Bubble Tea Three Ways (Boba Tea, 珍珠奶茶)

Method12 steps · about 23 min

1. 1

   Step 1: This batch makes three drinks, one of each flavour, using one shared batch of pearls. Bring a pot of the separate pearl-cooking water to a full boil. Add the ¾ cup instant tapioca pearls. Once they float to the surface, cover and boil over medium heat for 3 minutes. Prepare the classic tea and brown-sugar milk tea below while the pearls cook and rest, so they have time to cool.

   Boil instant tapioca pearls · 3 minUses A pot of water for cooking the tapioca pearls · ¾ cup instant tapioca pearls for all three drinks

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Turn off the heat and leave the pearls in the covered pot for a further 3 minutes.

   Rest pearls off heat · 3 minUses Boiled tapioca pearls in cooking water

3. 3

   Step 3: Lift the cooked pearls into the bowl of cold cooling water. Once cooled, drain them well and discard the cooking and cooling water.

   Uses Cooked tapioca pearls · A bowl of cold water for cooling the cooked pearls

   
4. 4

   Step 4: Divide the drained cooked pearls into three equal portions, one for each drink. Use them promptly for the following assemblies.

   Uses Drained cooked tapioca pearls

5. 5

   Step 5: For the classic drink, steep its ½ tbsp loose-leaf black tea in its 1 cup hot water. Stir in the classic drink’s sugar to taste while the tea is hot, then let the tea cool.

   Uses ½ tbsp loose-leaf black tea for the classic drink · 1 cup hot water for the classic tea · Sugar for the classic tea, to taste

6. 6

   Step 6: Put one of the three pearl portions into a serving glass. Strain out and discard the leaves from the cooled classic tea, then pour the tea over the pearls. Add cow’s milk to taste and the optional classic-drink ice. Stir and serve promptly.

   Uses One-third of the drained pearls for classic tea · Cooled sweetened classic tea, leaves excluded · Cow’s milk for the classic drink, to taste · Ice cubes for the classic drink, optional

   
7. 7

   Step 7: For the brown-sugar drink, gently heat its separate 1 cup cow’s milk on the hob until small bubbles appear. Keep it below a boil.

   Uses 1 cup cow’s milk for the brown-sugar drink

8. 8

   Step 8: Add the brown-sugar drink’s separate ½ tbsp loose-leaf black tea to the hot milk. Let it steep and cool while preparing its pearl syrup.

   Uses Hot milk for brown-sugar tea · ½ tbsp loose-leaf black tea for the brown-sugar drink

9. 9

   Step 9: Put the 2 tbsp dark brown sugar and a second one-third portion of drained pearls into a pan. Cook over low heat until the sugar becomes a thick, foamy syrup around the pearls.

   Uses 2 tablespoon dark brown sugar · One-third of the drained pearls for brown-sugar tea

   
10. 10

    Step 10: Spoon all the brown-sugar pearls and syrup into a serving glass. Tilt the glass to let the syrup stain its inside. Strain out and discard the leaves from the cooled brown-sugar milk tea, then pour the milk tea into the glass. Add its optional ice, stir and serve promptly.

    Uses Brown-sugar pearls and syrup · Cooled brown-sugar milk tea, leaves excluded · Ice cubes for the brown-sugar drink, optional

    
11. 11

    Step 11: For the matcha drink, sift the 1 tsp matcha powder and whisk it with its separate 1 tbsp hot water to make a smooth paste. Pour in the separate 1 cup cold cow’s milk and stir well.

    Uses 1 teaspoon matcha powder · 1 tbsp hot water for the matcha paste · 1 cup cold cow’s milk for the matcha drink

    
12. 12

    Step 12: Put the final one-third pearl portion into a third serving glass. Pour in all the matcha milk, add ready sugar syrup to taste and the optional matcha ice. Mix well and serve promptly.

    Uses One-third of the drained pearls for matcha · Prepared matcha milk · Ready sugar syrup for the matcha drink, to taste · Ice cubes for the matcha drink, optional