Easy Homemade Bubble Tea (Boba Milk Tea)

Create your own refreshing bubble tea at home with this easy recipe, featuring chewy boba pearls and rich, sweet milk tea.

Recipe Details

  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 8 hours 55 minutes
  • Servings: 4 servings

Full Ingredient List

  • 720 mL water (3 cups)
  • 24 g black tea (5 tbsp large loose tea or 12 tea bags)
  • 1 cup easy cook boba pearls
  • 150 g brown sugar (¾ cup)
  • 60 mL water (¼ cup)
  • 960 mL whole milk (4 cups)
  • Ice (optional)

Hot brewed tea

Tools and Equipment

  • saucepan
  • lid

Ingredients

Quantity Name Preparation Notes Substitutions
720 mL water
24 g black tea 5 tbsp large loose tea or 12 tea bags

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Place 720 mL of water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil, then turn off or lower the heat.
  2. Step 2: Add the black tea leaves or tea bags and let them steep for 10-15 minutes. Stir to ensure proper infusion. (Tips: The tea should be very strong with a prominent tannin flavor.)
  3. Step 3: Strain the tea leaves, applying gentle pressure to extract liquid without squeezing too much. (Tips: You should yield about 2 - 2¼ cups of strong tea.)
  4. Step 4: Refrigerate the tea to cool down. It may become cloudy as it cools due to high tannins.

Cold brewed tea

Tools and Equipment

  • French press

Ingredients

Quantity Name Preparation Notes Substitutions
720 mL room temperature water preferably filtered
36 g black tea 7 tbsp large loose tea or 18 tea bags

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Place the black tea leaves in a French press.
  2. Step 2: Pour room temperature water over the tea leaves and stir. (Tips: Ensure leaves are fully saturated.)
  3. Step 3: Press the plunger until leaves are just below the surface of the water and steep for 12 hours. (Tips: Keep at room temperature.)
  4. Step 4: Strain and cool the tea in the fridge.

Boba pearls

Tools and Equipment

  • large pot

Ingredients

Quantity Name Preparation Notes Substitutions
1 cup easy cook boba pearls Or 1 ¼ cups for generous servings

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Cook boba pearls following package instructions. Usually under 5 minutes. (Tips: Homemade boba pearls can be used if preferred.)
  2. Step 2: Remove cooked pearls and keep in some cooking water to prevent sticking.

Sugar syrup

Tools and Equipment

  • saucepan

Ingredients

Quantity Name Preparation Notes Substitutions
150 g brown sugar ¾ cup white sugar
60 mL water ¼ cup

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a saucepan, combine sugar and water. Heat on medium to dissolve the sugar.
  2. Step 2: Allow syrup to boil for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly.
  3. Step 3: Using a slotted spoon, transfer warm boba pearls to syrup and stir to avoid clumping. (Tips: Simmer further if needed for desired syrup consistency.)

Serving

Tools and Equipment

  • glasses (11-12 oz)

Ingredients

Quantity Name Preparation Notes Substitutions
960 mL whole milk 4 cups, or plant-based milk
as needed Ice Optional

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Add ¼ cup of tapioca pearls with syrup to each glass.
  2. Step 2: Pour ½ cup of brewed tea into each glass, add ice if desired. (Tips: Ensure both tea and milk are chilled.)
  3. Step 3: Add 1 cup of milk to each glass and stir. Adjust sweetness with more syrup if needed. (Tips: Serve immediately with a boba straw.)

Additional Information

Notes: Bubble tea can be customized with different tea bases or sweeteners. Adjust the sweetness and bubble chewing by cooking boba pearls less or more.

Tags

Easy Recipes Drinks