The history of boba

By Lauren Law Apr 1, 2026

Before it became the go-to treat at every student fundraiser and mall cafe, boba originated as an experiment inTaiwan. In the 1980s, tea shops in Taiwan first began creating ice cold tea drinks instead of traditional piping hot. One origin story describes how Liu Han-chieh, the founder of the Taichung teahouse Chun Shui Tang, took a trip to Japan and was inspired by their hot coffee shaken into chilled drinks. He decided to replicate the technique by creating a chilled tea drink and one of his employees, Lin Hsiu-hui, added sweet tapioca balls into her iced milk tea during a meeting. Another origin story claim comes from Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan, reporting how their founder added white tapioca pearls to tea after seeing them at a local market and called the drink "pearl milk tea.”

Caitlynn Sue Art

In the 1990s, boba spread in popularity and traveled to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and mainland China. To adapt the drink to their communities, local shops added regional flavors like matcha in Japan and red bean in Hong Kong. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, boba was brought over to the United States through Taiwanese immigrants and entrepreneurs who opened up shops in cities with large Asian populations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Vancouver.

“I get boba around twice a month and I love how it has different flavors for whatever mood I am in. That variety makes people keep coming back to try more,” Freshman Charlotte Chang said.

Boba has since skyrocketed in popularity amongst young adults and teenagers. In a 2021 Credit Lyonnais

Securities Asia consumer survey, 94% of individuals aged between 20 and 29 stated that they had bought boba tea in the past three months. Boba has gained traction on social media partially because of its aesthetic appearance and customizability that can fit into many people's preferences. On apps like Instagram and TikTok, boba can be posted with its bright colors, fun toppings and clear cups that showcase the whole drink. The drink’s flexibility gives boba universal appeal, as stores across the world can add local twists by using regional flavors. This allows it to fit into many cultures while still being commonly recognized as bubble tea, inspiring creations like boba tteokbokki, boba waffles and boba ice cream.

“Social media influences my interest in boba because I often see new trends online that make the drink look fun and exciting to try. I like the taste the most, but I also enjoy being able to customize my drink. One unique flavor I tried was avocado pineapple boba,” Sophomore Agaja Sakthivel said.

The booming popularity of boba reflects how immigrant communities transform local cultures through food. The drink started as an innovative Taiwanese creation but has since skyrocketed into a global phenomenon, displaying that as diverse communities migrate and connect, so do cultural foods—transforming the tastebuds of the world.

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About the Contributors

Caitlynn Sue

EIC

Caitlynn Sue is a senior at Leland High School and the Opinions and Viewpoint Editor-in-Chief for The Charger Account. Aside from journalism, she loves solving math problems, dancing at 2 am, and playing with her cat.

Lauren Law

staff writer

Lauren Law is a senior at Leland High School and this is her second year as a staff writer. She enjoys hanging out with friends, sleeping, and eating.