A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages designed to commemorate holidays, events, achievements, and notable historical figures.
This week, a new logo has appeared on the search engine’s homepage celebrating a popular drink — bubble tea.
Designed by Google artists Sophie Diao and Celine You, the logo features the drink alongside Taiwan’s indigenous Formosan Mountain Dog and some familiar Doodle characters.
An interactive game in the logo, which appeared on Sunday, January 29, challenges users to make the perfect cup of bubble tea.
“Traditional tearooms across Asia have also joined in on the boba craze, and the trend has reached countries like Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and more,” Google said of the logo.
What is bubble tea?
Bubble tea, also known as pearl milk tea or boba tea, is a popular Taiwanese drink.
Simply put, it is a tea with bubbles in it and has grown in popularity over the years.
The global bubble tea market is set to reach more than $4.5 billion (£3.6 billion) by 2026.
The tea is a sweetened drink using natural flavours and syrups, which are either water or cream-based with black tea and tapioca pearls.
The pearls are boiled, drained and sweetened and then added to the drink. This provides a burst of flavour upon each sip.
Its roots are in traditional Taiwanese tea culture dating as far back as the early 17 century. Taiwanese migrants brought it to the rest of the world.
Health benefits of bubble tea
Bubble tea has been found to have several health benefits.
For instance, studies have shown that consuming it regularly boosts brain function and leads to improved concentration.
Other reported benefits include:
- Increased bone strength due to its antioxidant content.
- Increased energy levels due to its high carbohydrate content.
- Reduction in stress levels.
- Improved immune system due to its vitamin C content.
- Reduction in free radical damage due to its compounds such as epigallocatechin and polyphenols.
