As you take your first sip from the wider-than-average straw, the milky sweet flavor of tea and chewy tapioca pearls overwhelm your tongue. Topped with your choice of fruit jelly or egg pudding, the refreshing drink makes for the perfect after-school treat.
If this doesn’t sound like any coffee or tea you’ve ever had before, that’s because it’s not; it’s bubble tea.
Today, students will take to the cafés and shops on campus for National Bubble Tea Day, a celebration of all things boba.
Bubble tea, a beverage made from different types of tea, milk and tapioca pearls, originated in Taiwan in the mid-1980s. According to National Today, it soon rose to popularity at college and university campuses across the United States with the arrival of Taiwanese students.
For Jacob Kamyszew, sophomore in LAS, the appeal of bubble tea is the expansive variety of flavors.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
“I like having the ability of (wanting) something new and (getting) something new (every time),” Kamyszew said. “It really feels like the possibilities you have are endless.”
Another aspect of drinking bubble tea involves doing so in a social setting. According to Kamyszew, the sweet beverage can bring people together. Sometimes when he meets up with friends for bubble tea, they will each order a different drink and share amongst one another.
Kung Fu Tea, the largest bubble tea chain in the U.S., is a fan favorite on campus. This year, it won Best of CU’s Best Boba for the fourth consecutive year. Its menu offers a diverse number of ready-made options as well as the ability to completely customize your drink.
“Some of the customers like to add toppings and some of them (don’t),” said Joy Ruan, general manager of both Kung Fu Tea locations on campus. “The sugar (level) is (also) adjustable … that’s what makes it special.”
Kung Fu Tea has revolutionized the traditional bubble tea drink with different slushies and fruit punches, which, according to Ruan, are most popular during the spring and summer.
These fruit drinks, ranging from piña colada to passion fruit, are the preferred choice of Louisa Baluga, sophomore in LAS.
“The flavors are so versatile, and you can have anything based on what you’re craving,” Baluga said. “I personally like the fruit drinks because they’re pretty refreshing, and I like the tapioca pearls.”
Kung Fu Tea founded National Bubble Tea Day in 2018 at its New York City location. From that first April 30, the brand has continued to celebrate the holiday with a number of in-store and in-app promotions.
This year, there will be a Buy 1, Get 1 Later app promotion. When customers purchase any drink with the Kung Fu Tea app, they’ll receive a free drink reward that can be redeemed from May 1-7.
Ruan welcomes all to come down to either the Urbana or Champaign location and celebrate the holiday by drinking some bubble tea.
“University is hard,” Ruan said. “(Students) need to relax and get a drink, sit down and play with their friends … and sweet things make people happy.”
