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Boba with a twist: Jakartans introduced with savory boba mix
A recent boba festival in a South Jakarta mall showcased sweet and even some savory boba dishes.
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Illustration of bubble tea drinks. (Shutterstock/Paripol Sriwangprai)
B
ubble tea, popularly known as boba, is taking the nation by storm to the point where boba sellers and festivals dedicated to the much-loved tapioca balls can be found at nearly every corner of the city. Sellers are also getting more creative, even going the savory route.
Originating from Taichung, an industrial city in western Taiwan, the sweet tapioca pearl has become a global sensation among kids and hipsters.
During a boba festival in Gandaria City shopping mall, South Jakarta at the end of September, hundreds of people were seen flocking the venue, with many of them forming lines around several bubble tea franchise stalls.
“Some of the stores are more popular than the others. The lines was unbelievably long, in which you have to wait for up to two hours.” festival-goer Arvy Valerie, 21, said.
While some of the festival-goers remained conventional—choosing from classic bubble milk tea flavors or any beverage that includes the tapioca pearl toppings, some chose to be adventurous and tried the latest inventions.
“I have tried some drinks, and French toast with boba and cream cheese.” Arvy said.
“I won’t spend my money to buy the crazy ones, to be honest. Won’t risk it if I’m not certain about the taste,” she added.
