Have you ever heard of bubble tea or tapioca tea? No? Here we explain what it is about. Bubble tea has been one of the favorite drinks in the Asian continent, which has gained great popularity for several years now. This drink was born in Taiwan during the 1980s and has gained great importance in the Mexican market due to the interesting fusions in which it can be found.
Although it's not a new drink, in our country, tapioca tea or bubble tea has begun to be known not only for its appearance but also for its benefits. This famous drink is mainly made from green tea or black tea, to which tapioca pearls are added.
What is tapioca?
You may have heard of tapioca at some point, but you might not be clear on what it is, so let us explain a bit. Tapioca is a starch derived from the cassava root, a plant native to South America, which has no flavor. It can be found in different forms such as flour, starch, flakes, and the most well-known form, pearls, which have gained a lot of popularity when combined with other ingredients like milk or tea. Tapioca absorbs the flavor, making any drink it’s included in a unique experience, as is the case with bubble tea or bubble tea.
Cassava Roots the first tapioca tea shop in the country
For the past 15 years, Cassava Roots has been dedicated to creating exquisite drinks with amazing combinations. A new brand concept that emerged in 2008 with siblings Daniela and Patricio Lombardo, two young Mexicans who decided to bring bubble tea to Mexico, thus becoming the first avant-garde tea shop with tapioca in the country.
Edgar González, managing partner of Cassava Roots, shared in a phone interview for Gastrolab web the emergence of the brand, an original and innovative project that undoubtedly came to stay. It all started with a trip to San Francisco that the Lombardo siblings took, and it was there that they discovered this famous drink made with tapioca. The idea of bringing it to Mexico needed to have an original concept that adapted to the Mexican palate, where it could be fused with traditional flavors like chocolate or horchata.
To achieve this, a story was created around the brand, depicting that the sensei Ichiro Kokoroto, a martial arts master, was the precursor of Cassava. The logo that gives identity to this brand refers to a tree named Cassava, but upon flipping the logo, you can see the root where tapioca comes from.
One of the important points that stand out about this brand was the colors used: white, red, and black, which symbolize originality and a bit of rebellion that create a different place, where the most important thing is to be yourself and enjoy an environment without labels. And in the end, you can find any flavor to suit your palate, depending on your mood and preferences, whether fruity or natural, mentioned the direct partner of Cassava Roots.
Cassava Roots was the pioneer of tapioca tea in Mexico; as part of its beginnings, it sought to introduce bubble tea into a creative environment where original elements converge, such as graffiti, rock music ambiance, and its peculiar furniture, which is different in each store. "Try to be original" is the slogan that characterizes the brand.
"We believe that no person is the same and each is different and valuable for who they are. Whether they are rockers, hipsters, hopeless romantics, or cumbia lovers... the most important thing is to be yourself and not to label yourself as something that doesn’t suit you," González mentioned.
The birth of the iconic bubble tea drinks from Cassava Roots
At Cassava Roots, five families were created that arise from the five disciples of sensei Ichiro Kokoroto. According to the story, in a search for roots, they found a black bonsai where they could obtain tapioca pearls, and upon consuming them, they realized that they enhanced their performance. Therefore, they decided to bring the ancient secret to Mexico to introduce the drink with black tapioca. These five families are divided into Samurai, Ninja, Sensei, Sumo, and Geisha.
The Samurai drinks are traditional and emblematic; in this family, iconic teas from around the world can be found, such as taro, chai, or other significant beverages from a region or country. The second family corresponds to the Ninja disciple, characterized as agile and quick, featuring fruity flavors.
The third family corresponds to the Sensei disciple, which contains no sugar; here, you can find herbal teas and infusions, representing a healthier family. The fourth family is Sumo, which consists of milkshake-type drinks with sweeter flavors for people looking for more energy, including Rockchata. Finally, the fifth family is Geisha, encompassing coffee-based combinations.
One of the major points that Cassava Roots emphasizes is the nutritional benefits that tapioca provides. The preparation process that this brand follows is 100% artisanal. The tapioca undergoes a preparation process similar to that of pasta, which takes between one hour thirty to one hour forty minutes. Edgar González mentions that once the tapioca is cooked, it has a lifespan of 8 to 10 hours; after this period, the tapioca pearls begin to swell and lose consistency.
What benefits does tapioca have?
Tapioca is a food with many properties and benefits; it creates a satiety effect, contains no gluten, and possesses micronutrients such as vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, iron, and potassium. Its consumption benefits the immune and circulatory systems and improves digestion, plus tapioca is low in calories. Tapioca has a neutral flavor, so it can be consumed alone or combined with other types of foods, like tea or milk. There are no consumption restrictions, as long as it is done in moderation.
At Cassava Roots, you can enjoy tapioca in delicious tropicalized drinks that suit your taste.
"Children between 8 and 10 years old are already starting to consume this product due to its great benefits," says Edgar González, general director of Cassava Roots.
Source: Gastrolab El Heraldo https://www.gastrolabweb.com/bebidas/2023/4/17/bubble-tea-un-nuevo-concepto-para-beber-te-con-perlas-de-tapioca-que-deleitaran-tu-paladar-35389.html
