The words “chaotic evil” cut through the upbeat sound of BTS playing at my local Kung Fu Tea as I criticize my brother for his bubble tea order that should, quite frankly, be illegal.
120% with extra ice. It’s an absolute monstrosity.
Bubble tea, or Boba, first originated in Taiwan during the late 1900s as a simple mixture of milk tea and tapioca balls. As the years went by, bubble tea started its spread overseas and by the 1990s, the United States adopted its first bubble tea shop in Los Angeles. This would mark a momentous turning point for what bubble tea has become today. As the early 2010s arrived with “Gangnam Style” by Psy, bubble tea also started its rise in popularity with the opening of popular chain stores such as Kung Fu Tea and Gong Cha. It would be specialized bubble tea stores like these that would become the pioneers for the endless range of bubble tea flavors and combinations that we have now.
Operating in a method similar to Starbucks where a customer can customize their drink with different syrups and extra toppings, bubble tea stores opened a gateway of ~olfactory freedom~ for customers to indulge in their bubble tea fantasies. Now, the majority of bubble tea stores will ask for the ratio of ice to drink, sweetness levels, and types of toppings when taking a customer’s order. However, like the great author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis, once said, “Freedom always comes with a price”.
Bubble tea, the symbol of pride among Asian-Americans, soon became a topic of debate with youths arguing about the best and the worst bubble tea combination.
Subtle Asian Traits, a popular Facebook group and also one of the largest online Asian communities in the world, embodies the frequent discussion of bubble tea combinations with an endless stream of comments among the many posts in the online community.
I have tried convincing my older brother that the best bubble tea order is a perfect balance of 30% sugar and less ice mixed with a strong oolong tea. The order is foolproof to me, but to him, it is “mundane and lacking a personality” (and of course, he uses this opportunity to insult me, saying that my order is like me, “mundane and lacking a personality” but that sibling fight is for another day).
So since my older brother disregards all of my lovely bubble tea combination advice, I have decided to leave my favorite combinations for any and every different circumstance for any curious bubble tea newbies or experts.
When it’s a chilly winter day A hot pearl milk tea (oolong tea) with 50% sweetness. Not much to say here, but you can’t go wrong with this order. (Unless you’re my brother and think it’s just too mundane).
When it’s a really hot summer day & the air conditioner is close to broken A lychee slush (or strawberry slush if you have more of a sweet-tooth) with tapioca. If you’re into taro, I would definitely recommend a taro slush with tapioca. In general, any slush will be extremely refreshing.
When you’re feeling extra bold on any given day A winter melon milk tea with grass jelly. Playing around with toppings can be unnecessarily nerve-wracking but getting the right combination is definitely a rewarding moment. Checking out the top 10 best sellers of the bubble tea store you are at is a great way of getting a pretty solid but bold order.
Before a concert and you want to drink something to cope with the fact that you’re about to see your favorite artist live A strawberry lemon green tea or a winter melon green tea with regular ice. I would recommend getting something on the lighter side to ensure the best concert experience as possible. (Discomfort during a concert is the last thing you want to be dealing with).
Of course, I am not an expert and these were just a few of my go-to orders. Most likely, there will never be a day where anybody could be labeled a bubble tea expert because as bubble tea stores continue to expand their range of options, the combinations will be endless. Even the most unimaginable flavors and combinations may become a reality.
And with bubble tea only becoming increasingly more popular, the debates about the best orders will only continue to rage on.
However on a brighter note, while bubble tea combinations can be (too) debatable, it is a strong talking point. Among the bubble tea lover community, small talk can be skipped and asking about one’s go-to bubble tea order can lead to a more passionate and worthwhile conversation: maybe even leading to a bubble tea date.
Written By: Kristen Lee
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