Cooking With Spicy Fusion Kitchen: The Perfect Bubble Tea Recipe

This post is about to make you feel bubbling inside, and because I love you from the bottom of my boba, I decided to share my tapioca pearls of wisdom on how to make bubble tea at home.

Well, that was pun galore. I’m not sorry, don't burst my happy bubble; it all needed to be said. So bubble tea, anyone? Who doesn't love tea, bubble tea is on a whole other level. It's is not only pretty to look at and snap for social media but also very delicious.

No need to keep running out to get some bubble tea. I’m going to share an easy way to make these at home. You'll have an endless supply of this delicious treat.

Where Does Bubble Tea and Boba Tapioca Pearls Come From?

This tea-based drink originated in Taiwan back in the 1980s. After spreading throughout Southeast Asia, it hit the U.S. shores back in the 1990s, where it quickly became popular.

It has really become more popular in recent years due to social media. Bubble tea is, without a doubt, a beautiful drink, which is quite esthetically pleasing to look at, hence the trend on social media. There are many varieties of the drink with a wide range of flavors.

The drink includes chewy tapioca balls are made with tapioca starch (or starch from the cassava plant). Boba pearls are usually sold dry and then cooked in water until soft. It should be noted that store-bought boba pearls also have other additions to help keep their shape and prolong shelf life.

Where Can I Get My Hands On Some?

You may be thinking of getting your hands on boba will be a mission, but it's surprisingly effortless to find. You can find boba at almost any local Asian grocery store or online (amazon).

These marble-sized spheres are made from tapioca, just like the smaller pearls we use for tapioca pudding. They come in a range of colors, but all boba has a fairly neutral flavor. This will make it very easy to try different recipes at home with them.

Once cooked, it’s best to mix them with some sugar syrup — this gives them some sweetness and helps preserve any pearls, so nothing goes to waste. As I said, you'll have an endless supply of some mouth-watering bubble tea.

How Long Does It Last, And How To Store It?

Boba are at their chewiest best if used within a few hours of cooking. However, this recipe helps the boba stay soft and moist for around one week if kept refrigerated in simple syrup.

They will gradually start to harden and become crunchy in the middle. To quickly fix this, is just boil the boba until they are soft again, 5 - 10 minutes.

The Perfect Bubble Tea Recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup dried boba tapioca pearls per serving

1 to 2 tea bags per serving (any kind)

1/2 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Water

Milk (any preferred kind) or sweetened condensed milk (for a creamier tea)

Fruit juice or nectar - optional

Method

1. Start by making a story cup of tea; this needs to be done before making the boba or in advance, to give it enough time to cook down. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the tea bag (or bags). Remove the tea bag after 15 minutes and chill the tea.

2. While your tea is chilling, measure 2 cups of water for every 1/4 cup of boba. Add the water into a saucepan and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Next, add the boba and stir gently until they begin floating to the top of the water.

3. Leave the boba to cook on medium heat for 12 - 15 minutes. Once done, remove the pan from heat, cover, and let the pearls sit for another 12 to 15 minutes.

4. While your boba are cooking, prepare your syrup. Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil over high heat on the stove, remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup sugar until dissolved. Set aside to cool.

5. Once the boba has finished cooking, drain them from the water and transfer them to a small bowl or container. Pour the sugar syrup over the top until the boba is submerged. Let sit until the boba are room temperature, at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate until ready to use

6. Time to finally make the bubble tea, pour the prepared tea into a tall glass, and add the boba. Add milk (or both milk and condensed milk) for a creamy bubble tea, juice for a fruity tea, or leave plain and add a little extra water. Sweeten to taste with the simple syrup you made to soak to boba. If you want an iced bubble tea, feel free to pop in some ice cubes.