Bubble tea
Bubble tea is a cold, sweet milk tea with chewy tapioca pearls at the bottom, sipped through a wide straw. Flavors range from classic black tea to fruit and taro.
Bubble Tea: Howief, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
The drink was created in Taiwan in the 1980s and became a global favorite. Today it comes in endless variations, with shops letting you choose sweetness and toppings.
Explore the cuisine of Taiwan.
Recipe
Make Bubble tea at home
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried tapioca pearls
- 4 cups water for boiling
- 2 black tea bags
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup milk or non-dairy milk
- Ice cubes
- Honey or syrup to taste
How it's made
- Boil the water and add the tapioca pearls; cook 15-20 minutes, stirring now and then, until chewy.
- Drain and soak the pearls in a bowl with the brown sugar and a splash of hot water for 15 minutes.
- Steep the tea bags in the hot water for 5 minutes; remove and cool.
- Spoon the pearls into tall glasses.
- Add ice, then the tea and milk.
- Stir and sip through a wide straw.
Variations
- Taro milk tea
- Fruit tea with lychee jelly
- Brown sugar boba milk
Cook’s tip: Serve the pearls within a few hours; they turn hard in the fridge.
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About this page
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
Photo credit
- Bubble Tea: Howief, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)