Let’s Talk Boba: How To Become the Ultimate Bubble Tea Expert, Pochi Edition
Being a Seattle native, the concept and culture of “grabbing Boba” has always been a part of my weekly routine in one way or another. To some people, the idea of this might sound a bit extreme:
In my opinion, bubble tea has become an easy addition to my week, just as coffee is seen to be essential to many others. Whether it be a small treat after dinner (and you can try to deny this all you want but I KNOW those sweet cravings start creeping in as the sun sets), a reason to hang out with friends, a refreshing companion for running errands, or especially a much-needed cool down on a sunny day, bubble tea has evolved from simply a delicious drink to the perfect pairing to any lifestyle.
If you’re sitting here wondering, “What even is Boba?”, then you are definitely not alone in this situation. Let’s start by getting one thing clear – “Boba” is simply an umbrella term for all things Bubble Tea! Bubble Tea holds its origins in 1980’s Taiwan, and has since spread in its popularity all the way into our mainstream culture today. The “Boba” refers to the tapioca pearls most commonly found at the bottom of your drink. Although it can be referred to by many names (pearls, Boba, tapioca, etc.), these sweet and chewy additions are a must-have for any new or seasoned Bubble Tea lover.
Here at Pochi, the “Boba” umbrella covers every drink we offer on our menu; this ranges from milk teas, iced teas, shakes, and slushes!
If you are new to Bubble Tea, the common question of “What does Bubble Tea taste like?” may be running through your head right now. Although offered in a variety of flavors, textures, and temperatures, the bottom line of Boba is that comfort and refreshment are at the forefront. Whether it be a silky, smooth Brown Sugar Milk Tea or a vibrant and crisp Peach Mango Slush, a feeling of satisfaction and a desire to keep slurping is sure to follow any experience with Bubble Tea.
When looking to start your Boba journey, it’s important to acknowledge how to figure out what drink is right for you. Bubble Tea consists of five key factors: texture, base, flavors, customizations, and toppings. Texture is definitely at the forefront to any order, setting the tone of how the drink will be enjoyed. Perhaps you enjoy the sweeter things in life, and prefer to take your time to stop and smell the roses along the way – a slush (much like a slurpee) or shake (much like a traditional milkshake) will probably be your best option. If you consider yourself to be more “on the go” and constantly have a list of things to accomplish, an iced tea or milk tea (a non-dairy base that includes tea or fruit flavors over ice) will most likely be your best friend to sip on as you power through the day.
Next we move into the base of the drink, which includes the option of tea, milk (or non-dairy alternative), or ice (used for blended drinks). At Pochi, we offer black, green, oolong, and white tea for anyone with the need for caffeine (or for any tea lover in general)!
If caffeine isn’t exactly your speed, not to worry! Many boba establishments offer options! A majority of our milk teas, shakes, and slushes include no tea at all, and are fully flavored by fruits and non-caffeinated ingredients. After choosing your drink consistency and base, we now move on to the fun part – flavor of course! With hundreds of menu options and customizable flavor combinations, the possibilities for finding a drink you love is endless!
Although all the drinks deserve their own love and spotlight, some drinks you may consider if you’re looking for something new or trying out Bubble Tea for the first time include a Taro-Oreo Shake, Avocado Chocolate Shake, Thai Milk Tea (for super caffeine lovers), Strawberry Mango Slush, and of course a classic Black Milk Tea! When in doubt, however, nothing can beat the king of flavors and definitely the most popular of all the drinks on our menu: a Taro Shake or Milk Tea!
If it seems like you’ve tried all of our suggestions and menu options, not to fear! Our drinks are fully customizable to your flavor preferences, so don’t be shy to order a custom blend of flavors in any form of Bubble Tea you choose!
As we delve into customizations, it’s important to emphasize that Bubble Tea is NOT a one size fits all, and everyone’s preferences are different and must be acknowledged. This is why at Pochi, it is vital to us that everyone is able to enjoy their drinks according to their own personal needs. Are you into more robust flavors without much of a sweet tooth? All of our drinks can be adjusted in sweetness to your preference (0%-100%)! Tired of all that ice in the way of your favorite tapioca pearls at the bottom of your cup? Try ordering your drink with less ice or no ice at all!
Bubble Tea is increasingly getting known for its flexibility in customization options so, to no surprise, we also make sure that all your favorite dairy alternatives are on hand at all times. Don’t hesitate to ask for oat, almond, coconut, or soy milk with any of your drinks!
Now that our texture, base, flavors, and customizations are all decided, our Bubble Tea is almost ready to be enjoyed! However, we can’t neglect one of the main stars of the show – the toppings! The term “toppings” can be a bit deceiving upon first glance, considering that these inclusions are typically at the bottom of your cup. This is the most common reference to tapioca pearls or any other inclusions you can add, so don’t let the name stop you from ordering as many “toppings” your heart desires. Although tapioca pearls are the most popular of all toppings, we also offer classics such as egg pudding, red bean, and grass jelly, as well as fruity options such as jellies and popping bobas (a growing favorite amongst Pochi fans)!
The Bubble Tea community have also developed their own scale to determine the quality of tapioca pearls, referring to this scale as “QQ” when judging how chewy and satisfying the Boba is. Made from tapioca starch, Boba pearls transform into its famous bouncy texture when boiled in hot water, and are then emulsed in brown sugar to give it its irresistible sweetness. The term “QQ” is the main determinant of the texture of boba, referring to the pearls as perfectly chewy with an excellent mouthfeel. Similar to the way one would describe pasta as “al dente”, Boba connoisseurs pride themselves on being able to judge tapioca pearls based on this “just right” texture. Now that you’re familiar with the term, the next time you’re enjoying your tapioca pearls, you might even think to yourself, “The texture of this is QQ!”
We finally have all the components to the perfect cup of Bubble Tea, and now it’s time for assembly. The toppings will first go on the bottom of the cup, followed by your drink of choice. After this, the cup will be placed in a sealing machine, which uses heat to press on a thin covering on top of the cup’s opening in place of a removable lid. Why would one use this instead of a traditional lid? Think of the last time you ordered an iced coffee, and all the possibilities for spilling that result from the lid itself. Without any openings or holes, the signature seal on top of a cup of boba makes a perfect accessory for transport without worry of mess. With any Bubble Tea drink, this seal also allows for the drink to be shaken up to mix together the drink and the toppings – a crucial step in the Boba enjoying process!
At this point you may be wondering, “How will I drink the Boba without an opening at the top?” This is where the iconic Boba straw comes into play, and serves as the perfect vessel to allow the toppings at the bottom of the drink to come through. These straws are much larger than what you may be used to, and are the ideal size to enjoy tapioca pearls. Simply take your straw and poke it through the seal, and enjoy the satisfying POP of the straw going through!
Now that you’re a Bubble Tea expert, it’s time to take your knowledge to the field! Explore all the possibilities Boba has to offer you and who knows, you might even consider adding a Bubble Tea run into your daily routine!
If you need helping finding the right boba for you, check out our step-by-step guide to help you decide!