Why is a bubble tea called 'タピオカジュース' or 'タピオカティー 'in Japan?


I love drinking bubble tea, especially in Indonesia, China, and in Japan where
there are many famous bubble tea sellers, especially Chatime or KOI (there was
one when I visited Indonesia).

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/co0Ud.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/co0Ud.jpg)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/VERt8.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/VERt8.jpg)

However, I was surprised when I came to Japan first time years ago that I
couldn't find any "bubble tea" or "bubble milk tea", instead I found "Tapioka
juice/tea" (I laughed literally at the naming, well..:)). Because what I
imagined of a 'Tapioka (in Indonesia it's called "Tepung Tapioka"') is a
"tepung pati ubi kayu (starch flour made from the essence of manioc/cassava).

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LArvd.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LArvd.jpg)

Explanation: A starch made by leaching and drying the root of the cassava
plant; the source of tapioca; a staple food in the tropics.

Comparison in Japan: **【台北】モチモチ食感が堪らない”飲むスイーツ”タピオカティーの人気店５選**

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4uZpE.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4uZpE.jpg)

Souce:<https://www.travelbook.co.jp/topic/5291>

So, back to the question:

> Why is a bubble tea called **'タピオカジュース' or 'タピオカティー** 'in Japan?

What was/is the history behind the naming? (I suspect that it may be 和製英語)




タピオカジュース or タピオカティー would be nothing if not 和製英語.

I am more familiar with it being called Pearl Milk Tea （パールミルクティー）, as the
tapioca balls resemble pearls.

As it didn't originate in an English-language dominant country, the naming
conventions vary. You can call it 'boba', as is common in my home country
(introduced through the Asian community), or whatever you like. One cannot
deny though, that the main constant throughout would be the use of tapioca
balls.

The word for bubble in Japanese (泡）is the same for foam. Aside from this
naming possibly being confusing for the domestic market, the product has a
longer history in Asia than it does anywhere else. So, maybe they should laugh
when you call it 'bubble tea'?




タピオカジュース or タピオカティー would be nothing if not 和製英語.

I am more familiar with it being called Pearl Milk Tea （パールミルクティー）, as the
tapioca balls resemble pearls.

As it didn't originate in an English-language dominant country, the naming
conventions vary. You can call it 'boba', as is common in my home country
(introduced through the Asian community), or whatever you like. One cannot
deny though, that the main constant throughout would be the use of tapioca
balls.

The word for bubble in Japanese (泡）is the same for foam. Aside from this
naming possibly being confusing for the domestic market, the product has a
longer history in Asia than it does anywhere else. So, maybe they should laugh
when you call it 'bubble tea'?

