Where did pearl tea originate?
Pearl tea originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. Several tea shops claim to have invented it, but they all tell the same story: combining a cold tea base with tapioca pearls to bring a new texture to the drink.
Tea-based drinks were already a firm part of everyday life in the country. To stand out, shopkeepers began adding indulgent ingredients to their recipes.
Adding tapioca pearls is an instant hit. People love the contrast between the cool tea and the soft pearls drawn up through the straw.
Within a few years, the trend spread across Asia, then crossed the Pacific to North America before taking hold in Europe.
Today, bubble tea is one of the most recognisable symbols of contemporary Asian food culture.
What exactly are bubble tea pearls?
Despite what you might think, the pearls in pearl tea aren’t balls of compressed tea.
They’re made from cassava starch, also known as tapioca, extracted from the root of this tropical plant grown in several parts of the world.
Once cooked, the pearls become soft, springy and slightly chewy — it’s this distinctive texture that bubble tea fans love.
The different types of pearls
The pearl tea market has become much more varied. Today you can find:
| Type of pearls | Ingredients | Texture |
|---|---|---|
| Classic tapioca pearls | Cassava starch | Soft and springy |
| Black pearls | Tapioca and brown sugar | Indulgent and caramel-like |
| Flavoured pearls | Flavoured tapioca | Varies by flavour |
| Bursting pearls (popping boba) | Gel casing and syrup | A burst of flavour |
| Fruit jellies | Set fruit juice | Soft and yielding |
With so much variety, you can create a drink tailored to almost any taste.
Which teas are used?
The choice of tea matters: it gives the drink most of its flavour. Specialist shops generally offer several tea bases.
Black tea. The original choice for bubble tea, its malty, full-bodied notes pair naturally with milk and tapioca pearls.
Green tea. Fresher and more vegetal, it brings a lighter touch and pairs well with fruity recipes or iced versions.
Oolong tea. Very popular in Taiwan, it strikes a balance between the character of green and black tea, often with floral or lightly toasted notes.
Fruit infusions and creations. Many shops now offer tea-free recipes made with infusions, fruit juices or plant-based drinks.
How do you make pearl tea?
The recipe has just a few simple steps, but each one matters.
Tapioca pearls are first cooked until they develop their characteristic soft texture, then often coated in brown sugar syrup to deepen their flavour.
The tea is prepared separately, then cooled.
Depending on the recipe, you then add:
- milk or a plant-based drink;
- syrup;
- fruit purée;
- ice cubes;
- the tapioca pearls.
Everything is shaken in a cocktail shaker before being served in a large cup, with a wide straw for drawing up the pearls at the bottom.
The main types:
Pearl tea has taken the world by storm, largely thanks to its many variations.
Milk tea. The original bubble tea: black tea, milk and tapioca pearls. The brown sugar used to coat the pearls gives it a flavour sometimes reminiscent of caramel milk drinks.
Brown sugar bubble tea. A big trend in recent years, it puts brown sugar-coated pearls centre stage for an indulgent drink with caramel notes.
Fruit tea. Lighter, it combines green or black tea with fruity flavours — mango, passion fruit, lychee and peach.
Cheese tea. A more surprising version, topped with a lightly salted, creamy foam that contrasts with the sweetness of the tea.
Where can you buy pearl tea?
At Kusmi Tea, we offer a selection of quality teas that are perfect for making pearl tea at home. Black tea, green tea, jasmine tea or fruity blends: our recipes make it easy to create a bubble tea to suit your tastes. To complete your drink, explore our fruit pearls and flavoured syrups for a refreshing, indulgent treat. Prefer to skip the preparation? Most of our Kusmi tea shops offer pearl tea to take away during the summer season. Find your bubble tea shop here!
