ELI5 Bubble Tea - how did it become a global sensation?

Who invented boba? Are bubble tea, pearl milk tea and boba all the same thing? Where is Tapioca originally from? If many people in Taiwan are lactose intolerant, how is it that milk tea would be invented there?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: thedarkabys, bazinga-5713, h1deki, fiercelyfuzzy, jordans_channel_, aeolianbroadsword and llanite

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