The invention of bubble tea is a bit of a mystery, with two competing claims. Both Chun Shui Tang in Taichung and Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan claim to have created the drink in 1986.
The Contending Claims: Two Origins for Bubble Tea
While the exact inventor remains debated, the story unfolds around two tea houses in Taiwan:
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Chun Shui Tang (Taichung): This tea house claims to have invented the drink in 1986, experimenting with iced tea and adding tapioca pearls. Their story often focuses on the innovation of combining tea with these chewy pearls.
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Hanlin Tea Room (Tainan): Simultaneously, Hanlin Tea Room also lays claim to the invention in 1986. Their narrative may differ slightly in the details of the initial creation and evolution of the drink.
The key takeaway is that bubble tea as we know it emerged in Taiwan around 1986, with both Chun Shui Tang and Hanlin Tea Room contributing to its early development. Precisely who deserves sole credit remains a matter of historical interpretation. It is more accurate to consider it a collaborative invention.
