Boba tea, otherwise known as bubble tea, is Taiwan's original favorite drink—a tea beverage that combines black tea, milk, and sweeteners with chewy tapioca pearls. Here's how to make a classic milk tea with boba at home.
Boba Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
For the Tapioca Pearls:
- 1/2 cup black tapioca pearls, available in most Asian grocery stores or online
- 4 cups water, for cooking the boba
- 2-3 Tbsp brown sugar or honey, to sweeten boba
For the Milk Tea:
- 1 cup strong black tea (such as Assam or Earl Grey)
- 1/4 cup milk (or any dairy-free alternative like almond or oat milk)
- 2-3 tablespoons simple syrup, honey or sugar, to taste
- Ice cubes
Optional Add-Ins:
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- Fresh fruit or fruit syrup for flavored tea
Instructions:
1. Cooking the Tapioca Pearls (Boba):
- In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
- Add the tapioca pearls to the pot of boiling water, then stir in a clockwise direction to avoid sticking.
- Cook the pearls until soft and chewy; the package usually says it is around 5 to 10 minutes.
- Take the pot off the stove and cover it. Let the pearls steep in the hot water for 5 more minutes.
- Drain the pearls and transfer them into a bowl.
- Mix in brown sugar or honey to coat pearls and add sweetness. Let them sit for a little while to soak in.
2. Prepare the Tea:
- Brew 1 cup of nice, strong black tea. You can use loose-leaf tea or even tea bags.
- Let your tea steep for 5-7 minutes to get that nice, right taste
- Remove the tea leaves or the tea bags, and let it cool a bit.
3. Prepare the Milk Tea:
- In a glass or shaker, mix brewed tea, milk, and sweetener of choice: simple syrup, honey, or sugar.
- Add optional flavorings like vanilla or almond extract for additional taste.
- Whisk until sweetener is fully dissolved.
4. To assemble the Boba Tea:
- In a tall glass, add 2-3 tablespoons of the sweetened tapioca pearls.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes.
- Pour prepared milk tea over the ice and pearls.
- Now, mix it up with a wide straw—these boba will fit through no problem—and enjoy!
5. Serve:
- Serve immediately, when the boba pearls are still soft and chewy.
Happy sipping of your homemade boba tea! You can play around with the flavors of tea, milks, or fruit syrup and jellies as much as you want to satisfy your perfect bubble tea quest.