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
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 720 mL |
water |
|
|
| 24 g |
black tea |
5 tbsp large loose tea or 12 tea bags |
|
Instructions
-
Step 1:
Place 720 mL of water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil, then turn off or lower the heat.
-
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.)
-
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.)
-
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
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
-
Step 1:
Place the black tea leaves in a French press.
-
Step 2:
Pour room temperature water over the tea leaves and stir. (Tips: Ensure leaves are fully saturated.)
-
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.)
-
Step 4:
Strain and cool the tea in the fridge.
Boba pearls
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 1 cup |
easy cook boba pearls |
Or 1 ¼ cups for generous servings |
|
Instructions
-
Step 1:
Cook boba pearls following package instructions. Usually under 5 minutes. (Tips: Homemade boba pearls can be used if preferred.)
-
Step 2:
Remove cooked pearls and keep in some cooking water to prevent sticking.
Sugar syrup
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 150 g |
brown sugar |
¾ cup |
white sugar |
| 60 mL |
water |
¼ cup |
|
Instructions
-
Step 1:
In a saucepan, combine sugar and water. Heat on medium to dissolve the sugar.
-
Step 2:
Allow syrup to boil for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly.
-
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
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 960 mL |
whole milk |
4 cups, or plant-based milk |
|
| as needed |
Ice |
Optional |
|
Instructions
-
Step 1:
Add ¼ cup of tapioca pearls with syrup to each glass.
-
Step 2:
Pour ½ cup of brewed tea into each glass, add ice if desired. (Tips: Ensure both tea and milk are chilled.)
-
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.
