How to Make Bubble Tea (Boba Tea)

Did you know you can make your own bubble tea at home with only 4 ingredients and no special kitchen tools? Boba tea is a popular drink made around the world with so many options it’s hard to imagine! Now you can make your own, with your favorite tea, at home in your kitchen.

Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is a delicious and refreshing drink that originates from Taiwan. Increasingly more popular around the world, this tasty treat is made with tea, milk, and chewy tapioca pearls, and comes in a variety of flavors. Bubble tea is a great choice for a refreshing and unique beverage, served hot or cold, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is highly customizable to suit your individual taste and easy to make at home!

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The Ultimate Guide to Making Bubble Tea

One of my favorite treats is bubble tea. Whether it is an outing to our favorite bubble tea shop, or making my own at home.

What is Bubble Tea?

Bubble tea, in a nutshell, is tea with boba balls. It can be any type of tea from oolong tea, and black tea, to herbal tea. It can include any type of boba including tapioca boba or popping boba. Commonly is it combined with milk and sugar to make a creamy delightful drink that is decadent and delicious!

The bubble in boba tea comes from tapioca balls. Tapioca pearls are small, chewy balls made from tapioca starch that add a fun and unique texture. Bubble tea is generally made with either black, green, or matcha tea.

The most popular bubble tea base is black or green tea with milk and tapioca pearls. However, bubble tea can also come in a variety of fresh fruit flavors, such as strawberry, mango, or lychee.

Making bubble tea at home is easy, and only requires a few simple ingredients. All you need is tea, milk, tapioca pearls, sweetener, and ice (or serve it hot!). Once you have these ingredients on hand, you can make bubble tea anytime you crave it!

History of Bubble Tea

While bubble tea was born in the 1980s, milk and tea have been mixed together for ages. Bubble tea was invented in Taiwan. It is said that bubble tea was created by accident when a tea shop owner mixed his Taiwanese black tea with tapioca pearls and milk. Bubble tea quickly became popular among Taiwanese people of all ages.

In the 1990s, bubble tea began to gain popularity outside of Taiwan, first in Southeast Asia and then in North America and Europe. Bubble tea shops started popping up in cities around the world each boasting its own recipes and flavors. Depending upon where you live, you might call this tea bubble tea or boba tea.

Today, bubble tea is enjoyed by people all over the world. There are many different bubble tea recipes, but the most common ingredients are black or green tea, milk or cream, sugar, and tapioca pearls. Interestingly, bubble tea can be served cold or hot.

Bubble Tea? Boba? What does it all taste like?

What does bubble tea taste like? This is a difficult question to answer because bubble tea can come in so many different flavors. The most common bubble tea flavors are milk tea, taro milk tea, green tea, thai tea, and fruit-flavored teas like this mango bubble tea. As another option, boba tea can also be made without flavorings or with less sweetener for a more subtle taste.

• Base: The basic ingredients in bubble tea are brewed black or green tea, milk or cream, and sugar. The real art comes from how all the ingredients work together.
• Bubbles: Boba (tapioca pearls) are often flavored, so they can add another layer of flavor to the drink. Boba can be purchased or made at home. There are SO many options to enjoy!
• Ratio of Ingredients: The taste of bubble tea will depend on the specific ingredients used and ratio of those ingredients. For example, bubble tea made with only green tea and no milk will have a more grassy flavor whereas bubble tea made with black tea and lots of milk will have a richer, creamier taste. I tend to avoid strict rules here; I recommend you experiment for what tastes the best to you!
• Toppings and Flavoring: The toppings and flavorings added will also affect the taste of your custom bubble tea recipe. Fruit syrups and jellies can make bubble tea sweet and fruity while still maintaining the original tea flavor. Keep an open mind and palate – maybe your next favorite recipe is right around the corner.

Overall, bubble tea is a refreshing and tasty drink that can be enjoyed in many different ways. The next time you are wondering what does bubble tea taste like, remember that there is no wrong answer!

Ingredients

There are 4 main ingredients of boba tea. They are tea, milk, boba balls or popping boba, and a sweetener which can be granulated sugar or simple syrup. Often times a simple syrup is used to add flavor as well as sweetening. 

To make bubble tea, you will need:

• Tea of your choice
• Milk (dairy or non-dairy)
• Sugar (optional)
• Ice cubes (optional)
• Bubble tea pearls (also called boba, or tapioca balls)

Instructions:

1. Prepare tea
2. Cook boba
3. Assemble your drink
4. Scoop boba into your serving cup first
5. Top with sugar or sweetener
6. Pour over tea
7. Top with milk or creamer
8. Add a wide boba straw and enjoy!

Tea

The first step to making bubble tea is picking your favorite tea! I recommend black tea, a classic, as a starting place. More delicate teas like oolong or jasmine are also great choices! Feel free to experiment with either loose-leaf tea or tea bags. Whatever your choice, I think it is a good idea to watch the water temperature and length of steeping for each type of tea.

For stronger tea flavoring, just add more tea leaves instead of steeping them longer. Tea steeped too long will release more tannins which creates a bitter flavor.

Here are some tea ideas to get you started!

• Black Tea (English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, Assam, Earl Grey)
• Green Tea (Matcha, Jasmine)
• Oolong
• Herbal Tea

How to Brew Tea for Bubble Tea (2 methods)

See my guide for making tea here.

Traditional Method with Hot Water

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Pour water over the tea.
3. Steep tea covered for 5 minutes.
4. Strain out tea leaves.

