var uslide_show_id = “aad4d6ea-e04c-4067-940b-3768fdda0b86”;var slideshowwidth = “468”;var linktext = “”;

When it comes to this sweet drink which originated in Taiwan, boba has a strong following in the Asian community. For others, most either don’t know about it or are put off by the black balls that sit at the bottom of the cup under a brightly colored milk tea drink. Boba comes in a variety of flavors of milk tea and also comes in slushy form with flavors – some of which are mango, strawberry, and avocado. If you just can’t get used to the gummy texture of the tapioca pearls (same as, but considerably larger than the balls in tapioca pudding, and it is sometimes fried) boba can be ordered without the pearls.

Saigon Bay Express, a café that has Vietnamese cuisine, is the only place on campus that serves this drink. I went to the café and had some students taste the drink who hadn’t tried it before. They sampled the most popular flavor: Thai milk tea with tapioca pearls. The three students who tasted the drink enjoyed the tea flavor and the balance of sweetness and creaminess.

There are shops devoted to boba, similar to smoothie bars, so it is not that the drink is hidden at the bottom of menus. Boba generally either has a devoted following or is a complete mystery.

Claire Elise Padgett can be reached at [email protected].