Thursday, January 22, 2009

boba tea

I recently found these two types of boba tea (bubble tea) 210 yen (about US$2.10) each at a nearby convenience store. They have probably had these out for awhile, but I only noticed them recently.

Since I've never had boba tea in my life, I bought both to try. (Actually if I did try boba tea, I really don't remember the experience.)

The one on the left is coconut milk flavored with strawberry and tiny white tapioca pearls.

The one on the right is a sweetened assam tea with big black tapioca pearls.

While I didn't like the sweetness of the assam tea, I did like the chewiness of the black tapioca pearls.

And while I didn't like the tapioca in the strawberry drink, it was kind of mushy, I did like the coconut strawberry combination.

I've saved my straw and hope to try making this on my own when the weather gets warmer.

16 comments:

2kamuela47 said...

I think I would like the coconut stawberry combo. Take care!

Lindsay Yuasa said...

I live in Vancouver, Canada and we have a whole lot of bubble tea here. Everything from fresh fruit smoothies to lemon iced tea with pearls. I thought it was weird at first but now I love it. Can't wait to try the konbini version next time I'm in Japan.

grace said...

how refreshing! but isn't rather cold to have boba tea right now?

i think i'd prefer the strawberry/coconut drink over the assam tea - that one seems it would leave too much of an aftertaste.

Phoebe said...

BOBA is sooo nice!! I practically love it! hahaha do tell us what the recipe is when attempt to make it. Its quite hard to get flavoursome tea if you don't know how to use raw ingredients properly; most shops just use powder here in NZ because it is the quickest way to get that flavour.

sheri said...

i have tried bubble tea a couple of times, I can't get past the texture of the pearls....but it is such a cool drink! Glad you were able to enjoy it!
sheri

K and S said...

Thanks Laura :)

Fresh fruit smoothies with tapioca sounds nice, Lindsay :)

Yes it is cold here, Grace, but I still drink some things cold (though not very often).

When I was in Saipan, I saw a lot of powdered boba drinks, Phoebe, I think they were similar to what you have there.

Thanks Sheri, at first I had to be careful not to choke on the pearls :)

Take care everyone.
Kat

Anonymous said...

I LOVE boba. Esp the traditional form :P

-Amy

K and S said...

What is the traditional form, Anon?

Take care.
Kat

Rowena said...

Haven't yet seen bubble/boba teas in Italy. But then I have never even heard of black tapioca pearls!

K and S said...

I know you just came back from Hawaii Rowena, but I think you'll need to make a trip to Chinatown to check the boba tea out :)

Take care.
Kat

Anonymous said...

I'm another one that normally likes the drink (if it's not too sweet), but not really a fan of those pearls. Not sure why...

K and S said...

That is so interesting Lori :) I wonder why the pearls aren't such a hit?

Take care.
Kat

Jenster said...

I love boba teas and we have a ton of boba places in and near Seattle. My favorite is probably lychee tea with the tapioca pearls. I can't have these too often, though, because they're pretty heavy, especially if you eat all the pearls, as I do! The shops I go to only have one size, which is pretty large.

K and S said...

Your description makes me think that they are pretty large, Jenster. I guess these convenience sized ones are just right :)

Take care.
Kat

Anonymous said...

K & S

Traditional Bubble tea is made from a black tea + cream + sugar syrup and the tapioca pearls.

*It could've been named in the blog but *shrugs* dunno*

Love that stuff.

-Amy

K and S said...

Thanks for telling what the traditional form was Amy :)

Take care.
kat