Taro Root and the Secret Behind Taro Bubble Tea’s Appeal
Taro bubble tea is a popular beverage enjoyed by many for its creamy texture, robust taste, and timeless appeal. The acclaim of taro root, goes back hundreds of years, if not thousands, to an era that even predates rice! Its one-of-a-kind taste and texture is still enjoyed around the world, even today.
East and South Asian cuisine is often accompanied by the continent’s favourite starch – rice, but rice hasn’t always been the staple food of choice. In fact, historians have theorized that taro root could be one of the oldest domesticated crops in the world.
Flooded rice paddies, ubiquitous throughout Asia, were once flooded taro fields, and it wasn’t until much later that rice came to replace the purple tubular as a dominant crop.
Despite taro’s loss of the limelight, it still remains a popular root vegetable throughout much of Asia to this day. With its unique flavour, numerous health benefits, and appealing texture, you can see taro root starring in many Asian culinary dishes worldwide.
However, perhaps none are as popular or as well known as taro bubble tea.
Want to learn why and discover how taro bubble tea is one of Baroness Canada’s most popular drinks? Let’s find out together!
What is Taro Root and Why is it Used in Taro Bubble Tea?
Taro, known as Colocasia esculenta scientifically, is a tropical root vegetable originating in Eastern and Southern Asia. It’s one of the world’s earliest cultivated crops and is still widely consumed today, with China producing more than 1.9 million tons of the purple root every year!
Undoubtedly, many of these delicious tubular roots get turned into one of the world’s most popular and beloved beverages – taro bubble tea.
But why is a root vegetable, a family of plants of which potatoes are also a member, used to create a delicious, highly sought after drink?
The secret lies in taro root’s unique taste, texture, and health benefits.
Benefits of Taro and Taro Bubble Tea
Taro is Rich in Fiber and Essential Nutrients
Tubular root vegetables such as potatoes are well-known for their nutritional value, and taro is no exception.
Containing a significant amount of dietary fibre, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, C, E, B6, folate, magnesium, iron, and more, taro is a fantastic supplement to vitamins and minerals that modern diets lack.
Taro also aids greatly in digestive health, with a single serving containing more than 25% of the daily recommended requirement of dietary fibre. Healthy amounts of dietary fibre help regulate insulin and glucose levels within the body, lowering the chances of developing diabetes. When combined with our fresh oat milk, you get a drink that not only tastes amazing but helps you feel amazing too!
Taro Offers Anticancer Benefits
Taro root contains large amounts of a plant-based compound known as quercetin that has the potential to lower cancer risk. Quercetin is found in other vegetables and plants as well, including onions, apples and even tea. In animal studies, quercetin has been shown to facilitate the death of cancer cells and slow the development of several varieties of cancers.
Quercetin is also an antioxidant, a group of compounds that can shield your cells from cancer-causing free radical damage. Dark chocolate, pomegranates, and blueberries are the foods that will most likely come to mind when you think of antioxidants, but you can now add taro (and taro bubble tea) to your list of foods that’ll keep you happy and healthy!
Taro Tastes Great and has a Unique Texture
When it comes to describing the appeal of taro root, most of the magic comes from its subtle taste and unique texture. Existing somewhere between a potato and a sweet potato, taro root has a subtle kind of sweetness that doesn’t make itself apparent right away. Some have described it as a combination of light vanilla and various nuts, while others argue that its flavour profile is more similar to that of a nutty potato.
No matter what people say about its taste, it’s safe to say that everyone loves taro root’s delicious flavour, but it doesn’t stop at taste alone.
When made into desserts, taro delivers a gritty and grainy texture that’s hard to find anywhere else. While this may not sound appealing at first, the slightly thick, somewhat gummy mouthfeel is one that’s incredibly addicting.
At Baroness, the addition of fresh, housemade black sugar syrup and tapioca pearls elevates taro root to new heights, melding together the creamy, grainy taro texture with the sweetness of our premium ingredients.
Taro Bubble Tea - Your New Go-to Drink
Whether it’s in taro bubble tea or sweet desserts such as sago and halo halo, taro’s appeal is timeless. The unique, creamy yet grainy texture that taro root brings to its many dishes, beverages, and desserts is one you’ll have a hard time finding in any other plant!
When fresh taro root is combined with our suite of fresh oat milk and house-made toppings, you get a drink that’s indicative of the rich history, tradition, and love that taro enjoys around the world.
If you haven’t had the chance to try taro or taro bubble tea out for yourself, we encourage you to come visit Baroness Bubble Tea at 2790 W Broadway, Vancouver to try some out for yourself! Let us know what you think of our blog and receive 10% off your order!
We can’t wait to see you!
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