User:Ruishu11/sandbox

Preparation method

Many bubble tea stores prepare the tea in larger batches during the day or the night before to ensure quality. Brewing different types of teas take different amounts of time and even at different temperatures. For instance, green tea requires brewing at a lower temperature, typically between 176-185°F with a brewing time of 8-10 minutes to extract its optimal flavor. In contrast, black tea needs to be made with hotter water, usually around 203-212°F with a brewing of around 15-20 minutes to bring out its sweetness. Tea is usually made by boiling clean water in a big pot, adding leaves, straining the mixture using a cloth, and pouring the tea into buckets. Many stores also use a tea warmer dispenser where the tea can remain heated for up to 8 hours.

Tapioca pearls (boba) are made from tapioca starch. Most bubble tea stores buy packaged Tapioca pearls in an uncooked stage. When the boba is uncooked and in the package, it is uncolored and hard. The boba doesn't turn chewy and dark until they are cooked and sugar is added to bring out its taste. The tapioca pearls (boba), tea, and other materials that need to be cooked are always made behind the store, and in the kitchen. There are exceptions like Xing Fu Tang from Taiwan, who hand makes their boba from scratch and even shows how they prepare it in front of their customers. Unlike other bubble tea shops, Xing Fu Tang has an open kitchen layout where boba pearls are handcrafted on an hourly basis in their storefront. However, uncooked tapioca pearls in their package can be stored for around 9 to 12 months, once cooked, they can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Despite this most bubble tea stores won’t sell their boba after 24 hours because it will start to harden and lose its chewyness.

To order a bubble tea drink, the customers decide how they want their drink to be customized. This includes the sweetness level, ice level, cup size, and the choice of their beverage being iced or hot. For example, if a customer were to want a medium iced milk tea with boba, 50% sugar, and less ice, the ratio of the sugar content would be halved while the proportions of milk and tea would be adjusted to accommodate the decreased ice volume. In addition, many bubble tea stops require their baristas to memorize the proportions and recipes of each beverage. The preparation of their drink is also usually made right behind the register where the customers can see their drinks being prepared.

Some bubble tea stores use their freshly made tea and add milk and a sweetener directly; this way it can be served after it is cooled. While other stores use hot tea and add a sweetener and milk into a shaker.


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! Percentage !! Sweetness ! 100% ! 75% ! 50% ! 30% ! 0%
 * Normal sugar
 * Less sugar
 * Half sugar
 * Little sugar
 * No sugar