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How to Make Bubble Tea (Easy Boba Milk Tea Recipe)

Boba (aka bubble tea) is a pairs chewy tapioca pearls with sweet milk tea for a fun, refreshing drink that's easy to make at home.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 425 kcal

Equipment

  • 5-quart pot with a heavy bottom
  • Wooden stirring spoon
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • 3-quart pot
  • 16-ounce glasses
  • Boba straws

Ingredients
  

Boba (Black Tapioca Pearls):

Bubble Milk Tea:

  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 8 black tea bags
  • 4 cups ice
  • 1/2 cup simple syrup see Notes
  • 1/2 cup half and half or your milk of choice
  • 2 cups prepared tapioca pearls boba

Instructions
 

  • Boil 20 minutes. Add the water to a 5-quart pot, and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the tapioca pearls and boil for 20 minutes. They will float to the top fairly early in the cooking process; when this happens give them a stir. After boiling for 20 minutes, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid, and then rinse and drain the boba.
  • Soak 20 minutes. Put the boba back into the pot. Stir in the reserved 1 1/2 cups of cooking liquid and the brown sugar. Cover the pot and let the boba steep/soak for 20 minutes. Drain the boba except for 2 tablespoons of the liquid (this small amount of liquid will help prevent the pearls from sticking together).

For the Black Tea:

  • While the boba is cooking, make the tea. Add the water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove the water from the heat and add the tea bags. Let the tea steep until it cools to room temperature, and then remove the tea bags.

To Assemble the Bubble Milk Tea:

  • Divide the ice between 4 glasses, and then add 1/4 of the cooled tea, simple syrup, and half and half to each glass. Top each with 1/2 cup of boba. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • How Much Boba This Makes: 1 2/3 cups of dry black tapioca pearls cooks up to be about 2 cups of prepared boba. About 1/2 cup of prepared boba is a good amount for each drink, so you will get 4 drinks from 1 2/3 cups of dry tapioca pearls.
  • Simple Syrup: To make about 1/2 cup of simple syrup, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup filtered water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and then boil for 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature before using. Feel free to add more or less to taste.
  • Tea Strength: We want the tea brewed strong here, otherwise it will get too watered down because of the ice and the flavor will be diluted. I let the tea bags steep in the water until the water is cooled to room temperature. This takes about 20 minutes.
  • Best Served Immediately: Cooked tapioca pearls continue to absorb liquid. This causes them to expand more and take on a gummy texture. Additionally, you may have trouble getting them through a straw (even a large bubble tea straw) if this drink sits for quite a while.
  • Can I Prepare Boba in Advance? For the best flavor and texture, I recommend eating boba immediately after making it. However, if you prepare extra tapioca pearls, you can store them in simple syrup in the fridge for up to 2 days.