Boba

 

Xing Fu Tang's pearls did not disappoint. At first we felt their tea-less product was a cop-out, but we came to appreciate the caffeine-free option.

The night markets stole the show in Taiwan, but we didn't lose sight of one of Taiwan's most famous foodie inventions: boba milk tea. Here are some questions you might have about boba in Taiwan:

Q: Is boba better in Taiwan?

Answer: Not necessarily- we're lucky to have a lot of good boba milk tea options in the Bay Area, and the boba was similar on average. We followed a tour guide's recommendations to try a boba at Milk Cha (known for the best milk), Tien Ren (known for the best tea), and Xing Fu Tang (known for excellent tapioca pearls). Milk Cha wasn't much to write to home about, but Tien Ren does have excellent tea flavor, and the Xing Fu Tang pearls are among the best. Xing Fu Tang claims to have invented the tapioca pearls, and they do a brisk business in the Ximen District, drawing people in with an open kitchen where you can watch the pearls being made.

Xing Fu Tang's bubbling vat of pearls

Q: Are the flavors different?

Answer: Yes- notably, there are more decaf options, which we appreciated. It's even possible to simply buy a creamy cup of milk with pearls (or in some cases, a cup of pearls with a splash of milk). A simple brown sugar milk is Xing Fu Tang's flagship product. There are also many fruit juice and jelly options which are naturally caffeine-free. Karen's favorites were passion fruit and apple cider vinegar. In the US, the sweetness of taro milk tea cannot be adjusted because the taro syrup itself is sweet. In Taiwan, taro milk tea is made with actual mashed taro, so it is a relatively un-sweet option.

Apparently we drank all the bobas too quickly to take pictures, but here is another treat we enjoyed: shaved ice with toppings like tapioca pearls, taro balls, and grass jelly. Other popular toppings include red bean, boiled peanuts, and corn.

Q: Is it possible to get bad boba milk tea in Taiwan?

Answer: Yes! There is at least one place in Hualien slinging absolutely terrible boba tea. The pearls were mushy, the tea was bitter, and the cheese foam cream top didn't go well with the tea at all even though they were a recommended combo.

In honor of Matt's birthday, Matt's sister sent us money for a night out in Taipei.  She also requested video updates on how her money was being spent. Here is one such video in which we drink a passionfruit juice with aiyu jelly.