Classic Taiwanese Bubble Tea
Traditional dish · Taiwanese
The quintessential bubble tea experience, featuring chewy tapioca pearls in a creamy, sweetened milk tea base. This is the original and most beloved version.
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Ingredients
- Black tapioca pearls (boba)1 cup
- Water6 cups
- Brown sugar1/2 cup
- Assam black tea leaves4 bags or 4 tbsp loose leaf
- Whole milk2 cups
- Sweetened condensed milk1/2 cup
- Ice cubes2 cups
Steps
- 1
Cook tapioca pearls according to package directions. Typically, this involves boiling them in water for about 20-30 minutes until chewy, then draining and rinsing.
- 2
While pearls cook, prepare the brown sugar syrup: dissolve brown sugar in 1 cup of water over medium heat, stirring until smooth. Let it cool.
- 3
Brew the black tea: steep tea bags or loose leaf tea in 4 cups of boiling water for 5-7 minutes. Remove tea bags/leaves and let the tea cool.
- 4
In a large pitcher, combine the cooled black tea, milk, sweetened condensed milk, and half of the brown sugar syrup. Stir well.
- 5
To assemble, add a portion of the cooked tapioca pearls to the bottom of each serving cup. Add ice cubes.
- 6
Pour the milk tea mixture over the pearls and ice. Drizzle with remaining brown sugar syrup if desired.
- 7
Serve immediately with a wide straw for sipping the pearls.
