Hubble Bubble

Photo © Rob Jones

Finally,

I stole myself to try Bubble Tea.

It first crossed my path while I was working in Beijing. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was drinking bubble tea. I didn’t try it at the time, well because … I just didn’t know what it was, or what it was supposed to taste like, or even how one ‘eats’ it.

And the bubbles? Was this simply froth or was there more to it?

Bubble Tea followed me when I eventually came back to the UK, but then I suppose I was simply content with my usual teas and coffees, and considering the fact that I still find a Flat White exotic, then Bubble Tea was simply not a priority.

But there it was. Eye-level in my local alternative supermarket. I was faced with it and with no earthly excuse not to try it.

First a history lesson.

So the story goes .. a functionary during a meeting in Taiwan, got bored and decided to tip their tapioca pudding into their iced-tea, and discovered that it actually tasted quite nice. They added it to the menu and have never looked back, with it becoming an instant best seller.

Then came a range of teas flavoured with tasty tapioca pearls, also known as Boba.

At first sight, you might be mistaken for thinking you’ve been given an iced coffee or milkshake. But stare closely and you’ll see the tapioca balls at the base of the glass. It can be slightly disconcerting. It reminded me of frog-spawn.

Needless to say, Bubble Tea was made for the Instagram generation.

I certainly wouldn’t add it to a calorie-controlled diet.

Photo © Rob Jones

The brand I found had an awful lot of sugar. It also seems to have an unaccountable amount of iron, so potentially there are health benefits.

Bottom line…. what does it taste like, and would I buy it again.

It was OK. Comforting in a Creme Brulee sort of way, but I have no plans to add it to my daily regime.

R.

Ps. You eat the tapioca pearls when you reach them. They are chewy, almost to the point of chewing gum gumminess.

But don’t let me put you off.