While people in the Western world typically reach for coffee or soft drinks as their beverages of choice, people in other parts of the world consume bubble tea. For about 30 years, concession stands in Taiwan and other countries have served this tea as a refreshing beverage to provide relief from the heat and humidity of tropical summers. Several natural ingredients, including taro, are used to flavor these drinks. Taro bubble tea has gained popularity in the West in recent years.
Definition
Taro is a plant that is similar to the potato, but has a sweeter taste. The taro plant has starchy underground stems and leaves that grow to lengths of 2 m to 3 m. The stems of the taro plant are a dietary staple for over 100 million people, according to the website of the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, located on the University of California, Los Angeles campus.
Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is a cold, sweet drink that is usually made with milk, fresh fruits, green or black tea and crushed ice. Bubble tea typically contains tapioca pearls, which have a chewy texture similar to chewing gum, notes the Bubble Tea Supply website. Servings of bubble tea include straws large enough to accommodate the tapioca pearls.
Geography
Taro grows well in wet soils and tropical climates, notes the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden website. Although the origins of the plant are unknown, it presently grows in Southeast Asian countries, as well as in Egypt and the West Indies.
Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s, according to the Bubble Tea Supply website. The popularity of bubble tea has spread to Hong Kong and other parts of China, as well as to the United States. There are presently hundreds of bubble tea shops in California.
Description
Taro bubble tea is simple a type of bubble tea that is flavored with taro root, tea and sugar. According to the Bubble Tea Supply website, the ingredients must be shaken to blend the flavors. Shaking creates bubbles on the surface of the tea, giving this beverage its name.
Calories
The calorie content of taro bubble tea depends on its ingredients. A 100 g serving of taro root contains about 85 calories, notes the Queensland Government website, but a much smaller amount is typically used to flavor taro bubble tea. The number of tapioca pearls is another calorie variant. Seven tapioca pearls contain about 100 calories, and up to 30 pearls may be used in a single drink, notes the Nutrition.com.sg website. Also, whole milk contains about 60 more calories per cup than skim milk, so the type of milk used can affect the calorie content.
Warning
Most types of bubble tea contain either black or green tea, according to the Nutrition.com.sg website. Both types of tea contain caffeine. If you have a sensitivity to caffeine, consider avoiding or limiting your intake of taro bubble tea.
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