CULTURE: Taiwanese bubble tea

COLD BREW GONE WILD

BY RACHEL D. RUSSELL GRAPHIC BY CARYN SCHEVING

Hands on Cooking

Join at the 2017

Perhaps you’ve heard of bubble tea, also known as pearl milk tea, boba milk tea, boba juice or simply boba. Served cold, this tea-centered beverage is known for the chewy little tapioca balls (a.k.a. pearls) at the bottom of the drink and the bubbly froth on top. Maybe you’ve thought you should give it a try, but thought it looked a little too adventuresome for your palate. But that’s exactly why we like this beverage so much: We’re intrigued by the diff erent tastes and textures it contains, and because we’ve never seen anything else quite like it.

Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the 1980s, and it seems its creation was a group eff ort. As with many inventions, precisely who deserves creator credit is up for debate. According to one version, Liu Han-Chieh, owner of Chun Shui Tang teahouse in Taichung, Taiwan, came up with the idea of serving tea cold, and one of his employees, Lin Hsiu Hui, added tapioca balls to the tea one day. And that is how bubble tea was born.

Bubble tea’s base, often black or green tea, typically comes with a choice of two kinds of mixers: fruit or milk. Both versions contain tapioca balls, a traditional Taiwanese food, usually placed at the bottom of the drink. You can also get ice-blended versions, and sometimes the option of fruit-juice-fi lled balls can be off ered instead of tapioca balls, which off ers a unique sensation as these pop in your mouth when you bite into them.

While Taiwanese in origin, we’ve found the beverage at other Asian eateries from Th ai to Vietnamese and in many varieties.

If you want to experience Taiwanese culture for yourself and sip a bubble tea, we’ve got you covered with a good recipe. Or you can visit one of these central Indiana restaurants and they can make one for you.

Bento Asian Bistro | 901 Indiana Ave. | Indianapolis

La Chinita Poblana | 927 E. Westfi eld Blvd. | Indianapolis | LaChinitaPoblana.com

Saigon | 4760 W. 38th St. | Indianapolis

Taiwan Tea House | 3746 82nd St. | Indianapolis

Bapu Teahouse | 1789 E. 10th St. | Bloomington

Chow Bar | 216 S. Indiana Ave. | Bloomington

Basil Thai & Bubble Tea | 135 S. Chauncey Ave., Ste. 2C | West Lafayette | BasilThai.net

11505 N Illinois St, Carmel, IN from 6:00 - 8:30pm Class cost: $45 per person / $75 per couple

All classes include: small noshes, gift bag, magazine, recipes and more!

Class sizes are limited. Reserve your spot today!

edibleindy.ediblecommunities.com/things-do/edible- market-district-cooking-classes-2017

upcoming classes:

March 9, 2017

Knife Skills 101: Learn techniques of dicing, slicing and mincing vegetables, plus learn how to break down a whole chicken. Attendees get to take home chicken and veggies. Featuring: AshBlaeds, Indianapolis

June 15, 2017

Let’s Grill! Homemade Pizzas and Wine: Master pizza

dough and grilling methods with pairings of wine Featuring: St. Adrian’s Meats and Sausage, Lebanon

September 28, 2017

Eat Drink and Make Pasta: Learn how to make homemade pasta while sampling vino that will go with any pasta dish Featuring: Andrea Bettini, Bettini Pasta

December 7, 2017

Drop Biscuits, Corn Bread and Jam: Learn to make

bacon tomato jam, homemade drop biscuits and corn bread

January 18, 2018

Stews & Brews: Learn to cook stews and pair craft beer.

Eat Drink Local Guide

Getting Hoosier-grown goodness on your plate doesn’t have to involve hours in the kitchen. These fi ne establishments proudly serve up the freshest locally sourced cuisine.

The farm-to-table movement begins with central Indiana farms and dedicated producers who care about bringing only the best to market, which is a very good thing for locally owned restaurants that search out the best dairy, meat, produce and beverages for their patrons.

Farm-to-table is gaining momentum not only with born-andbred Hoosiers, but the many visitors to central Indiana. Edible Indy connects growers, producers and food artisans with their community.

Here is a select list of some of those chefs and owners who take great pride in celebrating Hoosiergrown goodness.

