How to Make Bubble Tea at Home

How to Make Bubble Tea at Home: Bubble tea, bubble tea, bubble tea— this desserty drink has become an unstoppable craze, inspiring vendors to pop up all over the east and west coast. Traditionally, bubble tea is sweetened milk tea with tapioca pearls inside. The drink is consumed through a large straw, allowing the pearls to be sipped. As soon as bubble tea started appearing in the west, the sugary flavor and unique texture earned it instant success! As its popularity has evolved, however, many bubble tea vendors have forgotten the ‘tea’ aspect of the drink. These days, any kind of syrupy slush with tapioca pearls inside is referred to as ‘bubble tea.’ So what’s the solution to putting the ‘tea’ back in ‘bubble tea?’ Make it at home!

Step 1: Prepare the Tapioca Pearls!

If you have the time, you can make tapioca pearls from scratch from tapioca starch and water. For the benefit of saving time, we recommend buying pre-packaged tapioca pearls. You can find tapioca pearls at nearly any Asian supermarket, and failing that, they’re easy to get a hold of through an online retailer! Most tapioca pearls must be boiled or soaked before they’re ready to be mixed into a drink.

Step 2: Brew Some Tea

Once you have your pearls, get ready to brew some tea! Typical bubble tea calls for black tea, but feel free to experiment with your favorite teas. Brewing tea for your bubble tea requires no more preparation than brewing for a regular cup. Simply follow the steeping instructions that best suit the type of tea you’re using. For cold bubble tea, you can cold brew your tea in advance and store it in a carafe for later.

Step 3: Fix It to Your Liking

If you’re going for traditional bubble milk tea, simply add a little sweetener and milk (or a milk alternative). If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, don’t be afraid to experiment! Add a dab of syrup to change the flavor profile, create a rich smoothie base with bananas and strawberries, or forgo the milk and use a fruit juice instead. The best thing about making bubble tea at home is that you can have it any way you want it! Bubble tea vendors are famous for making their drinks sickeningly sweet. You, however, can add as little or as much sweetener as you’d like!

Step 4: Drink up!

Once you’ve finished preparing the tea, drain your tapioca pearls and mix them in. The balls should sink to the bottom of your glass. Add any garnishes that you’d like, then grab a large straw and drink up! The process is incredibly simple from start to finish, so what are you waiting for? There’s nothing standing between you and your unparalleled bubble tea masterpiece. Pick up some of your favorite tea and get started!