Coast and in many places around the world.

At first, the phrase “bubble tea” meant the bubbles formed when you shake the tea and milk, not the tapioca pearls. Meanwhile, in Chinese, “boba” originally referred to “big pearls”, later to the pearls themselves and then to the boba drink.

You can call it boba tea, the drink comes from Taiwan and became a favorite worldwide in the 1980s. Essentially, it’s a drink made with tea, usually black, green, oolong or jasmine, mixed with sweeteners, milk or fruit and most importantly, chewy boba pearls.

Earlier, bubble tea was described by the frothy bubbles you see when you shake it, but now boba tea brings attention to the tapioca balls it includes. Now, you can find all kinds of varieties in this drink such as fruit teas, slushies, iced milk teas, plus toppings such as popping boba, jelly cubes, pudding, grass jelly or even cheese foam.

Boba and bubble tea is meant to be served cold in a large straw; because there different, standout and appealing in appearance, it’s become popular with younger people.

The Stuff Inside: Not just Tapioca

Black tapioca pearls are the usual ingredient, but modern bubble tea offers plenty of other choices. Bubble tea often mixes tea (black, green, oolong or Thai tea) with either milk or fruit. Yet, it’s really the mix of additional toppings on top that makes it a truly exceptional drink.

Tapioca pearls (boba) are made from flour and water and are lightly sweet in taste. Eating the boba juice balls that break apart quickly in your mouth Examples of grass jelly, aloe vera and pudding are available as functional desserts. You can cook red bean or taro pieces.

Cheese foam is also known as milk caps. Because bubble/boba tea can be made in many ways, it’s really a category, not a single drink.

Cultural Phenomenon in the U.S.

Bubble tea which at first was limited to Asian communities, has escalated into a major trend in the US and elsewhere. Many boba shops are doing well in cities and near college towns, while Gong Cha, Kung Fu Tea and Tiger Sugar have built a big following among young people.

Besides being a drink, boba brings people together, offers a fun way to share with friends and is both tasty and gorgeous. For many Asian-American youth, boba represents both residence and intercultural interest in the world.

So…Is There a Difference?

Though boba and bubble tea aren’t exactly the same, the drink is known by each name in various situations or places. They both mean sweet iced tea that you can flavor with fruit or milk and often, tapioca pearls.

Some people like to call the tapioca pearls “boba,” and the whole drink with them “bubble tea.” Some people turn that idea around. If you just use either word, you’ll still have yourself a warm drink with chewy bits.

Conclusion

The main dividing factor between boba tea and bubble tea is mostly where you live and which name you use to describe the drink. Both of these terms describe a Taiwanese drink made from tea, added milk or fruit and pieces of chewy tapioca or different toppings.

Despite the fact that “bubble” implies the foam and “boba” means the tapioca, most people now use the names “bubble tea” and “boba tea” as if they were the same. Boba or bubble tea all sounds the same, because they are both delicious teas with flavors everyone loves.

Either called bubble tea or boba tea, its most impressive quality is the chance to customize it, along with its origins in Asia and textures. No matter if you order it bobba or tapioca, drinking tea out of a wide straw filled with chewy goodness is always the same.

If you want to enjoy refreshing bubble tea then Harvy’s is the best store located in various places such as Edison, Jersey, Colonia and many more. They provide the best milk bubble tea which are available in variety of flavors, colors and taste.Plus, if you’re searching for a cozy ice cream shop in edison, Harvy’s has that delightful side too, making it a perfect spot for cool treats and tea drinks alike.

The next time you order, don’t worry about calling it the right thing. If your favorite tastes are known, choose those flavors and tasty add-ons, then indulge in the smooth charm of bubble or boba tea.