Bubble tea can often be a very intimidating concept for those who may not have much exposure to it. There seems to be so many types and variations. Therefore, trying to understand or master all the different aspects and concepts may seem like a difficult task. However, allow us clarify the mystique of this beverage phenomenon called “bubble tea” or “boba tea”.
Through the years, many of you have asked us:
"What is bubble tea?"
"How do you make bubble tea?"
"What are the different types of bubble tea?"
"Which types of drink can I offer?"
So, as the experts in the bubble tea and boba tea industry, Boba Tea Direct has derived the 'Bubble Tea Model®' to answer these questions once for all!
As with many things, there is the tendency to either over-simplify or over-complicate matters. However, Boba Tea Direct’s Bubble Tea Model® provides the essential components in an easy-to-understand manner. It contains the basic components in a concise format, without sacrificing the necessary details.
According to the Bubble Tea Model® , there are six essential components of bubble tea:
1) Style
2) Flavor
3) Liquid Base
4) Creamer
5) Sweetener
6) Texture
1) The STYLE of the bubble tea is the type of bubble tea you are offering: flavored tea, milk tea, juice, slush, smoothie, etc. Basically, it answers the question: Do you want your bubble tea 'shaken' or 'blended'? If you want it 'shaken', then it will be more liquidity as in the case of flavored tea or milk tea. If you want it 'blended', then that typically means the drink will be prepared using a blender to create a more viscous (or thicker) beverage. Bubble tea served in the style of slush, snow bubble, smoothie, or frappe are considered to be blended. 'Shaken' bubble tea is called 'shaken', because it is typically made by shaking the mixture together in a cocktail shaker. 'Blended' bubble tea is considered 'blended', because it is typically created by mixing all ingredients in a commercial-grade blender. In summary, the STYLE of bubble tea will dictate how you prepare the drinks, either more liquidity or as a thicker blended beverage.
2) The FLAVOR aspect of bubble tea provides the distinctive taste. Flavoring bubble tea can be accomplished via a number of methods. Powders and syrups are the most common way to create your flavor. However, you can also create flavor to your bubble tea by adding real fruit, concentrated fruit, fruit purees, or other solid ingredients. Creative people often experiment with combination of flavors and create their own unique flavor combination (ie. Mango Passion, Chocolate Mint, Coconut Pineapple, Lavender Milk Tea, etc.) There may be numerous types of powders: cream, sour, all-in-one, fragrant, etc. As with syrups and concentrates, there are also various forms. But, the underlining concept is the same. You want to use the best ingredients, whether powder or syrup, to provide the desired FLAVOR for your bubble tea.
3) The LIQUID BASE is the type of fluid you use to create your bubble tea. There are various types of liquid base. Most commonly, water is used as the liquid base. However, you can also use brewed tea (ie. black tea, jasmine green tea), milk, half and half, fruit juice, etc. The LIQUID BASE serves as the fundamental ingredient in which you will begin to create and build your bubble tea.
4) The CREAMER component is an optional component in making bubble tea. However, because it is very commonly used, it can be considered as an essential ingredient. The CREAMER aspect provides additional richness and a delicious creamy flavor to a bubble tea drink. Often times, people will use a variation of flavored non-dairy creamer. Non-dairy creamer is popular, because it can also be enjoyed by those who are lactose-intolerant or have milk allergies. However, some shops will also prepare it using milk, half and half, and any other type of creamy powder or liquid. (Sometimes for milk teas, sweet condensed milk can also be used as both as a CREAMER agent and sweetener.) CREAMER can be used in milk tea, smoothies, snow bubbles, frappe, etc, but is commonly not used in flavored tea, slush, and juice. In summary, using a type of CREAMER will enhance your drink with a delightful creamy richness.
5) The SWEETENER component brings out the pleasant flavors of all the bubble tea ingredients. The essence of a subtle sweetness in a bubble tea drink is what puts a pleasurable smile on your face. Most bubble tea shops will use fructose as a SWEETENER, because it can be easily dissolved and does not have an overwhelming sweetness. However, some may use sugar because it is a common household item. Others may make their own sugar syrup or use other sweeteners such as Splenda®, honey, Sugar Shots®, or other substitutes. The amount used will vary based on the beverage and preference of the consumer. Controlling the amount to use is an art, because you want to make a beverage just perfect. When done properly, using a SWEETNER will accentuate any bubble tea drink.
6) The TEXTURE component can be thought of as what is on the bottom of the glass or cup of bubble tea. Over 95% of the time, you'll see tapioca pearls used as the TEXTURE component. However, you can also use TEXTURE components such as: yogo jelly, pudding, coconut jelly, mango jelly, coffee jelly, aloe jelly, Choobees, etc. There is a great variety of these TEXTURE components which can vary by size, color, flavor, etc. For example, tapioca pearls come in various colors, various sizes, and different flavors. The TEXTURE component is what sets bubble tea apart from other beverages. You can get Lemon Jasmine Tea, Strawberry Smoothie, Green Tea Frappe, or Passion Fruit Juice at many restaurants or beverage shops. However, it's not until you add the TEXTURE component that these drinks are magically transformed into Lemon Jasmine Bubble Tea, Strawberry Smoothie Bubble Tea, Green Tea Frappe Bubble Tea, or Passion Fruit Juice Bubble Tea. The TEXTURE component is the fun and exciting part of consuming a bubble tea drink. It is the part that is sucked up via the fat bubble tea straw. The TEXTURE component gives bubble tea its distinction, uniqueness, and is what makes it addictive.
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