My Favorite Homemade Bubble Tea Recipe

Look, I was spending WAY too much money at bubble tea shops ($6 a pop adds up fast!), so I finally learned how to make it at home. After lots of trial and error (and some truly sad-looking tapioca pearls), I’ve finally nailed a recipe that tastes just like the real deal. It’s actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it!

What the heck is bubble tea anyway?

If you’ve somehow missed the bubble tea craze, it’s this amazing Taiwanese drink that combines tea, milk, sweetener, and the star of the show: those chewy tapioca pearls (boba) at the bottom. You sip it through an extra-wide straw so you can slurp up those delicious little balls of happiness. It’s basically a drink and a snack in one!

Why I love making bubble tea at home

• WAY cheaper than buying it at shops
• I can control exactly how sweet I want it
• No mysterious ingredients or sketchy powders
• It’s actually pretty fun to make
• Impressive party trick when friends come over
• My kids think I’m basically a magician when I make it

What you’ll need

For the boba pearls:

• 1 cup dried black tapioca pearls (the quick-cooking kind is easier for beginners)
• 8 cups water
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey (or more brown sugar if you don’t have honey)

For the tea base:

• 4 bags of black tea (I like Assam or Ceylon, but regular orange pekoe works too)
• 4 cups water
• Ice cubes

For assembly:

• 1/2 cup milk, half and half, or non-dairy alternative (oat milk works great!)
• 2-3 tablespoons simple syrup or sweetened condensed milk (adjust to taste)
• Extra-wide boba straws (regular straws are too narrow for the pearls)

Optional add-ins:

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A splash of fruit syrup (mango and strawberry are my favorites)
• A couple tablespoons of creamer for extra richness
• Dash of cinnamon or cardamom if you’re feeling fancy

Equipment you’ll need:

• Medium pot for cooking the boba
• Airtight container for storing cooked boba
• Kettle or pot for brewing tea
• Measuring cups
• Those giant bubble tea straws (seriously, don’t skip these)
• Large glasses for serving

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Let’s make it!

Step 1: Cook those bouncy boba pearls

1. Bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil in a medium pot.
2. Add the dried tapioca pearls to the boiling water. Give them a gentle stir so they don’t stick together. They’ll float to the top pretty quickly.
3. Keep the water at a medium boil (not a simmer, not a crazy boil) and cook for about 15-20 minutes until the pearls are soft all the way through. The only way to really check is to fish one out, let it cool for a few seconds, and taste it. It should be chewy but not hard in the center.
4. Once they’re cooked through, drain them in a colander and rinse with cold water.

Step 2: Make that sweet honey syrup

1. In the same pot (no need to clean it), mix 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup honey, and 1 cup water.
2. Heat on low until everything dissolves into a syrup, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the cooked boba pearls to this syrup and let them soak for at least 15 minutes. This is what gives them that sweet flavor!
4. You can store these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. They tend to harden a bit in the fridge, so I usually let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before using.

Step 3: Brew your tea

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add 4 tea bags.
2. Let steep for 5-7 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
3. Remove the tea bags and let cool completely. I usually make this ahead of time and keep it in the fridge.

Step 4: Assemble your bubble tea!

1. Add 2-3 tablespoons of your boba pearls (with some of their syrup) to the bottom of a large glass.
2. Fill the glass about halfway with ice.
3. Pour in about 3/4 cup of your cold tea.
4. Add 2-3 tablespoons of your sweetener (simple syrup, condensed milk, or more of the boba syrup).
5. Top with 1/4 cup milk or milk alternative.
6. Stir well or cover and shake if you’re feeling fancy.
7. Poke that fat straw through and enjoy!

Pro Tips From My Bubble Tea Disasters

• Don’t overcook the boba – They’ll turn mushy and dissolve into sad little blobs
• Don’t undercook them either – Hard centers are no fun to chew
• Always store boba in their sugar syrup – They dry out super fast otherwise
• Make the tea stronger than you think you need – It gets diluted with ice and milk
• Cold brewing your tea overnight in the fridge = amazing flavor
• Fresh boba is always best – They start to harden after about 4 hours at room temp
• If you’re using fruit syrups, add them before the milk so they mix better with the tea

Mix it up: My favorite bubble tea variations

Classic Milk Tea Boba

This is the basic recipe above – black tea, milk, sweetener, and boba pearls. The perfect starting point!

Brown Sugar Milk Tea

Skip the tea entirely! Just add boba with extra brown sugar syrup to cold milk over ice. Trust me, it’s AMAZING.

Taro Bubble Tea

Add 2 tablespoons of taro powder to the mixture. You can find this at Asian grocery stores or online. It tastes like a sweet vanilla-y potato in the best possible way.

Fruity Bubble Tea

Use green tea instead of black, skip the milk, and add 2 tablespoons of fruit syrup or puree (mango, strawberry, and passion fruit are my favorites). This is super refreshing in summer!

Coffee Bubble Tea

Use strong cold brew coffee instead of tea for a caffeinated twist!

Matcha Bubble Tea

Substitute the black tea with 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder whisked into cold water. Add a bit more sweetener since matcha is naturally bitter.

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Troubleshooting your bubble tea

“My boba pearls are still hard in the center!” Cook them longer next time! Different brands need different cooking times. Keep testing one every few minutes until they’re chewy all the way through.

“My pearls turned to mush!” You overcooked them, sadly. Try a shorter cooking time next batch. Also make sure you’re maintaining a medium boil, not a crazy rolling boil.

“The pearls hardened after a few hours!” This is normal – they’re best eaten within 4 hours of cooking. Always store them in their sugar syrup, and you can briefly microwave them for 10-15 seconds to soften them up again.

“My drink isn’t sweet enough!” The beauty of homemade bubble tea is that you can adjust everything to your taste! Add more simple syrup, honey, or condensed milk until it’s just right for you.

“The flavor is weak!” Try brewing your tea stronger or using more tea bags. Also, remember that the ice will dilute it, so it should taste slightly stronger before adding ice.

“Where do I buy tapioca pearls?” Asian grocery stores almost always have them, or you can order them online. Look for “quick-cooking” ones if you’re a beginner.

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