タピオカ

たぴおか
noun
tapioca; bubble tea
1. tapioca; tapioca pearls
Starch balls made from cassava root, used in drinks and desserts.
タピオカがもちもちしている。
The tapioca pearls are chewy.
2. bubble tea
A drink containing tapioca pearls, typically milk tea.
タピオカミルクティーを飲(の)む。
To drink bubble milk tea.
タピオカブームが到来(とうらい)した。
A bubble tea boom arrived.

タピオカ refers to tapioca pearls or bubble tea drinks containing them. From Portuguese/Spanish 'tapioca.'

MEANINGS:
1. Tapioca pearls (the chewy balls made from cassava starch)
2. Bubble tea (by extension, especially in casual speech)

POPULAR DRINKS:

  • タピオカミルクティー: bubble milk tea
  • タピオカドリンク: tapioca drink
  • 黒糖(こくとう)タピオカ: brown sugar tapioca

TEXTURE WORDS:

  • もちもち: chewy, bouncy
  • 弾力(だんりょく)がある: has elasticity

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan experienced a major タピオカブーム (bubble tea boom) around 2018-2019, with long queues at specialty shops. The word タピる (to drink/get bubble tea) was coined as slang.

RELATED:

  • ボバ: boba (alternate term from English)
general
Added 2026.1.16 17:17 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
05500/05604_tapioka