Though becoming generally connected to Taiwan, bubble tea is also increasing prominence in foreign countries, especially throughout Thailand.
As a direct result of multiple nomenclatures that are utilized based on the specific location and certain occasions, there exists an important misunderstanding concerning what bubble tea actually stands for in Thailand.
In Thailand, “boba” or “pearl milk tea” are both common terms for bubble tea. You can additionally label it “Thai milk tea with bubbles” or alternatively “Thai bubble tea” if Thai tea is used as a base along with tapioca pearls.
This article will examine the several names for bubble tea that are used in Thailand as well as the cultural importance of this popular libation there.
Actual Origin of Bubble Tea
When we hear Thailand, we instantly thought of its famous tea which is Thai tea. It is also said that Thai tea is on the 7th rank in the world when it comes to drinks without alcohol.
But there is another one the bubble or Thai tea Boba, another popular beverage consisting of black tea, condensed milk, evaporated milk, and tapioca pearls.
The word Boba is not actually from Thailand, it’s from Taiwan. In Thailand, you will find people calling it “Nam Cha Kai Muk” which means “milk tea with bubbles”.
This tea originated in Taiwan in early 1980s and Taiwanese immigrants brought this beverage to the United States later on in the 1990s. Eventually, it traveled across the US and other countries as well.
Here is a data table that can give us a little insight into this tea in Taiwan and the United States.
| Category | Bubble Tea in Taiwan | Bubble Tea in the US |
| Origin | Taiwan | Growing in popularity, with many shops specially designed to offer a variety of flavors and also to try new ones |
| Name | 珍珠奶茶 (Namchakaimuk) | Bubble tea, boba tea |
| Type | Cold or hot, tea-based beverage with chewy tapioca balls or other add-ins | Cold or hot, tea-based beverage with chewy tapioca balls or other add-ins |
| Serving Style | Typically served in clear plastic cups with a lid and a wide straw for consuming the tapioca balls | Typically served in clear plastic cups with a lid and a wide straw for consuming the tapioca balls |
| Popularity | Very popular, with many specialty bubble tea shops and chains throughout the country | Growing in popularity, with many shops especially designed to offer a variety of flavors and also to try new ones |
| Price | Generally inexpensive, with prices starting at around NT$20-30 (US$0.70-$1.00) | Can vary widely depending on location and brand, with prices typically starting at around $3-4 per serving |
It is very important to know that these facts are based on individual research and surveys and all of them depend on different food chains; but we can safely say bubble tea is not only famous in Taiwan, it’s also very famous in other countries, including the US.
The Art Of Serving Bubble Tea (Taiwanese Style)
There are two categories of bubble tea, one is with milk and one is without milk. Each of these varieties comes from, black, green, and oolong tea as the base. The ancient bubble tea was made from a mixture of hot black tea, tapioca pearls, condensed milk, and syrup.
But now, you can find it cold almost everywhere, the tapioca pearls that make this tea so unique were made from the starch of cassava.
Nowadays, you will find a lot of cafés that are considered genuine places to get bubble tea. Also, you will find some cafés serving bubble tea in a glass, but the Taiwanese shops still serve the drink in plastic cups and use a machine to seal the top of the cup with heated plastic cellophane.
While it may seem strange but this allows the tea to be shaken in the cup and avoid spilling until a person is ready to drink it; the cellophane is then pierced with a large straw, now referred to as a boba straw.
Bubble Tea’s Popularity
In the 1990s, this tea gained popularity all over East and Southeast Asia, typically in regions like Hong Kong, Japan, Mainland China, Vietnam, and Singapore. Young people were really attracted to this drink, in some popular shops, people used to wait on average thirty minutes in line to get one cup of bubble tea.
The craze for this beverage has now gone beyond borders and boundaries and people have invented different types of food linked with bubble tea, for instance, Bubble Tea Ice Cream, Bubble Tea Pizza, Bubble Tea Toast, Bubble Tea Sushi, and Bubble Tea Ramen.
These are only a few things that were mentioned but if we talk about Taiwan, the popularity is so great that this drink is considered an icon for food and culture in Taiwan.
As a matter of fact, in 2020, April 30 was officially declared National Bubble Tea Day in Taiwan. That same year, the image of bubble tea was also proposed to be incorporated into the design of the Taiwan Passport.
I would recommend watching this video to know about some tasty bubble tea points.
Potential Health Concerns of Bubble Tea
This is actually based on facts that in July 2019, Singapore’s Mount Alvermia Hospital warned against the high sugar content of bubble tea after the drink had become extremely popular in Singapore.
While it acknowledges the benefits of drinking black and green tea but also warns against the other ingredients like nondairy creamer toppings that can increase the chances of chronic diseases.
Non-dairy creamer is a milk substitute that contains trans-fat in the form of hydrogenated palm oil and this oil has been strongly correlated with an increased amount of heart diseases and stroke.
Why Thai Tea is a Better Choice than Bubble Tea?
- Thai tea differentiates itself from various other teas by its own unique aroma, that results from an amalgamation of black tea, spices, and sweet condensed milk.
- Thai tea can frequently be made with substantially fewer grams of sugar compared to bubble tea, which renders it an excellent choice for any individual attempting to reduce back on the amount of sugar they ingest.
- Thai tea tastes great on its own, but bubble tea frequently needs extra toppings like fruit, jelly, or boba to make it taste better.
- Thai tea has a rich history and cultural foundation, and tea consumption has a long history in Thailand. It is frequently offered in restaurants and on important occasions. Consequentially, it made itself an essential part of Thai culture.
Conclusion
- The purpose of this article was not only to inform readers about what this tea is and what it is called but also to give a bit of information about cultures that are adopted beautifully by other regions of the world.
- The world calls this a tea with bubbles but in Thailand, it’s called “Nam Cha Kai Muk.”
- It was originally served hot, but now it’s preferred cold in a plastic bag with the top sealed.
- The straw to drink this tea is called boba straw and it allows all the toppings to come through.
- The Boba tea is a cultural icon for Taiwan, and there is a national day after this tea in the country.
- As everything has some negative points, this tea can also become harmful due to extra added sugar which can cause many health issues.
- There is a design proposal for bubble tea to be incorporated into a passport in Taiwan.
- This tea’s origin is from Taiwan and then it moved to Thailand, Japan, Mainland China, Singapore, and Vietnam.
- In the 1990s, this tea was brought to the US by Vietnam immigrants and it’s now a very famous drink in the USA and you will find it all in big cafés.