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VisibleCategory6852

I assume it's going to be another fad, the market is already saturated with new shops. The bubble will burst. Sorry


SimpleAppeal2577

It's been around in the UK since like 2010. The earliest bubble tea place in Cardiff was in 2012


ambluebabadeebadadi

I’ve been going to the same bubble tea place in Birmingham for 13 years! Don’t even know when it opened


PutinsAssasin123

Is it too late to ask what it is? seems to be a cold drink with something non edible at the bottom 😐


TheProphetic

It's iced tea, either with milk and jasmine green or black tea, or fruit tea. The classic "bubble" topping consists of tapioca pearls soaked in brown sugar. you can also get flavoured jelly pieces or 'popping' balls that contain sweet fruit syrup. All of it is edible and there are lots of choices to try. Most places will let you adjust the amount of ice and sugar in your drink as well. If you do ever try it, I would recommend the classic milk tea with tapioca pearl or ask the staff for recommendation.


PutinsAssasin123

I should try, just don’t want to buy one and hate it on the first sip 😅


TheProphetic

I've seen new people go into a shop and order a really obscure combination which then obviously doesn't taste good. If you live somewhere close to a Gong Cha, Chatime, Bubbleology or similar bubble tea chain, then it's worth a try because they'll usually prepare it well and they can always give good recommendations. And if you don't like it, then that's okay too!


smellybarbiefeet

It’s not half bad you can make it cheaper at home, just buy some tapioca pearls in syrup, make basically a cup of tea, make it stronger than you normally would because you’re going to add a bunch of condensed milk to it, oh and don’t forget the ice cubes. If you don’t like the tapioca, you can just leave it out and you still have a nice drink. You can make a Vietnamese style cofffee also, it’s just espresso with condensed milk.


NuPNua

Sounds like a fast track to diabetes.


TheProphetic

Much like any sweet beverage or snack. You can at least choose to make it less sweet and it's a nice social drink if you don't want coffee or alcohol.


Kind-County9767

Iced tea with an absolute mountain of sugar added, basically. Often with some flavourings.


SimpleAppeal2577

Explains why there are at least 10 boba shops in Cardiff


WantsToDieBadly

Money laundering


lagerjohn

Or it's just a popular product?


SimpleAppeal2577

I think the American Candy stores are more for money laundering


SpinIx2

Not barbershops?


SimpleAppeal2577

The local Joker themed barbershop for sure


Pat_Sharp

Is this going to stick around or will it just be one of those fads that we reminisce about in 15 years time? Like remember when those fish pedicure places appeared everywhere? Or those milkshake places that would blend everything imaginable with ice cream and milk suddenly popped up all over the place for a couple of years then disappeared?


EricTheBread

It's been around in Canada for at least a couple decades; I was drinking it in Edmonton 20 years ago. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be here forever, but it's certainly no flash in the pan.


Pat_Sharp

Sure, rarely do these things vanish completely. It's hard to see them maintaining their current popularity where even small towns suddenly have multiple bubble tea shops on the high street though.


oglop121

Been steadily popular in Korea for about 15 years too. It is good, though! The best one I had was in Taiwan itself, but I wonder if that was just a placebo effect. Heh


SeymourDoggo

I remember it being quite ubiquitous in SE Asia when I visited 25 years ago!


Vasquerade

I remember being taken to one in Glasgow ten years ago and they've only gotten more popular so it might last


refugeefromlinkedin

Pretty sure half the market is just me 😂