It is drunk, chewed, it is in fact a snack drink and for some time it has also been popular in Italy and not only in the Asian community. Bubble Tea, the tea with bubbles (of tapioca) has given rise in recent years to a global market that today is worth 2.2 billion dollars and which is estimated to reach 3.5 billion by 2026. Also in Italy it is full of new store openings, many in franchising but there is no oriental sign that does not offer it to customers, with varied menus. The well-known bubble drink was born at the end of the 1980s in Taiwan, where tea with milk was already a well-known drink, given the wide consumption of tea throughout East Asia, as well as tapioca balls were all epoch a very common dessert. The natural step was to combine these three elements in a single drink,starting from pouring on the bottom
the tapioca balls, followed by a mixture of black tea and milk.
This
warm,
more classic
version
is contrasted by the one that sees the addition of
crushed ice, perfect for the summer period
and one of the most consumed variants today.
If the traditional recipe therefore involves the use of only three ingredients - black tea, milk and tapioca pearls - nowadays there are several variants used, such as the one with the addition of fruit syrups, to obtain
fruity bubble teas
with a stronger flavor. In addition to the tapioca balls, you can also opt for the addition
of almond jelly balls, asuki red beans or green soy.
. As well as fruit jellies with different flavors such as
mango, strawberry or coconut
. Also often, to obtain a thicker consistency, bubble tea can be prepared with the addition of a cream of milk or cheese that make it more creamy. It is consumed sitting in pastry bars or even in oriental restaurants. But also at home. And there is also a first Italian chain,
Frankly
(7 stores in Milan, Turin, Bologna and Bergamo, which will become 9 by the end of the year, with upcoming openings in Pavia and a fourth in Milan).
How to make Bubble Tea
It is a very simple drink to prepare even at home: in fact, just a few ingredients are enough and the procedure is really quick. The ideal is to start first with the preparation of the tapioca pearls, first bringing the water to a boil and then adding the pearls and letting them cook over moderate heat for the indicated time, stirring occasionally. Care must be taken that they reach the right rubbery consistency. If they get too soft, the pearls will all end up sticking together at the bottom of the cup. On the contrary, if they are too hard, it will be difficult to chew them. Today, also given the popularity of bubble tea, it is increasingly easier to find this ingredient, or its various variants, in shops specializing in foreign foods or on the main e-commerce sites.
The tea must then be infused, preferably black with an intense flavor as tradition dictates, but you can also opt for green tea or the oolong variety.
Finally, first pour the tapioca pearls into the cup, then the tea and half a cup of hot milk for a perfect version for the winter period. Sugar to taste.
Mistertea, the first brand in 2016, imported bubble tea to Italy. "Due to its bright colors and the fact that it is generally a cold drink, bubble tea has always been associated with summer and more days. myths. In reality, in the Far East, where it was born, it is a drink that can be enjoyed regularly all year round, indeed it is
adapted and customized
from time to time
to celebrate holidays and anniversaries even with special editions.
available only in certain periods of the year ”, says Antonella Sinigaglia, CEO of Mistertea. One of the most famous variations of the Taiwanese drink is the so-called
milk tea
or a blend of hot black tea with small tapioca pearls and syrup of your choice. Other autumn versions to be enjoyed with the first cold ones are Devil Milk Tea: with an unmistakable black color, given by the charcoal contained within it, it is a bubble tea based on milk, coconut, caramel, milk mousse, garnished with oreo grains. and tapioca pearls; Chai Latte Special: the traditional chai latte, which comes from the encounter of black tea with milk and spices, in this version also meets the whipped cream and grains of speculoos, the famous aromatic biscuits originating in Belgium and the Netherlands; Ovomaltine MilkTea: the name already indicates the protagonist of this version of bubble tea, namely Ovomaltine, the well-known Swiss drink based on barley malt extract, skimmed milk, cocoa and yeast.In this version it is enriched with a topping of cream cheese and the inevitable tapioca pearls; Cioko Milk: dedicated to chocolate lovers, in this version the traditional milk tea meets a crunchy base of white or dark chocolate and chopped chocolate cookies and Oreo Extreme: a version that celebrates one of the most famous and loved cookies in the world. So here's an oreo and dark chocolate milkshake with a delicious oreo donut on top.So here's an oreo and dark chocolate milkshake with a delicious oreo donut on top.So here's an oreo and dark chocolate milkshake with a delicious oreo donut on top.
From Frankly, the first Italian chain born in 2017 in Milan from the idea of Franco Borgonovo (Italian) and Lati Ting (born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada), instead the most loved drink is Fruit Tea, based on green tea jasmine available in various fruit flavors, accompanied by fruit balls.
In second place among the best sellers we find the Caramel Latte Macchiato, a drink based on coffee, milk and caramel usually accompanied by tapioca pearls or whipped cream.
