Discover the world of bubble tea and learn how this trendy beverage is perfect for celebrations of all kinds. From its origins to the different types of bubble tea available, explore everything you need to know about this sensational drink that has changed the world of refreshments forever!
Known as Bubble Tea in all parts of the world, boba tea has become one of the most popular drinks to date. It has become a favorite of people of all ages and all kinds. Believed to have originated in Taiwan in the 1980s, this drink has captured the hearts and love for refreshments of people from all walks of life. Typically, Bubble Tea is made with a base of any tea, most commonly black tea, milk, and the iconic chewy tapioca pearls or also known as boba pearls, and fruit jellies. And with modernity, Bubble Tea sellers have innovated ways to concoct this popular drink by integrating flavors, ingredients, and garnishes into it. And what’s more amazing about it, is how people made it into an enjoyable activity by learning how to create one at home or during team building.
Meet The Bubble Tea Classics
As we mentioned previously, Bubble Tea drinks are typically created with tea, milk, sugar (sugar syrup), tapioca pearls (learn how to cook it in under 30 minutes!), and other toppings like fruit jellies. To give you a more in-depth look, we curated a list of some of the most popular, classic Bubble Tea flavors available wherever.
1. Classic Milk Tea - This is known as the original Bubble Tea flavor that includes black tea, milk, sugar, and chewy tapioca pearls. It is served either hot or cold.
2. Taro Milk Tea - From the name itself, the flavor is made with taro root, a starchy vegetable with sweet and nutty flavor notes that are commonly found in Asia. It is combined with milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls.
3. Matcha Milk Tea - Garnering popularity over time, this flavor uses matcha powder, milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls. It is also referred to as Matcha Latte too.
4. Thai Tea - commonly called Cha Yen in Thailand, this type of brownish-orange bubble tea drink is made from Thai tea, a black tea blended with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and star anise. It has a distinct smell to it but is very much flavorful as it is combined with milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls.
5. Fruit Tea - Contradicting the traditional concoction of Bubble Tea that uses milk and tea, this drink is made of fruit-flavored tea or sometimes fresh fruit juices only, mixed with colorful fruit jellies, tapioca pearls, and other toppings.
The Teas in Bubble Tea
You might ask yourself this, “Can I drink Bubble Tea without the tea?” Well, the answer to that is simple, no. Tea is a traditional ingredient in the beverage. Without tea, bubble tea loses its distinctive flavor. And what’s not to love when it’s a rich source of antioxidants that are beneficial to your body!
Black Tea - is the most common type of tea used in bubble tea. It is known for its bold and rich flavor. These are Assam Black Tea, Earl Grey, Ceylon Black Tea, and more.
Green Tea - is a common tea used in bubble tea drinks. Although it is made from the same plant as black tea, green tea leaves are not fermented which gives it a lighter, more delicate flavor. The most popular green teas are Jasmine and Matcha.
Oolong Tea - a partially fermented tea, Oolong falls between black and green tea in terms of color and flavor. It is responsible for the floral and fruity notes you will taste in your boba drinks.
What Completes The Concoction?
Apart from teas, milk, and toppings are vital in any bubble tea drink. They add texture, flavor, and visual interest to the drinkers. Here’s a list of some of your favorites, and maybe some you haven’t heard of before!
Types of Milk:
Non-dairy Creamer
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Fresh Milk
Soy Milk
Almond Milk
Coconut Milk
Lactose-free Milk
Yogurt-like Drinks
Different Kinds of Toppings:
Tapioca Pearls
Fruit Jelly/Rainbow Jelly
Popping Boba
Grass Jelly
Taro Balls
Sweet Potato Balls
Red Beans
Cream Cheese
Whipped Cream
Ice Cream
Best Reasons to Start Creating Your Own!
Saves you $$$
Making your bubble tea drinks can save you money compared to buying them from shops. The ingredients can be purchased at a low cost and you can make multiple bubble tea drinks with the same ingredients.
Your boba tea, your rules!