*This is a paid advertisement. HOTEL TANGO ARTISAN DISTILLERY

Hotel Tango, the fi rst small batch distillery in Indiana, and it’s also the fi rst service disabled, combat veteran owned distillery in the country. Using only high-quality, local ingredients allows us to stand out. We invite you to come in and taste what our Hoosier heads, hands and hearts have made, sit by the fi re or belly up at the bar. Drink local, buy local. 702 Virginia Ave. | Indianapolis HotelTangoWhiskey.com

TRIPLE XXX FAMILY RESTAURANT

Indiana’s oldest drive-in dishes up the best diner food. From breakfast anytime to their made-to-order chopped steak burgers, this place will take you back to win you were a kid. And don’t forget to order up their famous Triple XXX root beer. 2 N. Salisbury | West Lafayette TripleXXXFamilyRestaurant.com

ST. ELMO STEAK HOUSE

A big thank you to our local partners! As a locally owned business for over 110 years we take great pride in our local business relationships. Cheers to independent businesses! 127 S. Illinois St. | Indianapolis StElmos.com PUNCH BURGER

Looking for a great burger and beer? Look no further than Punch Burger. Our award-winning burgers are made from local grass-fed beef. Our beers are crafted from local breweries such as Sun King, Quaff On, Scarlet Lane and more. Need a suggestion? Make sure to order up our famous Burnt Cheese burger and a side of sweet potato tots. You won’t be sorry! Downtown | 137 E. Ohio St. | Indianapolis Northside | 12525 Old Meridian Ste. 100 | Carmel PunchBurger.com

THE GARDEN TABLE

The Garden Table is a local eatery and fresh juicery in the heart of the Broad Ripple Village and now on Mass Ave. in downtown Indianapolis. We serve seasonally infl uenced and locally sourced food and cold pressed juice. We believe in simple dishes, made from natural ingredients, grown and harvested by local farmers. 908 E. Westfield Blvd. | Indianapolis 342 Massachusetts Ave., #100 | Indianapolis TheGardenTable.com

PORTER BOOKS & BREAD

Tucked away in the Fort Ben Community, this locally owned cafe that combines two great passions: food and literature. They focus on hand-made food, Indiana ingredients and great coffee with the promise of good reads too. 5719 Lawton Loop E. Dr. | Indianapolis PorterBread.com

HARRY & IZZY’S

We’re proud to keep it local! Three restaurants sourcing locally from 10 regional farms, four breweries and seven locally owned purveyors or producers leads to one great meal. Downtown | 153 S. Illinois St. | Indianapolis Northside | 4050 E. 82nd St. | Indianapolis Airport | 7800 Col. Weir Cook Memorial Dr. | Indianapolis HarryAndIzzys.com

TABLE

From a store full of fresh, seasonal foods and a team of chefs and culinary experts comes a celebration of food called table by Market District—a restaurant that brings passion for food right to your plate. Open daily for lunch & dinner, as well as brunch every Sunday. 11505 N. Illinois St. | Carmel MarketDistrict.com/Table

PEACE WATER WINERY

Local Roots, California Wines (and vibes)! If you love tasting great Napa Valley wine in a fun, eclectic, groovy atmosphere, then this is your place! Best yet, 50% of our profi ts are donated to charities. So come in for a tasting, buy a glass, take home a bottle or join our wine club and learn how “One Bottle Does a World of Good!” 37 W. Main St. | Carmel PeaceWaterWinery.com EZRA’S ENLIGHTENED CAFE

Indiana’s only 100% gluten-free cafe focused on fresh, locally sourced and organic foods with a focus on dairy-free and vibrant plant based dishes. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dessert, including a full fresh juice and smoothie bar. 6516 Ferguson St. (Rear Unit)| Indianapolis EzrasEnlightenedCafe.com

JOE’S NEXT DOOR

The best of Joe’s Butcher Shop prepared for you. Our team of chefs will build the freshest, most unique and mouthwatering sandwiches at our walk-up counter, cater your special events and you can even grab our daily made dishes to go. 111 W. Main St. Ste. 110 | Carmel JoesButcherShop.com

BRYNE’S GRILLED PIZZA

Local, fresh, real ingredients describe the hand-made thin crust grilled pizza. Order their mouthwatering pasta, salads, appetizers and desserts to complement your pizza. Serving local craft beers and a great selection of wines. Also available: Take-out, catering and food truck. 5615 N. Illinois St. | Indianapolis BrynesPizza.com FARM-BLOOMINGTON

A Bloomington award-winning original creating gastronomical dishes for brunch, lunch and dinner based on the seasonality of the southern Indiana ingredients. The restaurant includes FARMbar, the Root Cellar Lounge and they promote sustainability and being green. 108 East Kirkwood Ave. | Bloomington Farm-Bloomington.com

THE LOFT

Dine at a true farmstead restaurant, located inside a beautiful historic barn on an organic dairy farm. Food grown and raised onsite takes center place on organic menus shaped by seasonal rhythms. Open for lunch, dinner, and sunday brunch. 9101 Moore Rd. | Zionsville TraderspointCreamery.com

NATURAL BORN JUICERS

A Mass Avenue, and now northside staple, offering non-HPP raw juices and smoothies in a hip and trendy walk-in location. All juices are cold-pressed, old school centrifuge and freshly juiced on site and their cleanse programs are available year around. Downtown | 865 Massachusetts Ave. | Indianapolis Northside | Broccoli Bill’s Gray Road Market | 15009 Gray Rd. | Noblesville NaturalBornJuicers.com