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Culture
Bubble Tea Obsession
Zhēnzhū Nǎichá
The short answer
Bubble tea (珍珠奶茶, zhēnzhū nǎichá) was invented in Taiwan in the 1980s and became a global industry. Two teahouses, Chun Shui Tang (春水堂) and Hanlin (翰林), still dispute who added the tapioca first.
Where
Taiwan (Global)
Category
Cuisine/Trend
When
Daily
Origin
1980s Taiwan (Chun Shui Tang in Taichung and Hanlin in Tainan both claim it)
What it is
The immense global popularity of a tea-based drink invented in Taiwan containing chewy tapioca balls or other toppings.
Why it matters
Started as a local Taiwanese novelty and grew into a multi-billion dollar global industry and a symbol of Taiwanese soft power.
Fun fact
The ownership dispute went to court in the 2010s; the court ruled the drink could not be patented, so neither side won.
Kungfucius says: Taiwan's most successful export after semiconductors, and much easier to spill.
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