Bubble Tea vs Boba: They’re the Same Drink (Here’s Why Vancouver Uses Both Names)
Bubble tea and boba are the same drink. The confusion stems from regional naming preferences, but whether you order bubble tea in Richmond or ask for boba in Downtown Vancouver, you’re getting that same sweet, chewy, tea-based beverage that’s taken the city by storm.
The distinction is purely linguistic. Taiwan gave birth to this drink in the 1980s, and as it spread across the globe, different communities latched onto different names. “Bubble tea” references the frothy bubbles created when the drink is shaken, while “boba” comes from the Taiwanese slang for the tapioca pearls themselves, which …
