Masala Chai vs. Bubble Tea
How’s your first encounter with Taiwanese specialty, bubble tea ?
Being a Taiwanese in love with Indian culture, I appreciate Masala Chai as much as Taiwanese bubble tea (less sugar though), yet it’s really interesting for me to observe the cultural difference through food and drinks -
The first thing I ever had right after taking off the flight in New Delhi was the steaming hot chai in a small plastic cup. I was seriously wondering “Why so small?” and “How can people drink it in such a hot day??? “
Being Popular all over India and abroad, from street wala to every household, Indians drink chai for business talk, for chat, for rest, for refreshment. Some people might feel like having sugar free for health concern, but I think sugar can bring more aroma of the spices!
Masala Chai with some chopped fresh ginger adds even more wonderfully pungent flavor to the general sweetness and serves as the best remedy for cold days! And here, whole milk is definitely recommended to use, which is also the key to a cup of authentic fine masala chai! After having this, I’m sure you won’t want to spend money on “masala tea latte” provided by some international brand anymore
With time, Chai has become one of my favorite things in India, even better with Ginger and Cardamom. In every early morning before the long bus trip, I’m always expecting for Chai wala- Small in size though, it does warms up the body with its heat and provides the energy needed by milk and sugar.
After coming back to Taiwan, whenever I eat in Indian restaurant, the meal always completes with a cup of hot Masala Chai. However I believe many Taiwanese kids will definitely have a hard time missing the cold tea drinks while having their first time in India!
On the other hand, for my Indian friends new to Taiwan, I know there are surely some cultural shock for them when it comes to eat and drink as well 😛 Bubble tea is just one of the good example here!
Bubble tea, is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in Taiwan in 1980s. The most common version of bubble tea contains a tea base mixed with milk, to which chewy tapioca balls (known as bubbles or pearls) are added, sometimes, to add more flavor of the drinks, pudding or other kinds of fruit jelly (especially tropical fruits like lychee) are often added as well.
Another nick name of bubble tea you could probably see in the night market is “frogs meet milk” — it’s basically because the shape and color of tapioca looks just like the egg of frogs. However, this nickname is kinda aged for now and more used in the stalls featuring traditional desserts that use tapioca.
When my indian friends are invited to try out this Taiwanese specialty by their zealous hospitable local friends,
First thing came to Inidian friends’ mind is : “Tea is for drinking — Why do you put something to chew inside? “ — It’s truly confusing for them. 😂
Second, “Tea contains caffeine, is it necessary to drink that much tea (ingest that much caffeine) at one time?? “
Third, Indians are used to drink hot tea and believed it’s good for body (it’s said to help body cool down).
I think that’s the reason why the famous bubble tea shop closed their three branches in Delhi … … The lesson from this is :
