How to Make Bubble Tea (With Video)
Make delicious bubble tea at home with store-bought or homemade tapioca pearls in brown sugar syrup. It's simple, sweet, and refreshing—perfect for summer!
Servings: 2
Equipment
- Boba straws or serve the bubble tea with a spoon to fish out the boba
Ingredients
- 2.7 oz uncooked tapioca pearls 1/2 cup; or use homemade tapioca pearls
- 5 cups water to cook the tapioca
Brown Sugar Syrup
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar dark brown sugar OR dark muscovado for more molasses flavor
- 2 Tbsp water
Milk Tea
- 1 Tbsp black tea leaves or 1 teabag; use a robust tea like Chinese breakfast tea, English breakfast tea, or Earl Grey
- 2 cups boiling water to brew the tea
- 1/2 cup milk dairy or non-dairy; skim, 2%, or whole milk; use half and half for super creamy results
- 1/2 tsp vanilla optional
Instructions
Make the tea
- Use a kettle or heat water on the stovetop. Bring the water to just under a boil.
- Add the black tea into a teapot or a large mug and pour the water over it. Leave it to steep for 5 minutes (up to 10 minutes if you like a stronger tea).
Cook the boba
- If you aren't using store-bought tapioca balls, you’ll first need to prepare the boba and cook them according to my Homemade Tapioca Pearls (Boba) recipe.If using quick cook boba pearls, cook them according to their package instructions (usually 3-5 minutes). Stir them occasionally to avoid sticking.
- Once cooked, drain and immediately transfer to a bowl of cold water or leave under running cold water, or add them directly to the brown sugar syrup.
Make the brown sugar syrup
- Cook for a further 3-4 minutes to slightly thicken up.
- Transfer the cooked tapioca balls to the syrup and mix well to coat them in the melted sugar.
Assemble the bubble tea
- Add about 1/4 cup of brown sugar boba mixture to a tall glass (like a latte glass) or adjust the amount to your personal preference. Add ice if desired. Pour the tea over the top, then add your milk of choice. Stir well and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Once fully assembled, it's best to enjoy the boba tea immediately for the best flavor and texture. However, you can store some of the elements separately - see the blog post for details.
Check the blog post for more tips!
Nutrition
Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 1mg