By: Nick Smith

            From the eastern hemisphere to the west, bubble tea shops are growing in popularity and are bubbling up everywhere.  Even here, in Nashville, Tennessee, we can all enjoy this beverage of the east.  The Chill Spot in Brentwood and the Fat Straw in Nashville are our tickets to enjoying it.
            What I find so special about bubble tea is how it popped up so quickly.  The teahouses are always so packed, and everyone just seems to be regulars already.  Within a short period of time, I noticed that people were using an unfamiliar jargon; it was as if I were in another country.  They were saying things like, “Taro with extra boba...” and “Lychee, hold the jellies… but extra pearls.  Oh, and I would like it to be served hot.”  Interesting, I know.  It was gibberish to me at the time, but it didn’t take long to understand what exactly bubble tea was.
            I thought that I would never replace coffee, especially with tea.  But, from the moment the stuff touched my lips, coffee had a new place, and that place was second.  Now, you’re probably wondering, “What in the world is bubble tea?”  The truth is that I can only go so far with this question.  You truly must go try it for yourself.  But, I can give you the basics of it so that you have some knowledge for the day when you actually taste it for yourself.
            The history of bubble tea is quite interesting and very current at that.  This is precisely why I love how popular it has gotten in the short amount of time that it’s been around.  Bubble tea started about twenty years ago in Taiwan and spread rapidly through Asia, then making its way to China Town in New York City, and finally spreading throughout America.  Bubble tea is typically served cold, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have it hot.  Normally, we refer to it as “bubble tea,” although some call it “pearl tea.”  Pearl tea, bubble tea, and even boba tea are all common names for its actual name, 泡沫紅茶.  Bubble tea is usually made by adding boba balls, which are made from tapioca, and then it is shaken with a black, green, or jasmine tea which is blended with a flavor powder.  There are many different flavors that can be added to bubble tea including: Lychee, which is a Chinese fruit, taro, which has a nice mild taste, and of course, any other possible flavor that you can think of can be added to make your bubble tea incredible.
            Like I said, you truly must try it.  I know that it may seem weird, but don’t be afraid to try something new.  You don’t want to be someone who just goes around labeling everything before you actually know what it is, do you?  As for me, personally, do I think that bubble tea will outweigh coffee?  Well, that all depends on how strong its cultural influence is here in America, and that ultimately depends on you.