Bubble Tea Intermediate

Reading Passage

Bubble tea is a delicious drink that has become incredibly popular around the world. This sweet beverage was invented in Taiwan during the nineteen eighties. The drink gets its name from the chewy tapioca balls that sit at the bottom of the cup. These tapioca balls are called pearls or boba, and they come in many different colors and flavors. What started as a local Taiwanese treat has now become a global phenomenon loved by millions.

The basic ingredients of bubble tea are simple but can be combined in endless ways. Most bubble teas start with a base of black or green tea mixed with milk or fruit juice. Sugar syrup is added to make the drink sweet and flavorful for customers. The famous tapioca pearls are made from cassava root and cooked until perfectly chewy. Today, shops offer hundreds of variations including taro, matcha, and fresh fruit flavors.

Drinking bubble tea is a fun and unique experience unlike any other beverage. The drinks are served with extra-wide straws so you can suck up the tapioca pearls while drinking. Many people enjoy the texture of chewing the soft, bouncy pearls between sips. Some shops now offer other toppings like jelly, pudding, or red beans. Part of the fun is choosing your own combination of flavors and sweetness levels.

Bubble tea shops have spread to almost every major city on the planet. The industry is now worth over three billion dollars worldwide each year. Young people especially love posting pictures of their colorful drinks on social media. Many shops create aesthetic drinks designed to look beautiful in photographs. Some popular chains have thousands of locations across Asia, Europe, and North America serving eager customers.

The future of bubble tea looks very bright as new trends continue to emerge. Health-conscious customers can now find options with less sugar and fresh ingredients. Some shops use sustainable packaging to reduce plastic waste in the environment. Scientists are even developing new types of pearls made from different plants. From a small tea stand in Taiwan to worldwide fame, bubble tea has truly taken over the world.

Level: Level F

A. Vocabulary Matching

Match each word with its definition.

B. True or False

Write T (True) or F (False) for each statement.

1. Bubble tea was invented in Japan. ______
2. Tapioca pearls are made from cassava root. ______
3. Bubble tea straws are extra-wide. ______
4. The bubble tea industry is worth over three billion dollars. ______
5. Only one flavor of bubble tea exists. ______
6. Bubble tea was invented in the nineteen eighties. ______
7. The pearls sink to the bottom of the cup. ______
8. Bubble tea is only popular in Asia. ______
9. Some shops offer jelly and pudding toppings. ______

C. Fill in the Blanks

Word Bank: popular  |  pearls  |  ingredients  |  flavorful  |  variations  |  texture  |  industry

1. Bubble tea has become incredibly _______________ around the world.
2. The chewy tapioca balls at the bottom are called _______________.
3. The basic _______________ include tea, milk, sugar, and tapioca.
4. Many people enjoy the bouncy _______________ of chewing the pearls.
5. The bubble tea _______________ is now worth billions of dollars.

D. Comprehension Questions

1. Where and when was bubble tea invented?
2. What are tapioca pearls made from?
3. Why do bubble tea drinks come with extra-wide straws?
4. Name two toppings besides tapioca pearls that shops offer.
5. How are some shops making bubble tea more environmentally friendly?

E. Discussion Questions

Talk about these questions with a partner or write your answers.

1. Have you ever tried bubble tea? If yes, what flavor? If no, would you like to?
2. Why do you think bubble tea became so popular on social media?
3. What flavor combination would you create for your own bubble tea?

Answer Key

Check your answers below.

A. Vocabulary: 1-i, 2-b, 3-g, 4-h, 5-e, 6-j, 7-f, 8-c, 9-a, 10-d

B. True/False: 1-F, 2-T, 3-T, 4-T, 5-F, 6-T, 7-T, 8-F, 9-T

C. Fill in the Blanks: 1-popular, 2-pearls, 3-ingredients, 4-texture, 5-industry

D. Comprehension: 1. Taiwan in the 1980s; 2. Cassava root; 3. So you can suck up the tapioca pearls while drinking; 4. Jelly, pudding, red beans (any two); 5. Using sustainable packaging to reduce plastic waste

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