Embarking on a global journey, tasting 10 different versions of bubble tea.

Bubble tea is not just a favorite drink of Vietnamese youth.

For European and American countries, bubble tea is quite an unfamiliar beverage. However, in many Asian countries, this drink is very popular and surprisingly appears in various versions, depending on the culture and specialties of each country. Let's see how many names you recognize among these 10 versions of bubble tea from 10 different countries below.

1. Teh tarik – Malaysia, Singapore

A shared cultural treasure of Malaysia and Singapore, Teh tarik bubble tea is an indispensable part of daily life for the people of these two countries, similar to coffee in Vietnam.

Comprising only a few simple ingredients such as tea, milk, and a little sugar, however, without knowing how to prepare it, you won't get a proper Teh tarik bubble tea. Teh tarik is also known as 'pulled tea,' as the mixture of tea and milk is poured back and forth between two large mugs with high heat retention, and the distance between the two mugs when poured can be 'pulled' up to 1m. Thanks to this special preparation method, Teh tarik has a rich aroma, a creamy taste, and is not overly sweet, leaving the drinker lingering in its fragrant tea aroma.

2. Thai Iced Tea – Thailand

Not unfamiliar to the Vietnamese youth, Thai Iced Tea (known as Cha yen in Thai) shines brightly in Thailand's street food culture, thanks to its unique tea processing. Similar to Teh tarik, vendors will skillfully pour tea back and forth between two cups, swiftly and gracefully, to the amazement of onlookers.

Cha yen comes in two types: red tea and green tea. Red tea is the traditional milk tea, while green tea has a lighter and fresher aroma. Cha yen has a quite strong, creamy sweetness, with a cooling effect when served cold, perfectly suited to the year-round hot climate of the land of golden temples.

3. Bagged Milk Tea – Vietnam

Simple, convenient, and innovative, bagged milk tea is a unique version of milk tea in Vietnam. As the homeland of tea, Vietnam is not lacking in excellent milk tea variations with prices ranging from average to high-end, but bagged milk tea truly reflects the essence of Vietnamese people, particularly those in Saigon: compact, intimate, and rustic.

The preparation method is very simple, taking just about 1 minute to have a cup of milk tea ready to go. Bagged tea with various flavors like peach, mint, strawberry, apple... mixed with condensed milk, a little ice, and there you have it, the fragrant milk tea flavor seeps into endless stories in the bustling Saigon evenings.

4. Hong Kong Milk Tea

Once a British colony, Hong Kong embraced the afternoon tea culture of the misty land's people and gradually turned it into an indispensable part of the fragrant harbor's culture. Hong Kongers often enjoy a hot cup of milk tea after lunch.

Made with black tea and condensed milk, Hong Kong milk tea is best enjoyed hot. A proper cup of Hong Kong milk tea must ensure smoothness, richness, and the aroma of milk. Iced Hong Kong milk tea is also used as a remedy for alcohol consumption.

5. Bubble Milk Tea - Taiwan

The bubble milk tea with black pearls that has caused a sensation among Vietnamese youth originates from Taiwan. It can be said that Taiwanese bubble milk tea is the most diverse and rich among all bubble tea versions worldwide.

There are nearly 100 types of bubble milk tea for you to choose from if you step into a Taiwanese bubble tea shop, with various types of pearls, bubbles that are both pleasing to the eyes and delightful to the taste buds. This is why Taiwanese bubble milk tea is welcomed and loved when it 'sets foot' in other Asian countries.

6. Po Cha - Tibetan Butter Tea

Po Cha butter tea is not only a traditional beverage of the Tibetan people but also a 'panacea' that helps them survive in the harsh cold of this rugged land.

The ingredients for making Po Cha may seem unfamiliar to Vietnamese people: Pu-erh black tea, butter made from Yak milk (this is a characteristic type of cattle in this region), and Himalayan salt (a pink-colored salt mine with medicinal properties). The Pu-erh tea is boiled for about 1 hour, longer than usual tea, then milk and salt are added. Afterwards, they use a tea churn called a Chandong to mix the brewed tea with butter. With a light, palatable flavor, good warmth-retaining properties, and effective hunger suppression, if you ever visit Tibet, don't forget to try Po Cha butter tea.

7. Masala Chai - Pakistan, India

Masala Chai is a refreshing tea beverage with the aroma of tea, made by steeping black tea with a mixture of Indian spices and herbs. To this day, Masala Chai has spread worldwide, in some countries, it has even become a prominent feature of coffee shops and tea rooms.

To prepare Masala Chai, the simplest traditional method is to simmer or boil a mixture of milk and water with tea made strong, sweetening agent along with all the other spices. With its unique blend of ingredients and rich South Asian flavors, Masala Chai's taste will surely be bold yet sweet, leaving travelers yearning for more.

8. Suutei Tsai - Mongolia

In Mongolian, Suutei Tsai means milk tea. To make a cup of Suutei Tsai, you need a few simple ingredients like water, milk, tea, and salt. The recipe is quite simple, just mix a liter of water, a liter of milk, a tablespoon of green tea (or black tea), and a teaspoon of salt together and shake well, and you have a cup of Suutei Tsai.

The special thing is the milk because Mongolian milk is usually fresh, pure, so it will bring a much more special flavor than pasteurized fresh milk or condensed milk in other bubble tea versions.

9. Royal Milk Tea - Japan

Actually, the name 'Royal Milk Tea' is the name of a famous ready-to-drink bubble tea brand in Japan, not a type of bubble tea served in the royal court. However, many Japanese people love this bubble tea because of its delicious aroma.

Instead of using water mixed with tea powder and adding condensed milk, the Japanese heat the milk until it just boils and then add the tea powder. At that time, the irresistible aroma of tea will immediately rise, blending with the scent of boiled milk. And when the sweet Royal Milk Tea touches your tongue, you will understand why it is so popular in Japan.

10. Karak Chai - Qatar

Karak Chai is essentially the twin brother of Masala Chai. The people of Qatar call Masala Chai Karak Chai. This nutritious and delicious drink has followed South Asians to many places around the world, quickly captivating them with its irresistibly unique flavor.

According to Yan.vn

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour