Pearl milk tea, a national drink born in Taiwan in the 1980s, has become popular worldwide, and some people even use it in cooking. Recently, a restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam, introduced a new dish called “Pearl Milk Tea Beef Noodle,” combining the sweetness of pearl milk tea with the savory taste of beef noodle soup. What does this unusual fusion taste like?
Taiwan is known for its delicious cuisine, with iconic dishes like pearl milk tea and beef noodles. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to combine these two beloved foods?
In late September, a restaurant in Hanoi called “Yu Tang” launched the “Pearl Milk Tea Beef Noodle,” which quickly gained attention and popularity. Vietnamese netizens have been discussing this creative dish, attracting food enthusiasts and influencers to try it out.
The taste of this dish is said to be indescribable. Some say it tastes like unsweetened milk tea, while others find that the texture of the pearls doesn’t quite match the dish.
Vietnamese influencer Duc Anh commented, “The overall taste is not impressive or exceptional. The noodles are not as off-putting as many might expect but lack flavor. The different components don’t seem to complement each other well.”
Mr. Chen, a Taiwanese businessman working in Hanoi, shared his experience trying the “Pearl Milk Tea Beef Noodle” with three colleagues at Yu Tang. He mentioned that while the presentation was appealing, the taste was peculiar – a mix of sweet and savory.
Yu Tang is a renowned restaurant in Hanoi known for its “Taiwanese flavors,” offering dishes like beef noodles, bao buns, chicken cutlets, dumplings, and minced pork rice. Among their menu items, pearl milk tea is the most popular and best-selling option.
Regarding the new product, Mr. Chen noted that while it was interesting, it wasn’t something he would reorder. He rated it around two stars out of five and described it as unique but not something he would crave.
Despite the mixed reviews, Mr. Chen and his colleagues appreciated the effort to introduce Taiwanese cuisine in Vietnam, as indicated by the “Taiwan” label on the menu. While the taste might not match Taiwan’s authenticity, it still provides a taste of home for Taiwanese expats in Vietnam.
The price of the “Pearl Milk Tea Beef Noodle” at Yu Tang is considered relatively high for locals, attracting mainly affluent individuals, Vietnamese urbanites, and even Japanese patrons. Priced at 9.8 Vietnamese dong (approximately 4 USD or 127 TWD) per bowl, the dish caters to those with decent incomes.
Mr. Chen emphasized that despite Vietnamese attempts to replicate “Taiwanese flavors,” nothing beats the original taste from Taiwan. He pointed out that any pearl milk tea in Taiwan tastes better than what you can find in Vietnam.
In recent years, pearl milk tea has gained international popularity, becoming a symbol of Taiwanese beverages. In the United States, April 30th is celebrated as “National Bubble Tea Day,” and CNN has featured articles on the history and popularity of bubble tea.
Apart from its role in pearl milk tea, the chewy and delightful tapioca pearls have been incorporated into other dishes such as pearl pizza, pearl popsicles, and pearl cheesecakes, reflecting the widespread influence of pearl milk tea.
Previously reported by Epoch Times, Vice Director of Taiwan’s Institute of Taiwan History, Peng Tsu-chang, highlighted that the popularity of pearl milk tea in Taiwan goes beyond taste and texture. He noted that the drink symbolized Taiwan’s shift from an old era to a new one, reflecting the unique social atmosphere in the late 1980s.
During a period of rapid economic growth in Taiwan, there was a proliferation of both industrialized packaged tea drinks and bubble tea shops popping up across the streets. The creation of pearl milk tea, combining tea with tapioca pearls, was an innovative success, representing Taiwan’s confidence and identity.
Overall, the fusion of pearl milk tea with traditional beef noodles in Vietnam may not have resonated with everyone, but it serves as a testament to the global appeal and ongoing evolution of Taiwan’s iconic beverage culture.