Bubble tea is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s. It is also known as pearl milk tea, boba tea, boba milk tea and bubble milk tea. It most commonly consists of tea accompanied by chewy tapioca balls, but it can be made with other toppings as well.
The recipe usually contains a tea base mixed with either milk or fruit and can come in many variations which usually consists of black tea, green tea, oolong tea and sometimes white tea. There are also slushy-style versions which are blended with ice along with syrup or fruit and is mostly served cold.
The sweet taste of the tea paired with chewy tapioca balls make up the unique element that boba provides and has become increasingly popular with thousands of places in Asia and around the world that serve bubble tea.