With the rise of East Asian pop culture in Chennai — aided by the diaspora living here and the Hallyu wave – ramen and sushi have crept into into every major menu. Now, places that are dedicated solely to serving bubble tea are also claiming the map.
Tracing its origin to 1980s Taiwan, bubble tea, also known as pearl milk tea or simply boba, is in its simplest form the combination of tea, milk and the titular boba, which are chewy tapioca balls, in a drink that is usually very sweet and served cold.
Menus cover variants both with and without milk, and flavours range from fruity to those filled with chocolate, caramel and even vegetables like taro. The tapioca pearls themselves can be replaced or paired with fruity jellies or boba that are either chewy or burst in your mouth, furnishing an addictive texture that feels new every time.
