Bubble Tea, also known as Boba Milk Tea, is a sweet and chewy Taiwanese classic. Traditionally, it's made with tapioca pearls, black tea powder, milk, and sweetener. This versatile beverage is equally enjoyable whether you're sipping it warm on cold winter days or savoring the iced version to beat the summer heat.
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A staple at Taiwanese street stalls, particularly in bustling night markets, Boba Tea comes in a myriad of flavors, including plain, strawberry, honeydew, lychee, taro, mango, and countless others.
Its unique and chewy appeal has earned it popularity in the United States, making it a trendy drink even in fast-food chains. Enjoy it warm or iced according to your preferences.
Ingredients Overview
Here's an overview of the minimal ingredients required for this popular Bubble Tea, also known as Boba Milk Tea, all of which are readily available in most Asian stores:
- Black Boba Pearls: Instant black tapioca pearls with a sugary coating. They are used in this recipe.
- Black Tea Powder: Most Asian black tea powders work well. The recipe uses regular orange pekoe black tea powder.
- Milk: Whole milk is used for its rich consistency, but you can choose your preferred type of milk. Options include almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or other non-dairy alternatives.
- Sweetener: Since the Boba pearls are already sweetened, a minimal amount of brown sugar is used in this recipe. Adjust the sweetness to your taste preference.
How to make Boba Tea?
Get ready to create this iconic Taiwanese drink, and we'll guide you through the process with the help of photos and a comprehensive video tutorial. Let's begin!
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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)
- Start by heating up some water in a saucepan over medium heat until it reaches a boil.
- Add those black Boba pearls into the simmering water and let them cook for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and allow those pearls to expand until they double in size.
- Remove the lid, take out the boba pearls, and set them aside for later.
- In another saucepan, combine water and black tea powder. Let it steep for 5 to 7 minutes, and then allow it to cool slightly.
- Now, in a serving glass, drop in the cooked boba pearls, a touch of sugar, and strain in the brewed black tea.
- Finish it off with room-temperature milk and give it a good stir. Voilà! Your delightful and chewy Boba Milk Tea is ready for you to enjoy.
To Serve
- Enjoy this delightful Bubble or Boba Tea, served warm to chase away the chill on cold winter days or iced to quench your thirst on summer afternoons.
Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
- Cooking Boba: Always follow the package instructions to cook the Boba pearls for the best results.
- Instant Boba: If using instant Boba pearls, be aware that they cook faster than regular pearls and should be consumed as soon as they are prepared to enjoy their freshness.
- Tea Decoction: This recipe uses regular orange pekoe black tea powder for the tea decoction, but you can also experiment with other black tea powders or even jasmine black tea powder.
- Sugar: Since the Boba pearls used here are already sweetened, only a minimal amount of brown sugar is added. Adjust the sweetness according to your preferences.
- Iced Version: To enjoy this tea iced, simply add the cool tea decoction, cold milk, and plenty of ice cubes—a perfect choice for hot summer days.
- Condensed Milk: For a Vietnamese twist, consider adding condensed milk to create an extra-sweet Boba Milk Tea.
- Bubble Tea Flavors: Experiment with tea powders, Boba, syrups, and add-ins to discover popular flavors like Taro, cocoa, mango, lychee, banana, strawberry, and more. Explore various Boba pearls, including tapioca, sweet potato, jelly, and beyond.
Nutrition Info
Disclaimer: We’re not nutrition experts. Nutritional info is estimated and should be used as a guide. For precise details, consult a professional.
Explore a journey through the world of tea recipes, where you'll find recipes tailored to each season. From refreshing summer coolers to comforting winter brews, there's a tea for every time of year.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
For the freshest experience, enjoy this Bubble Tea immediately after preparation, especially when using instant black Boba pearls.
Savor the comforting warmth of this beverage on chilly winter days or relish its refreshing iced version to beat the summer heat.
FAQ
Boba Milk Tea boasts a delightful, balanced flavor profile with sweetness, chewiness, and harmonious notes of tea, milk, and tapioca pearls. It strikes a perfect balance between sweet and bitter, resulting in a delicious beverage complemented by chunky tapioca bites.
The balls in Boba Tea are essentially tapioca pearls. These pearls are crafted from tapioca starch, kneaded into small dough balls, boiled, and coated with sugar syrup, creating the distinctive chewy texture.
Boba Tea is composed of tapioca pearls, milk, black tea, and sweeteners. It can also feature an array of fruit syrups and additional flavoring agents for a variety of delightful flavors.
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