Bubble Tea, also known as Boba Milk Tea, is an authentic Taiwanese delight. Made with tapioca pearls, black tea powder, milk, and sweetener, it offers the familiar taste of your favorite fast-food chain. Enjoy it warm in winter or iced during the summer.
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.
Notes
Here are some valuable tips to ensure your Bubble Tea (Boba Milk Tea) turns out perfectly:
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.