Cold Brewing Tea

Cold brewing tea is a fabulous way to make tea! This method does take a few hours, but the results are well worth it.

1. Add tea to a refrigerator-safe pitcher with a lid.
2. Pour over water.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 4-12 hours.
4. Strain out tea.

Boba and Other Bubble Tea Toppings

Boba balls can come in many different varieties. The most common to find is black sugar boba. But bubble tea isn’t limited to only tapioca pearls for toppings. Popping boba is a fun addition. It has a thin outer shell and when bitten into it bursts with sweet juicy flavor. I especially like these in floral or herbal type teas. Jelly is also another fun topping. This is not similar to the jam you would put on toast but rather small chunks of deliciousness made from ingredients like aloe, coconut, or other fruit. Egg pudding is another topping that can be added to bubble tea.

Try these boba options to begin:

• Lychee boba,
• Golden boba
• Rainbow boba
• Taro Boba
• Crystal boba 

Toppings

Jelly is also another fun topping. This is not similar to the jam you would put on toast but rather small chunks of deliciousness made from ingredients like aloe, coconut, or other fruit. Egg pudding is another topping that can be added to bubble tea.

More Bubble Tea Toppings to try:

• Popping boba
• Aloe Jelly
• Egg Pudding

How to Cook Boba

There are many kinds of boba you can purchase and it is recommended to use the preparation instructions that come with your particular boba brand. You can also make your own boba balls. This is easier than you might think and a very fun activity. Prepare boba before serving. It does not store well and should only be made right before use.

1. Bring a large pot filled with water to a boil.
2. Add in boba and give a gentle stir.
3. Wait for the boba balls to rise to the top and then set your timer for 10-15 minutes. 
4. Once the boba is finished cooking, strain them out of the pot and add them directly to your serving cup or to a bowl, and top with simple syrup.

Milk

Any type of milk can be used to make boba tea, and many bubble tea shops have non-dairy options on their menu. As a growing amount of the population is vegan or dairy-free this makes boba tea very inclusive for many diets. When selecting and using milk in your bubble tea, remember: some milk will enhance the creamy richness of your tea. Also, not all kinds of milk are equally rich. For example, using half and half will result in a very rich drink. For fun, another idea is to use a blend of two different kinds of milk for a unique and perfect combination!

While not exhaustive, this list can give you an idea of the options you have at your fingertips:

Dairy Milk

• Whole Milk
• 2% Milk
• Half n Half
• Evaporated Milk
• Sweetened Condensed Milk

Non-Dairy Milk

• Cashew Milk
• Soy Milk
• Oat Milk
• Almond Milk
• Coconut Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Coconut Milk

Sweetener

A classic element of bubble tea is its sweet taste. Using a simple syrup is popular because it mixes into tea effortlessly, and leaves no undissolved granules. You can make your own using my super simple 2 ingredient recipe which only takes about 5 minutes or less! Simple syrups not only add sweetness but can add a unique flavor as well. Simple syrup is not the only option though, sweetened condensed milk is used in many recipes as well as healthier options such as honey or maple syrup, stevia, coconut sugar, and so on.

Ice (optional)

Some boba drinks are served hot and some are served cold. This is a personal preference, and you can choose to add ice or not. 

Make-Ahead

Some components of this tea can be made ahead of serving. Making your simple syrup even days in advance is a great option, and cold brewing tea can be a great way to prepare and cool tea before using it in your recipe.

Tips and Tricks!

• Make boba right before serving
• Use your own balance of milk and sugar to tea
• Try different flavors and teas
• Try cold-brewing your tea
• Don’t over-steep your tea, just make more (or make a concentrate)
• This tea is typically served iced, but you can also enjoy it hot.

Health and Calories

There are many elements in milk tea with boba that are very healthy and ingredients that are high in calories. Although the number of calories can vary depending upon what milk and sugar you use, it is generally about 200-300 calories per serving.

How to Make Bubble Tea

Ingredients

• Tea
• Milk
• Simple Syrup
• Boba

Instructions

1. Prepare tea.
2. Cook boba.
3. Assemble your drink.
4. Scoop boba into your serving cup first.
5. Top with sugar.
6. Pour over tea.
7. Top with milk.
8. Add a wide boba straw and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

• Make boba right before serving.
• Use your own balance of milk and sugar to tea.
• Try different flavors and teas.
• Try cold-brewing your tea.

Popular Bubble Teas to Try

If you’re a tea lover, you know that there’s nothing quite like sipping on a delicious bubble tea. But did you know that you can easily make your own at home? With just a few ingredients and some simple steps, you can enjoy bubble tea any time you want!

There are many different bubble tea flavors to choose from, so feel free to experiment until you find your perfect blend. Some popular bubble teas to try include:

• Taro Milk Tea
• Tiger Milk Tea 
• Matcha Milk Tea
• Jasmine Milk Tea
• Coconut Milk Tea
• Oolong Milk Tea
• Chocolate Milk Tea
• Honeydew Milk Tea
• Thai Bubble Tea

Time for Tea!

If you love bubble tea, then you’ll be happy to know that it’s actually quite easy to make at home! All you need is some tea, milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls. You can find more or all of these ingredients at your local grocery store. Boba tea is a delicious and refreshing treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up or a way to cool down on a hot day, boba tea is the perfect drink. Let’s get to it: it is time to enjoy some bubble tea!

I hope you enjoy this guide to making bubble tea. I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and if you try this recipe, please come back and leave a 5-star review! And be sure to check out my other blog posts for more great tips and recipes!