Bubble Tea also called Boba Milk Tea is a sweet, chewy, and authentic Taiwanese Tea. It is usually prepared with tapioca pearls, black tea powder, milk, and sweetener. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make bubble Tea with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try at home.
I have also shared a detailed video of this recipe to make the process visually clear. This Boba Milk Tea tastes great similar to your favorite fast-food chain. And it can be a perfect warm drink to enjoy on cold winter days or enjoy the iced version on hot summer days.
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What is Boba Milk Tea?
Bubble Tea which is also called Boba Milk Tea is a Taiwanese drink that is sweet, chewy, and packed with delicious flavors. It is usually made with tapioca pearls, milk tea, and a sweetener. This drink also got so many variations from milk tea to fruit flavors.
This Boba Tea is one of the staples of Taiwanese street stalls, especially in the night markets. You can different boba teas like plain, strawberry, honeydew, lychee, taro, mango, and the options are endless.
This Bubble Tea also got its popularity in the United States for its unique chewy and delicious flavor. And it became one of the most trending drinks in fast food chains. The best part is you can enjoy it as warm or iced according to your preferences.
More Iced Drinks
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this popular Bubble Tea also called Boba Milk Tea are minimal. And it can be easily available in most Asian stores around.
- Black Boba Pearls - I have used instant black tapioca pearls which has already have a good amount of sugar coating on it
- Black Tea Powder - You can use most asian black tea powders and I have used my regualr orange pekode black tea powder here
- Milk - I have used whole milk that gives thick tea and feel free to use milk of your choice. You can also use almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk or other non dairy milks also
- Sweetener - As the boba pearls are already sweet, I have used only minimal amount of brown sugar here and you can feel free to adjust your sweet as per your taste
How to make Boba Tea?
The recipe I have shared here is a super simple Boba Milk Tea or Bubble Tea that is usually found in most fast-food chains. But this version is not super sweet and sugary compared to store ones. I have made the recipe simple for you to easily try and enjoy at home.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this tea but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photo and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Cook the Boba - In a saucepan, pour water and bring it to boil. Add in the boba pearls and give a good mix. Boil it for 3 to 5 minutes
- Simmer Heat - Close the lid of the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook the boba until it doubles in it size
- Remove the boba pearls - Now remove the boba pearls from water and reserve it for later use
- Make Tea Decoction - In a saucepan with medium heat, pour water and add black tea powder. Allow it to brew for 5 to 7 minutes and remove from heat
- Make Boba Milk Tea - In a serving glass, add 3 tsp of cooked boba pearls, brown sugar and filter the tea decoction to ¼ th of the cup. And now add the milk and give it a mix. Now the delicious and chewy Boba Tea is ready for you to tatse and enjoy
Tips
- Cooking Boba - Always make sure to follow the package instructions to cook the boba pearls to achieve best results
- Instant Boba - I have used instant boba pearls here, which cooks sooner than the regular pearls. Also instant pearls should be consumed as soon as it is prepared to enjoy the real freshness
- Tea decoction - I have prepared the tea decoction using my regular orange pekoe black tea powder, but you can also use other black tea powders or jasmine black tea powder
- Sugar - As the boba pearls used here already have a good amount of sweetness, I have used only minimal amount of brown sugar here. But feel free to adjust as per your preferences
- Iced - You can also make this tea iced by adding the cool tea decoction, cold milk and lot of ice cubes to enjoy on hot summer days
- Condensed Milk - For Vietnamese version, you can add the condensed milk which delivers a super sweet Boba Milk Tea
Bubble Tea Flavors
When it comes to bubble tea, you can find different types of flavors based on the tea powder, boba, flavoring syrup, or other add-ins. The most famous flavors are Taro, cocoa, mango, lychee, banana, strawberry, and so on. There are also different boba made with tapioca, sweet potato, jelly, and much more.
Boba Vs Bubble Tea
Both the terms refer to the same Taiwanese tea. The drink also got another term called pearl milk tea. So it is just a different name for the same drink. And it usually differs based on the location, people, and the term they would like to name it.
