How to Make Classic Bubble Tea at Home

Bubble Tea is a refreshing and fun way to enjoy tea!

Bubble tea is one of the coolest drinks out there. Not only does it look pretty and also quite interesting but the flavor of bubble tea is just as intriguing.

"one of the coolest drinks"

Bubble tea is essentially a tea that is made with tapioca pearls. The starchy balls of tapioca sit at the bottom of the glass and pop up your straw as you drink, giving the tea a unique texture and flavor. Sounds pretty fun, right? Well, it is!

There are lots of different ways to make bubble tea. You can flavor it in all different ways. However, we are going to show you how to make classic bubble tea. This is the base recipe that you can spin off in anyway you’d like. But first, see if you like bubble tea in its most traditional form.

Our recipe begins with cooking the tapioca pearls. These large pearls are also called boba and are cassava starch balls. The boba is boiled and then strained. It will almost double in size! Those pretty, gelatinous pearls are what will float in the bottom of the bubble tea.

Classic bubble tea is made with caffeinated black tea which is poured over the cooked boba. A little honey, a little ice and the tea is ready to enjoy.

You will definitely need a wide straw to sip on this tasty non alcoholic drink in order to sip up those tasty pearls. Once one boba jumps up the straw and into your mouth, you are sure to be hooked on bubble tea just like we are!

Classic Bubble Tea Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Recipe by Mocktail.net

Servings

3

servings

Prep time

1

hour 

How to make bubble tea easy at home?

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried tapioca pearls (boba)

• 1 ½ Tbsp honey

• 3 cups brewed black tea, cooled

• 3 lemon slices

• Ice

Directions

• In a large pot, bring eight cups of water to a boil and then add the tapioca pearls. Lower the heat and simmer the water and tapioca for 40 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, cover and let the tapioca sit for another 20 minutes.
• Strain the tapioca pearls and discard the extra water.
• Mix the tapioca pearls with the honey and set aside to cool completely.
• Once cooled, divide the honey tapioca pearls between three tall glasses.
• Pour one cup of brewed tea into each glass. Add ice to fill the glass
• Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and enjoy while cold!

Tips and Tricks

• • Black tea works best for classic bubble tea but you can also use any kind of tea. Green tea, fruit teas and also decaf will all work great!
• • Make the tapioca ahead of time, mix it with the honey and then store it at room temperature for up to four hours. Fresh tapioca doesn’t last too long before getting hardened.
• Tools:
  • Measuring cup
  • Tablespoon
  • Large pot
  • Strainer
  • Bowl
  • Wooden spoon or spatula

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You Asked About Bubble Tea, We’re Answering!

Here are the answers to a few of your top questions about our recipe. If you still have questions, feel free to shoot us a message and we will respond ASAP!

What exactly is bubble tea?
It is any kind of cold-brewed tea or juice with added tapioca pearls. The chewy, cooked tapioca sits at the bottom of the glass and is sipped with a wide straw. The straw for bubbe tea needs to be big enough for the tapioca pearls to go through.

Are tapioca pearls bad for digestion?
Tapioca pearls are not bad for digestion. They are made from cassava root which is primarily carbohydrate and starch. Cassava root has natural fiber which actually aids in digestion.

What happens if you drink bubble tea every day?
Tapioca pearls have been shown to help with digestion and keep your gut regular. Drinking tapioca tea every day may help with overall gut health.

What's so great about bubble tea?
This tea tastes great and has a yummy, unique texture. It is simply fun to drink! There are so many different kinds of bubble teas that you can try. You will never grow tired of this tasty drink!

Why is bubble tea expensive?
It is expensive solely because it is trendy. All the hype has definitely increased the price. However, the simple ingredients are not very costly. You can make your own bubble drink with just a few ingredients found in the grocery store.

Is bubble tea the same as boba?
Bubble tea and boba are essentially the same things. Both are tea based drinks with large tapioca pearls added in. Boba pearls often have food coloring added in which can make it sweeter. However, boba tea and bubble tea are one in the same! You may also see these drinks named pearl tea, milk tea, or tapioca tea.

If you prefer a fruity version of this great drink, check out our easy recipe:
Strawberry Mango Bubble Tea