With its origins dating back to the 1980s, the invention of Bubble Tea is credited to two rival tea houses in Taiwan, Chun Shui Tang in the central city of Taichung and Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan. In the four decades since these tea houses first placed tapioca in that delicate, perfectly sweet milk tea, bubble tea has exploded in popularity, and nowhere in the world is it more loved outside of Taiwan than…
Right here in B.C.
Bubble tea, boba, pearl milk tea, it doesn’t matter what you call it, Metro Vancouver simply cannot get enough. So much so that the country's largest Bubble Tea Festival is happening here in Burnaby this July.
Featuring a diverse array of bubble tea vendors serving up refreshing concoctions bursting with flavor (and tapioca pearls), the Canada Bubble Tea Festival is an all-out celebration of the iconic Taiwanese creation, featuring food and drink vendors, live performances, and family-friendly fun.
Of course, the star of the weekend is the boba itself, which can be enjoyed in countless forms courtesy of the festival’s 100+ vendors. Rumour has it there will be classic boba flavours available alongside a myriad of unique combinations and even some one-of-a-kind flavours you won’t find anywhere else.
There will also be food trucks and local businesses serving culinary creations from around the world so you can sip and savour all weekend long.
The event, which takes place July 19 - 21 at Swangard Stadium, is truly tapioca heaven, offering attendees so many different ways to celebrate the beloved drink, including interactive workshops where you can learn to make your own bubble tea. There will also be bubble tea drinking competitions, creative drink design challenges, and vendor awards which add a fun and competitive edge to the event.
Hosted by the Canadian Community Action & Restorative Empowerment Society, the festival is also a means to share and celebrate Taiwanese culture in Vancouver. As such, attendees will be treated to cultural performances, traditional music and educational sessions about the origins and significance of bubble tea throughout the weekend-long event. The year’s festival will also offer a dynamic entertainment lineup featuring outdoor movies, so be sure to bring a picnic blanket!
Other attractions include talent shows, and a dedicated kids' zone, promising non-stop fun for all ages. 3-day passes for the event are just $14.99, while single-day passes are only $9.99. Children aged 12 and under are free with an accompanying adult.
This summer, don’t just enjoy your favourite drink, celebrate it! In addition to finding your new favourite flavour, you’ll get to connect with a community of like-minded boba enthusiasts in the process. What could be sweeter than that?
To learn more about the Canada Bubble Tea Festival, visit vanbubbleteafest.ca.
CANADA BUBBLE TEA FESTIVAL
- Friday, July 19: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (gates will be closed at 7 p.m.)
- Saturday, July 20: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (gates will be closed at 7 p.m.)
- Sunday, July 21: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (gates will be closed at 6 p.m.)
Address: Swangard Stadium (6100 Boundary Rd, Burnaby, B.C.)
