A mystery drink that is getting all the rage that is usually bought cold with this puzzling black ball form at the bottom. That mystery drink is called Boba, Bubble Tea or Tapioca. Boba is referred to 3 different related words; bubble tea, tapioca, and Boba. Each definition has different meanings but related to the same item. Bubble tea is the drink form that can be formed in a milk tea, blended, hot or cold drink. Bubble tea can add toppings like Boba which is the black ball which is a form of tapioca pearls. Understanding the secrecy of Boba, let me explain the history of how it came to be. 

milk, coffee, tea, sweet, cream
Jocelyn Hsu

During the 1980's in Taichung, Taiwan there was a high traffic popularity for tea stands because it was quick, delicious, and efficient. But the growth of demand grew. Liu Han Chie, of Chun Shui Tang Teahouse, revealed a way to make their bubble tea stand out. He started to test different variations with bubble tea like adding tapioca balls, fruits, and other home ingredients. Thus creating the modern day bubble tea. Bubble tea grew all over Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries, and soon migrated to the United States and globally. 

coffee, cream, chocolate
Tessie Grace Sumampong-Apique

I prefer saying Boba because I grew up with Boba. Boba is, like I said, the way of my life. There are so many types of boba. You can make it into a milk tea, blend it like a frappe, add ice cream, sea salt cream, or a combination of everything in between. Even for the non-believer and non-Boba lovers, there will be one specific Boba drink that will make you love it as much as I do. I guarantee that. You will not regret it. Fun fact: you don’t always have to put tapioca balls or Boba in your drink. You can also put pearl Boba, Aloe Vera, any type of jellies like Lychee, Mango, and even coffee jelly. The combination of tea and Boba is endless. It will be impossible to try to drink every blend of Boba drinks.

coffee, cream, milk, chocolate
Tessie Grace Sumampong-Apique

Boba has this way of making someone happy. I know when I get Boba; I am a happy camper. It reminds me of my childhood and makes me reminisce of the time I use to get Boba with my friends in middle school or when I would go on a Boba run with my family. We would get supplies of Boba just to fulfill our stomach. While sipping on our favorite drinks, we would laugh endless about ridiculous jokes and never ending conversations. Boba was made in Taiwan and without Lui Han Chie willing to intergraded Boba into the modern day it is now, I wouldn’t be able to share my love to Boba to you and to anyone who is reading this. Boba is the combination of the love that I have for it and the people who share the same love as I. Let us conquer the world one Boba at a time.