Bubble tea is very popular now in China. I know someone here will even have several cups in a day. Let’s learn some words about bubble tea this week.
Bubble tea is 珍珠(zhēnzhū)奶茶(nǎichá). 珍珠 (zhēnzhū) originally means pearls. Here it refers to the bubbles in the bubble tea. But actually we usually just say 奶茶(nǎichá), milk tea in Chinese.
Traditionally, bubble tea is made of black tea. Black tea in Chinese is 红茶(hóngchá) red tea. But we also have bubble tea 奶茶(nǎichá) made of green tea 绿茶(lǜchá) or oolong tea 乌龙茶(wūlóngchá).
Actually, I don’t like the bubbles, 珍珠(zhēnzhū). I’ll just order bubble tea without bubbles, just tea and milk is the best for me!
And there are many different kinds of topping for bubble tea as well.
Different toppings for Bubble Tea
- 红豆 hóngdòu – red bean
- 芋泥 yùní – taro paste
- 西米 xīmǐ – sago
- 椰果 yēguǒ – coconut jelly
- 仙草 xiāncǎo – grass jelly
And there is a new kind of topping very popular now. 奶盖(nǎigài), milk cap. It’s like a thick layer of milk foam or cream on top of the tea. Tasty but not very healthy.
To be a little healthier, I’ll usually order bubble tea with half sugar.
半糖 bàntáng – half sugar
无糖 wútáng – sugar free
And for bubble tea, you can order hot or iced.
奶茶(nǎichá)你(nǐ)喝(hē)热(rè)的(de)还是(háishì)冰(bīng)的(de)?
Do you want to have hot or iced bubble tea?
Also in bubble tea shops, you can customize your ice level.
去冰 qùbīng – no ice
少冰 shǎobīng – half ice
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào yì bēi nǎichá, bú yào zhēnzhū, yào yēguǒ, bàntáng, qùbīng, xièxie!
你好，我要一杯奶茶，不要珍珠，要椰果，半糖，去冰，谢谢！
Hello, I want a cup of bubble tea without the tapioca balls, add some coconut jelly, half sugar, no ice, thanks!
Have you tried bubble tea? What kind of bubble tea do you like? Leave a message and let us know!
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