This post is written by Linus Hammarstrand:

Linus Hammarstrand

Taiwan is one of the most passionate tea-drinking nations in Asia; not because of the quantity of teas drunk or because of their exceptional quality (although they have that too though), but because of the sheer diversity of tea consumption. Fancy a cup of Oolong Tea, straight from the plantation? Or maybe tea-flavored crackers and cakes? Or why not eggs or meats boiled in tea, after you washed your hair with Green Tea-scented shampoo?

Bubble Tea

My personal favorite is however the famous Taiwanese Bubble Tea. This rather quaint drink originated in Taizhong, an industrial city in the north of Taiwan in the 1980s, and has since spread all over the world. There are many varieties of Bubble Tea in Taiwan but the most common one contains small balls of tapioca starch, as well as condensed milk, syrup and black tea. It is often sold in plastic mugs with an oversized straw (big enough for the “bubbles” to be sucked through) and cost about 1 $ US. Bubble teas can be found all over Taiwan and there are numerous shops and stalls that specializes in Bubble tea. These are often found in and around night markets and train stations.