Boba culture started in the late '80s, and its origins are debated. Milk tea was already well-known in Taiwan, as tea drinking was a robust practice in East Asia. Both shaved ice and tapioca balls were considered common desserts at the time. At some point, someone thought to combine three popular elements into one beverage β tapioca balls on the bottom, followed by a layer of shaved ice, and milk tea to fill out the rest of the drink.
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