The Art f B ba

By Justin Shi

Boba is a popular drink nowdays, but have you ever wondered what goes into Boba? Join us as we discover the Boba making process

Passport to Flavortown | 20

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Get ready to slurp up the tea on the trend that took the world by storm: boba! This chewy and flavorful Taiwanese drink has become the talk of the town and a beloved beverage for millions of people worldwide. From its humble origins in the night markets of Taichung Taiwan to now being a staple in bustling cities like New York and Los Angeles, boba has come a long way in just a few short years. Boba is no ordinary tea - it’s a lifestyle! As a selfproclaimed boba fanatic, I am thrilled to take you on a journey through the boba craze, from its rise to fame to the unique and creative flavors that have taken the boba world by storm. So sit back, grab a cup of your favorite boba, and let’s dive into the wonderful world of tapioca pearls and tea.

In 2019, boba tea took the world by storm. It seemed like everyone was sipping on the trendy drink, whether it was at a local boba shop or at a mainstream chain. The craze was fueled by social media, with influencers and bloggers sharing photos and videos of their favorite drinks. The colorful, Instagram-worthy beverages became a symbol of a generation that values unique experiences and aesthetically pleasing visuals. emerging every year. The 2019 boba craze may have been just the beginning of a long-lasting trend.

Boba shops began popping up all over the United States, catering to the growing demand for the drink. The traditional Asian drink, also known as bubble tea, was reinvented with new flavors and toppings, such as fruit jellies and popping boba. Some shops even offered customizable drinks, allowing customers to create their own unique combinations.

For Christine Nieh, a Taiwanese-American and the owner of Sharetea in North Austin, Texas, boba tea is more than just a trendy drink, it’s a part of her rich culture and upbringing.

The popularity of boba tea also had a significant impact on the food and beverage industry. Mainstream fast food chains, such as McDonald’s and KFC, began offering boba drinks on their menus, introducing the drink to an even wider audience. The craze also inspired entrepreneurs to start their own boba shops, contributing to the growth of small businesses.

Despite the initial hype, some experts predicted that the craze would eventually die down. However, boba tea remains a popular beverage to this day, with new flavors and trends

Christine grew up in Dallas, where she frequently visited boba shops. She also visited Taiwan, where boba tea is a common drink found on every street corner. “You know, there’s boba every single corner you turn in Taiwan,” she says. “It’s really cheap there, soo I just kind of grew up in that culture of always, you know, getting Boba even.”

After moving to Austin for college, Christine noticed that there were not as many boba shops in the area. She saw an opportunity to bring her love of boba tea and her culture to the community by opening her own shop. “I realized there wasn’t really a market for bubble tea. It was still very under-saturated, you know, not very many stores, and so I kind of saw an opportunity for that,” she explains.

Christine’s goal was to create a boba shop that stayed true to the authentic flavor of Taiwanese milk tea. After researching various franchises, she decided on Sharetea because it closely resembled the milk tea from Taiwan. “While I was in the search of which franchise to open, I explored every single menu and I found Sharetea to be the most authentic and true to flavor to the original milk tea that I’ve gotten from Taiwan,” she says.

At Sharetea, the fruit teas are made using real fruit purees sourced directly from Taiwan. The bottom of your drink,” Christine explains. “And so, I import all my ingredients directly from Taiwan. And so, you know, I thought that was really special about charity and just kind of sets your charity apart from a lot of other boba places where, you know, they just source it from different areas.”

Christine’s dedication to bringing the authentic taste of boba tea to Austin does not stop with the ingredients. She is also heavily involved in the dayto-day operations of her shop. “I’m doing accounting, I’m placing orders, inventory orders, you know, since they come from Taiwan, the shipments take three months to get here. So I’m having to pre-plan, right? You know, how much inventory we need for the next, you know, four to five months? I’m doing that. I’m hiring. I’m placing catering orders,” she says.

Despite her busy schedule, Christine always makes time to support her employees. “Whenever my manager needs support, right, you know, if someone calls out, my manager is not available, if anyone’s not available, I’m here, right? If something breaks down, I’m here helping fix it,” she says.

Christine’s passion for boba tea and her dedication to creating an authentic experience for her customers have made Sharetea a popular destination for boba lovers in North Austin. With her shop, she hopes to continue sharing her culture and love of boba with the community.

Sharetea is a popular boba tea franchise that has been making waves in the industry. Their employees are passionate about creating the perfect boba tea experience for their customers. One of the oldest employees at Sharetea is Giselle, a 19-year-old college student who has been working at Sharetea for a year. Giselle is a big fan of boba tea, especially milk tea with boba pearls.

Working at Sharetea, Giselle has learned the ins and outs of making boba tea. Sharetea uses their own tapioca pearls, so Giselle and her co-workers follow specific cooking times and resting periods to ensure the pearls are of high quality. On busier days, they make new pearls every hour to keep up with the demand.

Despite the repetitive nature of the work, Giselle enjoys making boba tea. She takes pride in providing customers with a highquality drink that they can enjoy. While the work can be hectic and fast-paced, Giselle says that it is all worth it when she sees the smiles on her customers’ faces.

At Sharetea, Giselle and her colleagues work as a team to ensure that everything runs smoothly. They have specific tasks assigned to them, such as cooking pearls, preparing powders, and making jellies and toppings. Giselle notes that while the work can be monotonous at times, it is necessary to ensure that customers receive the best boba tea experience possible.

In the end, it is the passion and dedication of people like Giselle that make boba tea such a beloved drink. Their hard work and attention to detail ensure that every cup of boba tea is made to perfection. As the boba tea industry continues to grow, it is clear that the people behind it will continue to be the heart and soul of this beloved drink.