Bubble tea has surged in popularity in recent years – so much so that Marks and Spencer is now selling it! The supermarket’s cafe outlets are now offering two flavours of the refreshing drink: Strawberry and Mango & Passionfruit. Inside, you’ll find chewy tapioca pearls that make them super satisfying to drink.
While many are excited about the new launch, M&S faced some criticism after the release. One customer, named Kirsty, took to TikTok to complain about the quality of the drink she purchased. “Worst £4 I have ever spent,” she captioned the post, which has garnered a whopping 377,000 views and thousands of likes at the time of writing. “Do not order the bubble tea from Marks & Spencer.”
This prompted others to chime in with their criticism too. One wrote: “It looks like a baked bean drink.” Another agreed: “That’s water with Heinz beans at the bottom.”
Others sprang to the defence of Marks and Spencer, though. They told Kirsty she was meant to give the drink a proper stir before sipping on it. One bluntly pointed out: “It’s supposed to look like that then you mix it… Forget to take your brain out with you today?” Another advised: “Maybe you need to stir it.”
Understanding Bubble Tea
Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, pearl milk tea, or tapioca tea, is a sweetened tea beverage that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s. It’s characterised by the chewy tapioca pearls or boba at the bottom of the cup. These pearls are made from tapioca starch, which comes from the cassava plant, and provide a gummy texture that has become the hallmark of bubble tea.
Most commonly, bubble tea is made with a base of black tea, green tea, or oolong tea, and is mixed with milk or non-dairy creamers to create a thicker texture. The tea is often sweetened with sugar or some type of syrup and can be served either hot or cold. A wide variety of flavours can be added to bubble tea, ranging from fruity options like strawberry, lychee, and passion fruit, to other sweet tastes like caramel, chocolate, and taro.
The beverage is typically shaken to mix the ingredients (hence the name “bubble” tea, originally referring to the bubbles formed by the shaking process, not to the tapioca pearls themselves), poured into a cup with the tapioca pearls, and then sealed with a layer of plastic wrap. There are countless variations and toppings such as jelly pieces, pudding, or fruit available to customise the drink according to your personal taste.
It’s usually accompanied by a fat straw large enough to allow the pearls to be sucked through, making for a very fun drinking experience.
Bubble Tea in the UK
Bubble tea has grown in popularity and is now widely available in many parts of the world – including the UK’s own M&S! Despite some customers’ initial criticisms and humorous comparisons to baked beans, the drink continues to attract a following. A lot more exciting than a tin of baked beans, in our book.
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