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How to Make Bubble Tea Recipe

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A delightful recipe to make classic bubble tea at home, featuring black tea infused with chewy tapioca pearls, served with milk and sweetened simple syrup for a customizable, refreshing beverage.

Ingredients

Tea

  • 8 bags of black tea or 3 tablespoons loose-leaf black tea
  • 4 cups hot water

Tapioca Pearls

  • 3/4 cup quick-cooking tapioca pearls
  • About 4 cups water (for boiling pearls)

Simple Syrup

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup sugar

To Serve

  • Whole milk (or choice of milk), approximately 6 tablespoons
  • Simple syrup (for mixing and serving, quantity to taste)
  • Ice cubes

Instructions

  1. Prepare the tea: Steep the tea bags or loose-leaf tea in 4 cups of freshly boiled water. Allow the tea to sit and cool completely to achieve the best flavor.
  2. Prepare the simple syrup: In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir to combine and heat over medium-high heat until the mixture boils and the sugar dissolves fully. Remove from heat and let it cool before transferring to a jar.
  3. Cook the tapioca pearls: Bring about 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add the tapioca pearls and stir immediately to prevent sticking. Once the pearls float to the surface, continue cooking for 5 more minutes. Check softness by tasting a pearl; if still too firm, cook a few minutes longer. Use a slotted spoon to remove pearls and rinse quickly with cold water. Transfer to a bowl and toss with a few tablespoons of simple syrup to sweeten and prevent sticking.
  4. Assemble the drinks: Strain the cooled tea into a pitcher. Divide the cooked tapioca pearls equally into 4 large glasses and add ice cubes. Pour 1 cup of tea into each glass. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of milk and 1 1/2 tablespoons of simple syrup to each glass. Stir well and adjust milk or syrup quantities to taste.
  5. Serve: Offer a small pitcher of milk and jar of simple syrup alongside the drinks so guests can customize their sweetness and creaminess. Serve with large boba straws or spoons to enjoy the tapioca pearls.

Notes

  • Allowing the tea to cool completely before mixing helps maintain the drink’s desired texture and flavor balance.
  • Quick-cooking tapioca pearls dramatically reduce cooking time compared to traditional pearls.
  • Adjust the sweetness and milk quantities to suit individual preferences.
  • Use cold water to rinse tapioca pearls immediately after cooking to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch.
  • Large boba straws are ideal for drinking bubble tea, but spoons can be used if unavailable.

Find it online: https://simpleplatter.com/how-to-make-bubble-tea-recipe/