Calories
This Bubble or Boba Milk Tea that I have shared here contains 85 calories per serving and it is an estimation by the nutrition calculator. The calories may vary if you change or swap any of the ingredients. You could also check the detailed nutritional information in the recipe card below.
Storage Suggestions
As I have used the instant black boba pearls here they may not be fresh for long hours, so I suggest you drink the tea immediately as soon as it is prepared.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Bubble Tea warm on cold winter days or iced to quench your thirst on hot summer days.
Related Recipes
You can also find similar drinks below and more at Tea Recipes.
- Taro Milk Tea (Taro Bubble Tea)
- Strawberry Milk Bubble Tea
- Brown Sugar Milk Bubble Tea
- Barley Tea
- Ginger Tea
- Masala Chai (Masala Tea)
- Lemon Ginger Tea
- Hibiscus Tea (Agua De Jamaica)
More Tea Latte Recipes
Boba Milk Tea Recipe video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Boba Milk Tea below that I hope will help you to make a chewy and milky tea at home. And you could also find this recipe in story format.
📖 Recipe
Bubble Tea (Boba Milk Tea)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Black Boba Pearls, instant
- 5 cups Water, 3 cups for cooking boba + 2 cups for tea
- 2 tsp Black Tea Powder
- 1 tsp Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Milk
Instructions
To make Bubble Tea (Boba Milk Tea)
- In a saucepan with medium heat, pour water and bring it to boil
- Now add the black boba pearls and allow them to cook for 3 to 5 minutes
- Close the lid of the pan and simmer the heat. And cook the boba pearls until it doubles in it size
- Open the lid and remove the boba pearls from water and reserve them for later use
- Now in a saucepan, pour water and add black tea powder. Allow it to brew for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove it from heat and allow it to cool down slightly
- Now in a serving glass, add the cooked boba pearls, sugar, and filter the black tea
- Pour the room temperature milk and give a mix. Now the delicious and chewy Boba Milk Tea is ready for you to try and enjoy
To Serve
- Serve this Bubble or Boba Tea warm on cold winter days or iced on hot summer days
Video
Notes
- Cooking Boba - Always make sure to follow the package instructions to cook the boba pearls to achieve the best results
- Instant Boba - I have used instant boba pearls here, which cooks sooner than the regular pearls. Also, instant pearls should be consumed as soon as it is prepared to enjoy the real freshness
- Tea decoction - I have prepared the tea decoction using my regular orange pekoe black tea powder, but you can also use other black tea powders or jasmine black tea powder
- Sugar - As the boba pearls used here already have a good amount of sweetness, I have used only a minimal amount of brown sugar here. But feel free to adjust as per your preferences
- Iced - You can also make this tea iced by adding the cool tea decoction, cold milk, and a lot of ice cubes to enjoy for summer days
- Condensed Milk - For the Vietnamese version, you can add the condensed milk which delivers a super sweet Boba Milk Tea
Nutrition
FAQ
Bubble Tea or Boba tea is a popular Taiwanese drink made with tapioca pearls, milk tea, and sweetener. It is one of the staple drinks of Taiwan and is usually served in the night stalls of the country. This Taiwanese tea is usually made both iced and warm to quench the thirst.
It is sweet, chewy, and has a balanced flavor of tea, milk, and tapioca pearls. It is not too sweet or too bitter but tastes perfectly delicious to enjoy with those chunky bites in.
This Bubble or Boba Milk Tea that I have shared here contains 85 calories per serving and it is an estimation by the nutrition calculator. The calories may vary if you change or swap any of the ingredients. You could also check the detailed nutritional information in the recipe card above.
It is nothing but the tapioca starch kneaded into a dough and rolled like small balls, which is then boiled and coated with sugar syrup.
Boba tea is made with tapioca pearls, milk, black tea, and sweeteners. It is also made with a variety of fruit syrups and other flavoring agents.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you on how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Enjoy!
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