Because you’re taking control of how you want your bubble tea to taste, with the right ingredients, you can customize many things about it. The level of sweetness, the kind of milk that you prefer, restrictions such as non-dairy alternatives, the kind of tea for your drink base, and the toppings you would most want. Customizing your boba tea allows you to have a more personalized drinking experience.
Healthier Options
Having to make your bubble tea also allows you to control the ingredients you have that you will use in making it. When you can control what goes into your boba tea, it gives you a healthier drink. This includes using less sweetener, a healthier milk alternative, and an option to choose pure or fresh toppings.
Convenience At Best
If you’re one to enjoy savoring any bubble tea drink, learning how to make them provides you convenience. You break the habit of going out to look for the best bubble tea shop in the neighborhood just to get your fix.
It’s more fun when made by you!
Bubble tea is not only fun to sip on! It’s a fun activity to do with your friends, your family (especially with the kids!), or your office colleagues. It truly offers a great way to spend a shared moment together while learning something new!
The Bubbly Takeaway
At Kits by Food Craft, bubble tea is our first love. That is why one of the first products that we introduced was Bubble Tea. It was our Bubble Tea-making experiences and Bubble Tea DIY Kits. We went OG by having our take with the classic flavors and the unique ones. As an event planning team, we aim to provide virtual Zoom or Google meetings and in-person experiences around New York and Dallas-Fort Worth Texas.
Virtual & In-Person Bubble Tea-making Experiences
An interestingly fun 1-hour activity to help you craft the art of bubble tea making with pro bobaristas in the comforts of your home or office with boba tea kits delivered.
What you’ll learn:
Learn how to cook tapioca pearls
Produce 3 intensely flavorful boba drinks with two toppings
Learn fun facts about the world-renowned beverage
The perfect happy hour or team-building experience is getting the best of both worlds– mixing tempting spirits and sweet boba flavors all together. Engage in a live demo creation of refreshing, creamy, fruity drinks with a little kick that tickles your senses in every sip as you enjoy a moment with your friends or teammates.
What you’ll learn:
Three homemade spirit-infused bubble tea recipes
Learn how to cook tapioca pearls
Discover more fun facts about bubble tea
DIY Kits for Anytime Bubble Tea Fix
What’s on the menu:
Assam Mango Fruit Tea
Jasmine Mango Fruit Tea
Assam Taro
Assam Brown Sugar
Jasmine Brown Sugar
A peek at some of the star ingredients:
Jasmine Tea Bags
Assam Tea Bags
Mango Syrup
Rainbow Jelly
Tapioca Pearls
Brown Sugar Syrup
Taro Mix
Makes 5 servings of brown sugar bubble tea drinks that bring Taiwan closer to home!
A peek at some of the star ingredients:
Assam Black Tea
Chai Tea
Brown Sugar Syrup
Tapioca Pearls
Cinnamon Packet
Make 5 servings of taro bubble tea drinks that you can enjoy by yourself or as a gift to someone!
Here is a peek at some of the star ingredients:
Taro Powder
Assam Black Tea Bag
Jasmine Tea Bag
Mint Tea Bag
Brown Sugar Syrup
Tapioca Pearls
Exploring the origins of this Taiwanese drink, its evolution into a global refreshment sensation, and why it has become a perfect activity for family, friends, and teams will always be the right choice. But what are the perks of hosting a Bubble Tea class or learning to make this favorite on your own?
Saves you time and stress from all the planning
Kits by Food Craft Expert Crafters have it organized & thoughtfully curated for you
Hassle-free access to ingredients & resources
Gives you value for your money
Hands-on coordination for a stress-free, memorable shared experience!
Delve into its world by learning how to create bubble tea at home, virtually, or on-site for a family event, a friendship celebration day, or a team-building event that everyone’s been looking forward to recharging the day. Make it a combo too! Pair your Bubble Tea experience with treats such as Cookie Decorating or Chocolate Truffle-making experience. If you want to go all-in, then we’ve got a couple of events you’re sure to enjoy at home, in the office, or anywhere you want for a delish party! See the full list here.