I Just Learned What The Texture Of Boba Pearls Is Really Called, And Huh

BobaIf you’ve ever wondered (as I have) what the true flavour of cola and allspice are, we have some fun, if underwhelming, news: allspice is actually its own spice, rather than a combination of many others, and cola tastes partly of the kola nut. Even traditional red velvet cake has a distinct taste (vanilla and chocolate), while the colour used to be made by the reaction of Dutch-processed cocoa powder to buttermilk and vinegar. But what about textures ― specifically, the bouncy, chewy, often slightly jiggly mouthfeel of boba’s tapioca pearls, gummy bears and mochi?I personally struggle to name that category of food other than calling it “jellyish”, “chewy”, and “boingy”. Or at least I did – because it turns out there’s a Taiwanese term that perfectly captures the texture. “Q” is used to describe bouncy food Among Hokkien-speaking areas, “khiu” or “k’iu” was used to describe this distinctively springy texture. It has since broadened into “Q”, reportedly pronounced “kee-yew”– and per Food & Wine, particularly chewy foods can earn themselves the status of “QQ”. Just as “crunchy” can apply to everything from a crisp to an apple to crackling, “Q” seems to involve a broad range of foods. Al dente pasta may be a firmer version, while mochi is softer: wood ear mushrooms are tightly-packed bundles of bounce. And, of course, the term certainly applies to the elastic-y tapioca pearls found in boba tea. These qualify as “QQ” – the chewy texture is most, if not all, of their appeal.What are some “Q” texture foods?Mochi, al dente pasta, noodles, boba pearls, wood ear mushrooms, halloumi, cuttlefish, squid, and gummy bears all count. But so do glutinous rice flour doughnuts, fishballs, cassava dough, cornflour-packed desserts, hot dogs, tteokbokki, oyster omelettes, and way more. Speaking to The New York Times, Liu Yen-ling, a manager at teahouse chain Chun Shui Tang, which claims to have invented boba tea, said: “It’s difficult to explain what Q means exactly... It means springy, soft, elastic.“You can tell if bubble milk tea is good based on how Q the tapioca pearls are,” he added. “If the texture is perfect, it can be very satisfying.” Related...People Still Don't Know What Flavour Dr Pepper IsHere's What Flavour 'Red Velvet' Really Is, And It's Not What I ThoughtHere's What Flavour Biscoff Actually Is, And I Didn't Expect That

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