Description
This homemade bubble tea recipe guides you through making classic boba milk tea with black tea, chewy tapioca pearls, and a sweet brown sugar syrup. Perfectly balanced and customizable, this refreshing drink is made from scratch, offering an authentic café experience at home.
Ingredients
For the Tea
- 6 bags of black tea
- 4 cups (1 liter) boiling water
- ¾ cup (180 ml) dairy-free milk or creamer
For the Syrup
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- ¼ cup (50 g) organic dark brown sugar or date sugar or coconut sugar
For the Tapioca Pearls
- ¾ cup (115 g) quick-cooking tapioca pearls
- 7 ½ cups (1.75 liters) water
Instructions
- Prepare the Tea: Steep the 6 black tea bags in 4 cups of freshly boiled water for 5-10 minutes, then allow the tea to cool to room temperature. Avoid over-steeping to prevent bitterness. Alternatively, cold-brew the tea in the fridge overnight for 10-12 hours for a smoother flavor.
- Make the Brown Sugar Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine ¼ cup water and ¼ cup dark brown sugar. Stir constantly over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.
- Cook Tapioca Pearls: About 15 minutes before serving, bring 7 ½ cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add ¾ cup of quick-cooking tapioca pearls, stirring gently to prevent sticking. Cook for 6 minutes or until the pearls are tender, chewy, and float to the surface.
- Rinse and Soak Tapioca Pearls: Use a slotted spoon to remove the pearls and rinse them under cold water. Transfer them to a bowl with a little brown sugar syrup to keep them from sticking. If preparing in advance, keep them warm in hot water to maintain softness, as cold temperatures cause toughness.
- Assemble Bubble Milk Tea: Divide the cooked tapioca pearls equally among 3 large glasses. Add ice cubes to each glass. Pour 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) of cooled tea into each glass, top with ½ cup (120 ml) dairy-free milk, and add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar syrup. Stir well and adjust sweetness or milk to taste.
- Serve: Serve immediately using large boba straws or spoons to enjoy the chewy tapioca bubbles with your milk tea.
Notes
- Do not over-steep the tea to avoid bitterness.
- Cold-brewing tea overnight yields a smoother flavor.
- Quick-cooking tapioca pearls require only about 6 minutes of boiling.
- Keeping tapioca pearls warm before serving helps maintain their chewy texture.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar syrup according to your desired sweetness.
- Use dairy-free milk or creamer to keep the recipe vegan and dairy-free.
