Sahaj Chopra, Co-Founder & Director, Fat Tiger, dives into why boba is stirring up quite the storm.
Bubble tea or boba has been making waves globally, majorly impacting trade and business. Bubble tea’s journey from a small teahouse delicacy to international stardom is a testament to innovation, cultural exchange, and the beverage’s irresistible charm. Its distinctive blend of traditional tea flavours, brown sugar-sweetness, an occasional caffeine kick, and chewy tapioca pearls — its claim to fame — all contribute to the magic.
Usually made with black tea, milk and sugar, the beverage can be served warm or chilled. To make a rich and creamy base, the brewed tea is blended with milk and sweeteners like sugar or honey. The drink then gets infused with tapioca pearls, which are tiny, chewy balls manufactured from cassava flour that give it a distinct texture.
A Treat Apart
The variety of flavours available in boba is one of its most alluring qualities. There is a flavour for every palate, ranging from creamy and nutty, to fruity and fragrant. Strawberry, mango, lychee, honeydew, matcha, and taro are a few of the most popular ones. Apart from its extensive variety of flavours, boba can be tailored to suit personal tastes. Consumers have the option to select the kind of milk, degree of sweetness, as well as the tapioca pearls’ size and texture. However, it is the texture of boba that sets it apart from other drinks. The tapioca pearls give the beverage a chewy, somewhat sweet taste that is both distinctive and delightful to the palate. It’s similar to eating a snack and sipping on a drink together.
There are several explanations for why boba is sometimes described as a taste of heaven. Firstly, if premium tea leaves are used, the tea base itself has the potential to be aromatic and tasty. Many appreciate the creamy, sweet taste that the milk and sugar can add. Secondly, the fruit flavourings impart a refreshing and fruity taste to the drink, while the chewy tapioca balls add a fun and unusual texture. Many people find it a complex and fulfilling taste experience when these flavours and textures combine. Lastly, but certainly not the least, boba has spread over the globe and grown to become a cherished beverage, which may add to the appeal and good connotations associated with the beverage. In general, boba’s flavour is arbitrary and dependent on individual tastes, yet for many, it may be a highly pleasurable and fulfilling beverage due to its distinctive flavour and texture combinations.
Fun With Boba
These are a few well-liked varieties of boba that are widely available:
Traditional Milk Tea With Boba: This is a well-liked option that combines black tea, milk and sweetener. Tapioca pearls, or boba, are added for a chewy texture.
Fruit-Flavored Tea With Boba: This variation of boba tea starts with fruit teas and is frequently topped with boba and fresh fruit or fruit syrups.
Boba Tiramisu: The flavours of tiramisu, coffee and boba are combined to create this delectable and unusual drink. The drink usually has three layers – a layer of cream or syrup with a flavour reminiscent of tiramisu at the bottom, a layer of milk flavoured with coffee on top, and a big portion of chewy tapioca pearls, or boba. All things considered, tiramisu coffee latte boba is a delightful and entertaining beverage.
Flavoured Boba With Coffee: Boba cafés frequently provide coffee-based cocktails with boba for those who enjoy coffee. Popular choices include espresso combined with milk and sugar, or iced coffee.
Crème Brûlée Boba Coffee: Crème Brûlée boba coffee blends the flavours of caramelised sugar, chewy boba pearls, and creamy custard to create a distinctive and delectable coffee beverage. Freshly brewed coffee usually serves as the base, to which cream or milk and a flavouring syrup — typically vanilla or caramel — are added. Next, a layer of creamy custard and caramelised sugar — which is burned to produce a crisp, caramelised crust — is placed on top of the beverage.
