Description
A homemade recipe for chewy brown sugar boba pearls served in a creamy milk tea. This drink is easier to make than it looks, costs less than takeout, and offers a customizable, comforting treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (120g) tapioca starch
- 1/2 cup (120ml) water (for dough)
- 1/2 cup (100g) dark brown sugar (for dough)
- 2–3 tablespoons brown sugar (for syrup)
- 2 tablespoons water (for syrup)
- 3–4 black tea bags (Assam or Ceylon)
- 1 cup (240ml) water (for brewing tea)
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
- 2–3 tablespoons sugar (for tea)
- Ice
- Optional: Sweetened condensed milk, Jasmine tea, Coconut cream
Instructions
- Boil 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup brown sugar. Pour immediately over 1 cup tapioca starch in a bowl.
- Stir quickly, let cool for 30 seconds, then knead into a smooth dough. If too sticky, add starch; if too dry, add water.
- Roll dough into a 1/2-inch thick snake, cut into small pieces, and roll into marble-sized balls. Dust with extra tapioca starch to prevent sticking.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Drop pearls in and stir immediately.
- Boil pearls for 15-20 minutes until they float and have no white center when cut open.
- While pearls cook, make syrup by microwaving 2-3 tablespoons brown sugar with 2 tablespoons water until dissolved.
- Drain cooked pearls, rinse briefly with cold water, and toss in the brown sugar syrup. Let cool.
- Steep tea bags in 1 cup hot water for 5 minutes. Remove bags and stir in sugar while hot.
- Cool tea to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold.
- To serve, fill a glass with ice, add 2-3 tablespoons of pearls, pour cold milk tea over ice, and stir gently.
Notes
The pearls settle at the bottom, so give the drink a good stir before every sip. For best texture, ensure the water is at a rolling boil when cooking pearls. If pearls are stored in the fridge, microwave them for 30-60 seconds with a splash of water before serving to restore chewiness. Do not freeze pearls as they become mushy upon thawing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tall glass
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 45
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
Keywords: boba, brown sugar milk tea, homemade boba, tapioca pearls, bubble tea, drink recipe, Asian dessert