Starch balls made from a cassava/yucca shrub! Yes, that is what boba is and tea drinks made from these balls are my current addiction!
You have seen me post about bubble tea before. But, in California, it is available everywhere and I was able to consume it daily on my visit!
The term boba references the entire drink-plus-toppings, the most popular topping being tapioca pearls (which also happen to be called boba). The drink as a whole is also known as bubble tea.
Boba — the drink in its entirety – originates from Taiwan. Originally, boba pearls were used in shaved ice desserts and paired with syrups, beans, and rice balls. Milk tea was also consumed regularly and thankfully, someone decided to merge the two, creating the wonderfully delicious drink I happen to adore!
Boba culture made its way to America through Taiwanese neighborhoods and blossomed near college campuses and high schools, where students would gather for study groups. Probably the strong Asian influence is the reason the drink is so much more popular in California than here on the East Coast.
Boba is the quintessential topping at any tea parlor. Once these balls of cassava root are rolled into bite size bunches, they’re boiled and flavored, often with brown sugar or honey. The result is a subtly sweet, chewy addition to a tea drink. If you’re trying milk tea for the first time, I’d definitely recommend going classic and adding boba – the best part of the drink!
To make it even more confusing – my favorite milk tea drink during the time I was in California contained no milk at all! My favorite drink was strawberry jasmine tea fresca…so yummy! And, I got this at my favorite place to get boba – Boba Guys! The line at Boba Guys was typically down the street – for good reason! Be sure to visit if you happen to be on the West Coast!
Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
