<strong>The complete story of bubble tea: </strong>Invented in the 1980s, bubble tea (also called black pearl tea or boba tea) is a beloved Taiwan icon.
The complete story of bubble tea: Invented in the 1980s, bubble tea (also called black pearl tea or boba tea) is a beloved Taiwan icon.
Hanlin Tea Room
<strong>How bubble tea was invented: </strong>In 1986, Taiwanese artist and entrepreneur Tu Tsong He was looking for a new idea for his soon-to-open teashop. While experimenting he added white tapioca balls -- called fenyuan, a traditional Taiwanese snack -- into his tea and a star was born.
How bubble tea was invented: In 1986, Taiwanese artist and entrepreneur Tu Tsong He was looking for a new idea for his soon-to-open teashop. While experimenting he added white tapioca balls -- called fenyuan, a traditional Taiwanese snack -- into his tea and a star was born.
Hanlin Tea Room
<strong>Pearl green tea: </strong>"The white fenyuan looks almost translucent with a white center when brewed inside the golden green tea, much like my mother's pearl necklace. So I coined it 'zhen zhu lu cha' (pearl green tea)," Tu, the founder of Hanlin Tea Room tells CNN Travel.
Pearl green tea: "The white fenyuan looks almost translucent with a white center when brewed inside the golden green tea, much like my mother's pearl necklace. So I coined it 'zhen zhu lu cha' (pearl green tea)," Tu, the founder of Hanlin Tea Room tells CNN Travel.
Hanlin Tea Room
<strong>Who is 'Boba': </strong>Boba, now synonymous with bubble tea in general, was first used to refer to the large black tapioca balls in bubble tea. It was reportedly named after Hong Kong movie star Amy Yip, whose nickname was Boba, or "champion of boobs" in Cantonese.
Who is 'Boba': Boba, now synonymous with bubble tea in general, was first used to refer to the large black tapioca balls in bubble tea. It was reportedly named after Hong Kong movie star Amy Yip, whose nickname was Boba, or "champion of boobs" in Cantonese.
Hanlin Tea Room
<strong>Shaken, not stirred: </strong>Milk tea -- which led to bubble tea -- is shaken in a cocktail shaker, a trend that began in 1940s. Chang Fan Shu, a mixologist who honed his skills working in a Japanese izakaya when Taiwan was under Japanese rule in WWII, started making tea this way in 1949.
Shaken, not stirred: Milk tea -- which led to bubble tea -- is shaken in a cocktail shaker, a trend that began in 1940s. Chang Fan Shu, a mixologist who honed his skills working in a Japanese izakaya when Taiwan was under Japanese rule in WWII, started making tea this way in 1949.
Hanlin Tea Room
<strong>'Love at first sip': </strong>"I had my first taste of bubble tea whilst in New York in 2009, and it was love at first sip," says Assad Khan, founder of popular UK bubble tea chain Bubbleology.
'Love at first sip': "I had my first taste of bubble tea whilst in New York in 2009, and it was love at first sip," says Assad Khan, founder of popular UK bubble tea chain Bubbleology.
Bubbleology
<strong>Bubble tea goes mainstream: </strong>With its rainbow-colored logo and lab coat-wearing staff, Bubbleology turned bubble tea into a fashionable lifestyle drink in the UK.
Bubble tea goes mainstream: With its rainbow-colored logo and lab coat-wearing staff, Bubbleology turned bubble tea into a fashionable lifestyle drink in the UK.
Bubbleology
<strong>Tea's answer to the Frappuccino: </strong>"The best part about bubble tea is its entirely customizable nature. You don't find this with other offerings in the impulse snack category," says Khan. He calls it "tea's answer to the coffee-based Frappuccino."
Tea's answer to the Frappuccino: "The best part about bubble tea is its entirely customizable nature. You don't find this with other offerings in the impulse snack category," says Khan. He calls it "tea's answer to the coffee-based Frappuccino."
Bubbleology
<strong>The latest trend: </strong>In recent years, bubble tea made with brown sugar and fresh milk has become a hot trend in cities throughout Asia, from Hong Kong to Bangkok.
The latest trend: In recent years, bubble tea made with brown sugar and fresh milk has become a hot trend in cities throughout Asia, from Hong Kong to Bangkok.
Maggie Wong/CNN