Boba tea has been referred to as a drink that comes with its unique “toppings” known as Boba.
While in most countries, Boba teas’ delicious black pearls are called Boba, in other countries, these black pearls are also known as tapioca pearls.
Boba originates from Taiwan, and it was first used on shaved ice desserts or on chewy rice balls.
Milk tea was a common drink around the world, but over time people started mixing Boba with milk tea to create what is now known as Boba tea.
What does Boba tea taste like?
Boba tea is known to taste mostly like sweet milk, but the Boba pearls add on to the flavor even though, by themselves, they do not really have a taste. Most Boba teas are not overpoweringly sweet, and the sweetness can be counteracted with added creams.
Why does Boba tea taste sweet?
Boba tea tastes mostly sweet because of added sugar. Boba tea is a milk-based tea, and unless something else is added into the milk, the drink will taste bland as Boba pearls themselves to not have any taste to them.
Boba pearls are usually kept in a sugary syrup before they are added to the milk tea. This makes the milk tea sweet.
However, just the sugary syrup that Boba pearls are kept in is not the only reason why your milk tea taste sweet.
There is often a chart provided to the customer so that they can choose how much sugar they want within their Boba tea. These levels can range from 0, 10, 30, 50, 75, and 100 percent.
The sugar levels can even be given the label of no sugar, little sugar, half sugar, less sugar, and normal sugar, where no sugar equals 0 percent and normal sugar equals 100 percent.
What do different Boba tea flavors taste like?
Many people describe the base of Boba tea as tasting like melted milkshake because it tastes dense and thick.
Since Boba teas base is simply made from milk and cream, the majority of Boba tea cafes add other flavors into the base to enhance the flavor and create more variations of the drink.
The most basic flavors of Boba tea available in the market have bases made from Oolong, Earl Grey, Green tea (Jasmine scented), and coffee.
These three flavors are most consumed as their own drink as well, but ever since the introduction of Boba tea, many people have started to drink these flavors mixed in with a Boba tea base.
Fruit flavors are also common in Boba teas. Fruits come in a large variety, so you will be able to find Boba tea in the market made of:
- Green apple
- Strawberry
- Passionfruit
- Pineapple
- Peach honeydew
- Banana
- Kiwi
- Jackfruit
- Avocado
- Lychee
- Mango
- Coconut
Each fruit brings its own flavor to the Boba tea. Pineapple and kiwi can bring a tangy taste to Boba tea, while fruits like banana and mango make Boba tea sweeter in a more natural way.
People who are trying to cut back on sugar can opt for fruit-based Boba teas as they use less processed sugar and more natural sugar, which is beneficial for health.
Boba tea made of fruits also usually has other toppings mixed within it, such as a slice of fruits.
There are also other flavors of Boba tea that are not made of fruits, such as chocolate caramel, almonds, sesame, ginger, barely, and mocha.
Boba tea is also made from frozen ice instead of just a milk base with added flavoring. This variation of Boba tea is known as snow bubble, and when other flavors are added to this tea, it can taste like a slushy as well.
The black pearls in Boba tea are the most common treat within the drink.
However, you will also find other things within your Boba tea, such as green pearls, which are made from green tea, or coconut jelly, mangos, and jelly cubes.
Generally, any treat that is chewy can be added to the Boba tea to make it more enjoyable. Mung bean paste and Azuki beans can also give Boba tea a slight texture and taste.
Boba tea can also be found without the addition of Boba, but this often defeats the purpose of the drink as many people consume the drink for the black pearls.
You can even make your Boba tea from simple hot tea with added syrup or sugar and put ice cubes into it.
Factors that change the taste of Boba tea
The taste of Boba tea is affected by several things such as the production methods, tea soup, the quality of the milk, and the packaging of the drink. Out of all of these factors, the one that matters the most is the tea soup and quality of milk.
Tea soup actually determines how your Boba tea will taste, as the tea soup will be mixed in with the milk to create your delicious flavors of Boba tea. Thus, making high-quality tea soup is key to the best tasting Boba teas.
Tea brewing skills can be extremely important for the creation of Boba tea, which is why a skilled Boba tea maker will have a lot of knowledge on not just brewing tea but also brewing coffee.
The next most important factor is the quality of milk. There are now many different types of milk available in the market; thus, you must make sure that the type of milk used in your Boba is to your taste.
Frequently asked questions about Boba tea taste
Will a lack of Boba affect the taste of my Boba tea?
A lack of Boba within your Boba tea can affect the taste greatly. This is because the Bobas or black pearls are usually kept in a sugar syrup before they are added to the drink. Thus, a lack of Boba reduces the sugar content as well.
Does ice affect the taste of Boba tea?
Ice can greatly affect the taste of your Boba tea as it can water down the contents. You must make sure your Boba drink only contains up to 20% ice content and not more.