Bubble Tea Recipe

Boil pearls

Bring 4 cups water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan. Add 1/2 cup dried tapioca pearls and gently stir to prevent sticking. When pearls float and the water returns to a boil, cover and cook at medium heat for 3 minutes (for small quick-cook pearls) or follow package instructions (typically 20–30 minutes for traditional pearls).

Simmer & rest

After the initial boil time, reduce heat to a low simmer and cook uncovered for the remaining time specified on the package (or an additional 10–25 minutes depending on pearl type) until pearls are tender but slightly chewy. Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 10–15 minutes to finish cooking and reach desired chewiness.

Rinse & sweeten

Drain the cooked pearls through a fine mesh sieve and rinse briefly under cold running water to stop cooking and remove surface starch. In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup water; heat gently until sugar dissolves and mixture simmers to make a syrup. Add drained pearls to the warm syrup and let soak for at least 5 minutes (longer for sweeter pearls). Keep pearls in syrup at room temperature until assembling drinks.

While the pearls cook, heat 2 cups water just to boiling and steep 2 tablespoons black tea (or 2 tea bags) for 4–6 minutes for a strong brew. Remove tea leaves or bags. If desired, stir in 1 teaspoon granulated sugar while the tea is hot to dissolve. Chill the brewed tea in the refrigerator or an ice bath until cold (about 10–15 minutes) or proceed with ice in the glass to cool quickly.

To assemble one serving: place about 3–4 tablespoons of the syrup-soaked tapioca pearls into the bottom of a tall glass (adjust quantity to taste—reserve extra syrup). Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup chilled brewed tea over the pearls. Add 1/2 cup milk (or milk alternative) and 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk if using for extra creaminess. Add 1/2 cup ice (or to taste). Stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness by adding more syrup or sugar if desired.

Serve with a wide straw suitable for tapioca pearls. For variations: substitute flavored syrups (e.g., honey, fruit) in place of brown sugar syrup, use green tea or jasmine tea instead of black, or make it completely non-dairy by using oat or almond milk.