A sweet Taiwanese drink nicknamed in honor of a Hong Kong celebrity, bubble tea – also known as boba tea – has become an unstoppable worldwide trend since it was invented in the 1980s.

Why the Recent Simu Liu Bubble Tea Debate Is About More Than a Drink. Can bubble tea stay true to its roots in a $4 billion market? By Esther Tseng. November 19, 2024. Bon Appétit / Getty.

Sweet, creamy tea swimming with chewy tapioca boba pearls — otherwise known as bubble tea — was originally invented in Taiwan in the 1980s, but it’s never been more popular in the U.S.