Make Bubble Tea

If you've ever tried bubble tea, you know how yummy - and expensive - this unique sweet drink can be. It's basically a sweetened iced tea or smoothie mixed with chewy tapioca pearls (boba). With a little time and the right ingredients, you can turn your kitchen into a bubble tea shop!

Preparing Tapioca Pearls (Boba)
Tapioca pearls usually come in two sizes and can be found in an Asian grocery store (or ordered online). Follow the instructions on the package if you can, but they might be in poorly-translated English. Generally, this is how it's done:
 * 1) Pre-soak the pearls for a few hours if you want them tender all the way through, rather than soft on the outside and chewy on the inside (which is how most people prefer them).
 * 2) Measure 7 parts water to 1 part tapioca pearls. Bring the water to a rolling boil.
 * 3) Add the pearls and stir them to make sure they don't stick to the bottom.
 * 4) When the pearls float to the top, cover the pot and keep the water at a rolling boil for 30 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes.
 * 5) Remove from heat and let the pearls sit covered for 30 minutes.
 * 6) Rinse the pearls with lukewarm or cold water.
 * 7) [[Image:Boba_894.jpg|thumb]]Sweeten the pearls with honey or the following sugar syrup to taste (which can also be used to sweeten the drink): - Mix one cup of white sugar, one cup of brown sugar, and two cups of water in a pot.  - Bring to a boil, then immediately remove from heat.  - Let cool.
 * 8) Use them immediately, or cover them and put them in the fridge for no more than 4 days (or else they will get too mushy). When you want to use them, boil a cup of water and put the tapioca pearls in it for a few minutes to warm them.

Traditional Milk Tea

 * 1) Make the tea. Bubble tea was traditionally made with black tea, but you can use green, chai, yerba mate, or any kind of tea. You can even use coffee!
 * 2) Mix 3/4 cup of tea with 2 tablespoons of cream and 1 tablespoon of sugar syrup (as directed above) in a shaker. You can substitute the cream with soy milk, milk, half and half, sweetened condensed milk, or non dairy creamer.
 * 3) Add ice, cover the shaker, and shake the mixture until it gets frothy. (The bubbles formed by shaking are what the tea was named after, although most people assume it's because the tapioca pearls look like bubbles!)
 * 4) Put 3-4 tablespoons of cooked tapioca pearls in a glass and pour in the mixture.
 * 5) [[Image:Birthday Bubble Tea 1436.jpg|thumb]]Stir and drink!

Fruit Bubble Tea

 * 1) Combine ice, fresh fruit (or fruit juice), sweetener (e.g. sugar syrup) and cream (or substitute) in a blender until smooth. The consistency and proportions should be adjusted to taste.
 * 2) Put 3-4 tablespoons of cooked tapioca pearls in a glass and pour the fruity mixture over them.
 * 3) Stir and drink!

Tips

 * [[Image:Coconutjelly_386.jpg|thumb|A small block of coconut jelly]]Tapioca pearls are high in calories! For a lighter alternative, track down some coconut jelly (Nata de coco) and chop it into small squares.
 * [[Image:Green apple bubble tea 6986.jpg|thumb|Green apple bubble tea]]If you can find large-diameter straws through which you can suck up the tapioca pearls, you might better enjoy the bubble tea experience! It's still good, though, without a big straw; just use a spoon to scoop up the pearls.
 * You can also get 5 min cooktime pearls from your local Asian market. This makes it quick and easy to prepare them whenever you get a sudden craving.

Warnings

 * [[Image:Emi is a Bubble Tea Bubble Head 838.jpg|thumb]]Be sure not to choke on the tapioca pearls. Kids should be watched carefully while drinking this, as the pearls can easily be sipped through big straws.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make Yerba Mate
 * How to Make Mochi Ice Cream
 * How to Choose Pu Erh Tea
 * How to Brew Da Hong Pao (Wuyi Rock Tea)
 * How to Make Cute Tea Party Invitations
 * How to Make Fab Iced Green Tea
 * How to Make Sun Tea
 * How to Relax when Relaxation Techniques Don't Work
 * How to Use Leftover Green Tea Leaves