Why Bubble Tea Is Called Boba

The term 'boba' comes from Taiwanese slang loosely meaning 'large' , it was used humorously to describe the oversized 7mm chewy tapioca pearls when they were first introduced as an alternative to the smaller variety. While Singapore predominantly uses the term 'bubble tea', 'boba' became the dominant name in North America. (Source: nlb.gov.sg)