bubble tea

American

[buhb-uhl tee] / ˈbʌb əl ˌti /

noun

a frothy East Asian beverage consisting of sweetened tea with milk or flavorings, usually served over black pellets, or pearls, of tapioca.

bubble tea British

noun

a cold drink, originally from Taiwan, of tea infused with fruit flavouring, shaken to produce bubbles, and served over tapioca pearls in a clear cup. It is usually drunk through a very wide straw

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does bubble tea mean? Bubble tea, also known as boba, is a Taiwanese drink of tea infused with milk or fruit and served over tapioca balls, called bubbles or boba.How is bubble tea pronounced?[ buhb-uhl tee ]

Etymology

Origin of bubble tea

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

An investigation by Consumer Reports found elevated lead levels in some bubble tea products sold in the United States, raising concerns similar to past warnings about cassava based foods.

From Science Daily

Guar gum, a thickener often added to bubble tea and generally safe in small quantities, may also contribute to constipation when consumed frequently.

From Science Daily

Bubble tea may also affect kidney health.

From Science Daily

In 2023, doctors in Taiwan removed more than 300 kidney stones from a 20 year old woman who had reportedly been drinking bubble tea instead of water.

From Science Daily

Research in Taiwan found that by age nine, children who drank bubble tea regularly were 1.7 times more likely to develop cavities in their permanent teeth.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023