Description
Silky brown sugar bubble tea with homemade boba pearls whispers comfort from Taiwan’s street corners. Sweet caramel notes dance with chewy tapioca, inviting you to savor a cultural symphony in every sip.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup tapioca starch
- 1 cup water (total across recipe)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (total across recipe)
- 2 black tea bags
- 1/2 cup milk
Sweeteners and Flavoring:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water (for brown sugar syrup)
Preparation Components:
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Craft a smooth, pliable dough by gently heating water and brown sugar in a saucepan until it transforms into a bubbling mixture. Gradually incorporate tapioca starch, stirring methodically to prevent lumps and create a cohesive, elastic texture.
- Delicately shape the dough into small, uniform spheres, ensuring each pearl is lightly coated with additional tapioca starch to prevent sticking. Carefully lower the pearls into rapidly boiling water, allowing them to cook for 15-20 minutes until they become translucent and develop a soft, chewy consistency.
- Drain the cooked boba pearls and rinse under cool water to halt the cooking process. Transfer them to an ice bath to maintain their tender texture and prevent further hardening.
- Create a rich, glossy brown sugar syrup by simmering brown sugar and water in a saucepan. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens and develops a deep, caramel-like sheen.
- Submerge the cooled boba pearls in the warm syrup, allowing them to absorb the sweet essence and become gloriously sticky and flavorful.
- Brew black tea by steeping tea leaves in hot water for precisely 5 minutes, then allow the liquid to cool to room temperature.
- Assemble the bubble tea by artfully coating the interior of a glass with brown sugar syrup, creating the iconic “tiger stripe” effect. Add ice cubes, carefully pour the cooled tea, and gently introduce milk.
- Stir the beverage thoroughly, ensuring the boba pearls are evenly distributed, and serve immediately to enjoy the perfect balance of sweet, chewy, and refreshing flavors.
Notes
- Starch Selection Matters: Use high-quality tapioca starch for smooth, chewy boba pearls that won’t fall apart during cooking.
- Temperature Control is Key: Maintain a consistent, gentle boil when cooking pearls to prevent them from becoming mushy or breaking.
- Syrup Swirling Technique: Create beautiful caramel-like stripes by slowly tilting the glass when adding brown sugar syrup for an Instagram-worthy presentation.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap dairy milk with coconut, almond, or oat milk for vegan-friendly versions that still deliver rich, creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Mocktails, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Taiwanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 61 g
- Sodium: 20 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg