What started as a sweet, chewy drink in Taiwan’s night market has now become a worldwide sensation, growing in popularity year after year. And yes, since most people don’t actually know, Boba originates from Taiwan! Bubble tea (also known as Boba tea) has taken over cafes, social media, and pop culture, captivating millions around the world with its unique combination of tea, milk, and tapioca pearls, and it all started on the lovely island of Taiwan where it became a common treat for most people.

Once a drink that was enjoyed mostly in Taiwan and neighboring Asian countries, Boba has evolved into a billion-dollar industry with international chains, creative flavors, and even its own dedicated fanbase. Honestly, I don’t think you could go anywhere and Boba not be offered someplace. As someone who loves Boba, I say that with delight.

To me, nothing is better than a classic brown sugar Boba tea. When I was in the Boba capital of the world (aka Taiwan), I kid you not I think I had Boba tea basically every day at some point and I was there for three whole weeks. And you know what, I didn’t get tired of it once. I loved that for me, it was heaven. And the Boba there tates different than any of the Boba I have ever had in America. For one, it wasn’t too sweet and sugar. You could even customize the sweetness and how much ice you wanted in the drink. I have never experienced that in America. The Boba drinks in America are always extra sweet or just straight bitter in my opinion. I mean you can customize like the type of pearls you want, real boba (aka tapioca balls) or those little bursting boba things that I don’t like and don’t even see as boba really. But that’s as far as the customizing goes as far as I have seen. In Taiwan they asked for the sweetness, the amount of ice, and even type of milk I wanted. So as I said, it was literal heaven.

The question though, is how and why did this delicious, humble drink grow into a global phenomenon. Well, I think I came down to three main things; the uniqueness of Boba tea as a drink, its cultural influence on Asian Americans, and its overall aesthetic appeal.

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Research says that Boba came to America, specifically California, in the mid-1990s. It wasn’t too famous back then and only certain places really had it, but that really took a turn in the 2000s when cafe culture became a big thing and people started frequenting cafes often for drinks like smoothies, teas, coffees, etc. There is no drink in this world like Boba though, it’s very unique, especially in America.

It also is aesthetically unmatched as a drink in my opinion. So it makes sense that once people saw this, it would take off and become one of the most popular drinks.

However, for many Asian people around the world, Boba isn’t just a drink. It’s a part of growing up and also like a ritual for most. In cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, Boba shops became social hubs for young Asian Americans in the early 2000s. Over time Boba culture, yes Boba culture, helped shape a shared identity. A shared identity that I think bridged that gap between immigrant roots and modern American life.

Boba became a symbol of comfort, belonging, and pride for many. So much pride.

For a lot of second and third-generation Asian Americans, it wasn’t just about the tea itself, it was having something distinctly “theirs”. I think that’s why it’s so easy to understand why so many people like Simon Liu were offended and called out the cultural appropriation of the founders of that popping boba and alcoholic bubble tea brand.

They didn’t even acknowledge where Boba came from or its cultural significance to many Asian people, which I thought was crazy. But I digress.

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After that situation, it became even more clear that Boba tea’s global rise reflects more than just its unique flavor and style but also its culture. It’s more than just a drink; it’s an experience that connects people, symbolizes cultural pride, and offers visual appeal that is hard to resist.

Whether through chewy pearls, cultural significance, or Instagram-worthy aesthetic, Boba tea has captured hearts worldwide and is unrivaled in my humble opinion.