Just back from the night market and my first experience of genuine Taiwan bubble tea.
Traditional bubble tea is a combination of green or black tea with tapioca balls. It is served in a plastic cup with a bespoke straw large enough to slurp up the tapioca balls.
Where did this weird idea come from?
Apparently when Starbucks launched in Taiwan with coffee to-go the traditional tea drinking country feared that tea lovers would turn to coffee lover over night. Bubble tea was 'fun' and to-go, perfect for young Taiwanese. It was an instant success and has since been launched all over the world, it is drunk in the US with lots of sugar and flavours.
Nice story but what does it taste like...first there is a glug of green tea but then there is a giant rice ball in your mouth - green tea and slugs in my opinion?!
Probably will not be featuring on the teapigs website anytime soon.
Wow Louise what a fascinating trip you're having. Fraser :)