What Is Bubble Tea? History, Ingredients, and How Boba Tea Is Made

Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, or tapioca milk tea, is a popular Taiwanese beverage made with brewed tea, milk or fruit flavors, and chewy tapioca pearls. Shaken until lightly frothy, bubble tea delivers a fun combination of texture, flavor, and refreshment that has captivated tea lovers worldwide.

Originally created in Taiwan, bubble tea has grown into a global phenomenon, appearing in specialty tea shops, cafés, and even supermarkets across Asia, North America, Europe, and beyond.

History of Bubble Tea

The origin of bubble tea dates back to Taiwan in the 1980s, with two major tea houses claiming its invention.

One story credits Chun Shui Tang Tea Room in Taichung, where founder Liu Han-Chieh promoted cold-brewed tea inspired by Japanese coffee culture. During a staff meeting, product development manager Lin Hsiu Hui added tapioca pearls to iced milk tea—creating the first version of bubble tea. The drink quickly became the shop’s top-selling item.

Another origin story comes from Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan. In 1986, owner Tu Tsong-he reportedly experimented with white tapioca pearls he discovered at a local market, combining them with tea to create what became known as “pearl tea.”

The term “bubble” itself may trace back even further—to the 1940s in Taiwan, when tea vendors experimented with shaking tea to create a foamy layer on top, a technique that later became standard in bubble tea preparation.

Ingredients Used in Bubble Tea

The defining feature of bubble tea is its tapioca pearls, made from cassava root starch. The starch is mixed with water, shaped into small balls, and cooked until soft and chewy. Dark pearls are often infused with brown sugar, giving them a caramel-like flavor and deep color.

Modern bubble tea recipes may include:

• Tapioca pearls (black or white)

• Brewed black tea, green tea, or oolong tea

• Milk, creamers, or dairy alternatives

• Fruit syrups or juices

• Sweeteners such as sugar, honey, or brown sugar

Today, bubble tea comes in countless flavors and styles, making it one of the most versatile tea-based drinks in the world.

Types of Bubble Tea

Bubble tea generally falls into two main categories:

Milk Bubble Tea

Made with black, green, or oolong tea combined with milk or creamers. The earliest bubble tea recipes used hot Taiwanese black tea, condensed milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls.

Fruit Bubble Tea

Prepared without milk, using fruit teas or juices paired with tapioca pearls or other toppings such as popping boba or jelly.

Both styles can be served hot or cold, though iced bubble tea is the most popular worldwide.

How Bubble Tea Is Prepared

Traditionally, bubble tea is made by combining brewed tea, sweetener, milk or fruit flavoring, and cooked tapioca pearls in a bubble tea shaker cup. The mixture is shaken vigorously to blend flavors and create a light foam before being poured into a cup.

Many modern bubble tea shops now use automatic bubble tea shaker machines, which ensure consistency and speed while preserving the classic shaking technique that defines authentic bubble tea.

Global Popularity of Bubble Tea

By the 1990s, bubble tea had spread throughout East and Southeast Asia. In the past two decades, it has gained massive popularity worldwide, evolving beyond a drink into a cultural trend.

Today, bubble tea inspires innovative creations such as:

• Bubble tea ice cream

• Bubble tea toast

• Bubble tea pizza

• Bubble tea desserts and snacks

In Taiwan, bubble tea is considered a national icon. In 2020, April 30 was officially declared National Bubble Tea Day, celebrating the drink’s cultural significance and global influence.