In the 1980s, Boba’s story begins in Taiwan’s short traditional tea shops. These shops used to sell cold tea, a popular drink back, which later found an additional component – Boba Pearl. They immediately became a hit and soon spread across the world.
Popularly known zhēnzh k nǎichá In Taiwanese, which translates into ‘Pearl Milk Tea’, Boba is mainly made from tapioca starch and sugar. These delicious behavior are now popular worldwide and have many tastes to go with the drinks of your choice.
Who started it?
Bubble tea as we know it was born today about four decades ago. Two tea houses, Chun Shui Tang in Taiichung and Hylin Tea Room in Tanan claimed to invent the drink in 1986.
Although it is impossible to confirm the story with certainty, two tea shops were once involved in a ten -year lawsuit on a fierce ownership dispute. The court eventually decided in 2019 that the inventor of bubble tea was irrelevant as it is not a patent product.
Many stories
While Bobas is hugged as Taiwan’s composition, the battle of the inventor in fact continues. In the Chun Shui Tang Tea room in Taiichung, it has been claimed that he made a drink after using the same randomly during a meeting. Since the drink became a hit in the meeting, it was decided that they would be added to their menu in the late 1980s. It is also said that the founder was inspired by cold coffee and also decided to make cold tea.
Another claim comes from Hanlin Tea Room in his rival, Tanan. According to him, the owner of the place was inspired by white tapioca balls in Chinese that were being sold in a local market. He then used them in tea to make pearl tea. Even though the stories are still not proved, it is attractive to know the history behind these cute small drinks which we all like and follow.
Do you know
In Taiwan, bubble tea has developed from a simple drink to the timeless symbol of the country’s Pak and cultural heritage. In 2020, Taiwan officially declared the National Bubble Tea Day on 30 April. The picture of bubble tea was also suggested as an alternative cover design for Taiwan’s passport in the same year.
Employees who roll flour to make fresh tapioca bubbles at a bubble tea shop in Taiwan, Taiwan. , Photo Credit: Getty Images
Boba forms
Another form of the same, called ‘popping boba’, is also available. Unlike traditional Boba, which is Chubi, it is filled with a tasted liquid with a thin jelly skin with spherical balls. When bitten, the skin bursts, leaves the taste. This skin is made from a process, called spherical, often using sodium algnet and a calcium solution, while liquid is usually a syrup of fruit juice or various tastes. Popping boba is usually used in bubble tea or slurds (non-milk versions use the same more).
How to make Boba!
Let us learn how to make this funny Asian drink with tapioca.
Material
1 cup tapioca starch (aka tapioca flour)
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup of water
step
Boil half a cup of water and brown sugar. Stir in the tape cup tapioca starch until it becomes thick, then add the cup starch and knead it in the dough. Adjust with starch or warm water as required. Roll the dough in a small ball (boba shape) and dust it with a little starch to prevent sticking.
Bring a pot of water, add boba, and shake gently to make a rolling boil. Boil for 20-30 minutes until soft and chewing, turn off the heat, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a small pan, boil half cup of water and brown sugar until it becomes slightly thicker and add cooked boba while boiling for another 5-10 minutes.
You like a cup of milk tea or any other taste drink and combine Boba with syrup. Stir together and taste.
niranjana.ps@thehindu.co.in
