A deep dive into something more than just sugar, tea, and balls.
Bubble tea, also known as boba, originated in Taiwan in the late 1980s and has since gained global recognition, with over 50,000 boba shops worldwide. The anatomy of boba consists of a tea base, milk, tapioca pearls, sugar, and ice. This fully customizable drink has gained its popularity among young people due to its satisfying and trendy taste, but it has also become a lifestyle where people like to grab boba and hang out together, go on study dates, or even just have a casual drink while shopping. Whatever the occasion may be, bubble tea is always a popular choice.
But did you know that boba is a slang term for big balls in Taiwanese, referring to the tapioca pearls in the drink, of course. Or could it mean something else….. Rookie mistake if you didn’t know before, but it’s okay, now you do.
Metaphorically, boba is a great symbol for life. In which the tea is the foundation of life, milk is the knowledge, sugar is the happiness, ice is the challenges and changes, and the tapioca is for friendships, family, and hobbies. So next time you take a sip, remember: knowing your boba means understanding yourself and knowing that the perfect drink is composed of many elements, just like life.
