Bubble tea has spread to become a global phenomenon. After large numbers of Taiwanese immigrants moved to the United States from the 1960s through to the 1990s, boba expanded as it was introduced into American culture (Zhang). It has seeped into the mainstream and caused major chains like Starbucks and Dunkin to go to great lengths in customization, calling it the “bobafication” of American drinks (Dai). Yet, beneath this popularity lies a story of cultural blending. As Jiayi Wu explains, “bubble tea is not a creation that accidentally crossed Taiwanese mind, but in essence the result of the intercultural communication between Chinese and British tea culture” (Wu). This cultural mix symbolizes how traditions can merge to create something new. It reminds me of my family and how they never grew up drinking bubble tea, but now it is something that we all share. Even though bubble tea isn’t from the Philippines, it fits seamlessly into our culture. As someone who is half Filipino and half American, I have always felt like I was balancing between two cultures, but never fitting into one. Filipino culture centers around food: adobo simmering in the kitchen before dinners, rich with flavors of soy and garlic, or the lumpia crisply served at family gatherings. The meals are centered on tradition and family. American culture, on the other hand, is full of customization and sugar, especially in drinks (Dai) . They have these bold and bright flavors, which can be too much to handle. Bubble tea sits between these two cultures. The rich brown sugarcoated syrup along with the gummy bear like texture of tapioca combine in a way that lets me savor the comfort of tradition and the playful sweetness of American culture. 

With this, our family has created a tradition of our own. Whenever we travel we always try to discover a new boba shop. One of my favorite memories of this was from a spring break trip to New York. The drinks came in mason jars instead of plastic cups. The boba was so fresh and warm that the soft tapioca melted in your mouth. Our family loved it so much in fact, that we were too distracted by our drinks and forgot to remember the name of the place if we were ever to come back. That moment just reminded me of how much food can bring people together.