Explore Guides
Local food map
Taipei (Taiwan)
Hotels in area
Drink
Vegetarian
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
350kcal
7gProtein
70gCarbs
5gFat
1gFibre
400 gServing
* Per serving · 400 g. May vary.
Allergens
🥛 Dairy
Pearl Milk Tea
How to order / say it
Say it
珍珠奶茶 — [jen-joo nai-cha]
Order
I'll have a pearl milk tea, please.
Locally
請給我一杯珍珠奶茶。
Say locally
A sweet, creamy tea drink with chewy tapioca pearls.
Why try it?
Pearl milk tea is an iconic Taiwanese beverage that encapsulates the ingenuity and playfulness of Taipei's culinary scene. Its unique texture combination makes it a must-try for adventurers seeking to understand the burgeoning bubble tea culture flourishing globally.
How it tastes
The drink is creamy with a subtle tea flavor and sweetness, balanced by the chewiness of the tapioca pearls, which provide a nice bite.
Origin & History — first documented: 1988
Pearl milk tea originated in Taichung, Taiwan in the 1980s and quickly became a nationwide obsession. Its novel texture was an instant hit, leading to widespread popularity in Taiwan before eventually becoming an international trend.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🌿 100 ml black tea
- 🌾 60 g tapioca pearls
- 🥛 150 ml milk
- 🍯 30 g sugar
Method
- 1 Brew black tea and let it cool.
- 2 Cook tapioca pearls until soft.
- 3 Mix brewed tea with milk and sugar.
- 4 Add tapioca pearls to the mixture and serve chilled.
More from Taichung
© Wikimedia Commons
Snack
Meat
Gua Bao
割包
gwa-bow
A fluffy steamed bun filled with braised pork belly.
© Wikimedia Commons
Soup
Meat
Danzai Noodles
擔仔麵
dan-tzai mee-an
A small bowl of noodles with braised pork, shrimp, and scallions in broth.
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Meat
Braised Pork Rice
滷肉飯
loo-row-faan
A comforting rice bowl topped with savory braised pork.
© Wikimedia Commons
Street food
Vegetarian
Stinky Tofu
臭豆腐
chou-dou-fu
Fermented tofu that's deep-fried served with chili sauce.
© Wikimedia Commons
Street food
Fish & Seafood
Oyster Omelette
蚵仔煎
o-ah-tsen
A savory egg omelette with fresh oysters and a starchy texture.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegetarian
Pineapple Cake
鳳梨酥
fèng lí sū
A sweet pastry with a buttery crust filled with pineapple paste.