Society | Aug 21

Japan’s bubble tea mania pushes tapioca imports up fourfold

Aug 21 (Asahi) - Japan's current bubble tea craze has sent tapioca imports soaring to meet the demand for the drink made with cold milk and tapioca balls.

Osaka Customs on Aug. 19 said that between January and June, 4,471 tons of tapioca were imported to Japan’s five regions, including the Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas, 4.3 times more than the 1,038 tons in the same period last year.

The Osaka metropolitan area, which includes Kobe and Kyoto, saw the largest growth in tapioca imports. They ballooned to 633 tons, 21 times larger than 30 tons recorded in the first half of last year.

Japan imports tapioca, which is made of cassava starch, mainly from Taiwan, where the drinks are also hugely popular.

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