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Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is no longer just a trendy café drink. Over the past decade, it has become a global comfort beverage, loved for its creamy teas, colourful flavours, and the delight of chewy tapioca pearls. While it’s easy to buy bubble tea from a store, making it at home is surprisingly simple, cost‑effective, and customisable. Whether you prefer classic milk tea, fruity blends, or matcha-inspired versions, a DIY bubble tea setup lets you create your perfect cup every single time.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know: the ingredients, step-by-step cooking methods, flavour combinations, and expert tips to help you enjoy café-style bubble tea at home.
What You Need to Make Bubble Tea
1. Tea Base
Black tea
Green tea
Oolong tea
Matcha
2. Milk or Creamer
Dairy milk
Almond, oat, soy milk
Condensed or evaporated milk
Non‑dairy creamy powders
3. Sweetener
Sugar syrup
Honey
Brown sugar
Jaggery syrup
4. Tapioca Pearls (Boba)
Choose between traditional pearls or quick-cook pearls.
5. Optional Flavourings
Taro powder
Fruit syrups
Chocolate or caramel
6. Ice
Essential for iced versions.
Step-by-Step Recipe: Classic Milk Bubble Tea
Step 1: Brew Your Tea
Steep strong black tea for 5–7 minutes.
Step 2: Cook the Tapioca Pearls
Boil pearls for 20–25 minutes (or as per instructions), then rest, rinse, and sweeten.
Step 3: Prepare the Milk Tea
Mix brewed tea with milk and sweetener.
Step 4: Assemble the Drink
Add pearls → ice → milk tea → shake/stir → serve with a boba straw.
Variations You Can Try at Home
1. Brown Sugar Milk Tea
Thick, caramel-like, and deliciously sweet.
2. Matcha Bubble Tea
Earthy matcha paired with milk and boba.
3. Taro Bubble Tea
Purple, creamy, and nutty.
4. Fruit Bubble Tea
Mango, strawberry, lychee fresh or syrup-based.
5. Coffee Bubble Tea
Perfect for caffeine lovers.
Bubble Tea Without Tapioca Pearls
You can use chia seeds, sabja, jelly cubes, fruit chunks, or coffee jelly.
Healthier Bubble Tea Options
Use less sugar, fewer pearls, plant-based milk, and fresh fruits.
Recipe Card: Homemade Bubble Tea (Classic Milk Tea)
(Inserted as requested)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 1–2 glasses
Ingredients
For the Tea Base
2 black tea bags (or 2 tsp loose tea)
1 cup hot water
For the Milk Tea
¼–½ cup milk or creamer
1–2 tbsp sugar syrup or honey
For the Tapioca Pearls
½ cup tapioca pearls
4–6 cups water
2 tbsp brown sugar or syrup
For Serving
Ice cubes
Wide boba straw
Instructions
1. Brew the Tea
Steep tea for 5–7 minutes.
Strain and let cool.
2. Cook the Tapioca Pearls
Boil pearls for 20–25 minutes.
Rest for 15 minutes.
Rinse and coat with syrup.
3. Prepare the Milk Tea
Mix tea + milk + sugar syrup.
4. Assemble the Drink
Add pearls → ice → milk tea → stir → serve.
Optional Add‑Ons
Matcha
Taro
Jelly cubes
Fruit syrups
Tips
Use freshly cooked pearls.
Chill tea before assembling.
Adjust sweetness as needed.
Use non-dairy creamer for café-style creaminess.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How long can cooked tapioca pearls last?
About 2 hours at room temperature.
Q2. Can I make bubble tea without milk?
Yes, use tea, fruit, or syrups instead.
Q3. What tea works best for bubble tea?
Strong teas such as Assam, Ceylon, jasmine green tea, or oolong.
Q4. Can I make bubble tea without pearls?
Yes, use jelly, fruit, chia seeds, or sabja.
Q5. Is bubble tea healthy?
It can be reduce sugar and use fewer pearls for a lighter version.
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