Are you tired of spending $7 every time you crave bubble tea? I totally get it! This homemade Boba Milk Tea is the perfect solution that tastes just as good as your favorite boba shop but costs a fraction of the price. We're making Hong Kong style bubble milk tea which only involves six ingredients: tapioca pearls, black tea, a sweetener (like brown sugar), milk of choice, and water. That's it!
This best boba milk tea recipe is perfect for weekend treats, afternoon pick me ups, or whenever you want that chewy boba texture without leaving your house. Olivia absolutely loves helping me make this, especially the part where she gets to shake the tea to make it frothy. She calls this her "fancy tea with the bouncy balls," and honestly, that's the perfect description.
Why You'll Love This Boba Milk Tea
Tastes Like the Boba Shop: This boba milk tea recipe with tapioca pearls creates that authentic bubble tea experience you love, with perfectly chewy boba and creamy milk tea.
Customizable Sweetness: Make it exactly how you like it by controlling the amount of sugar. No more drinks that are too sweet or not sweet enough from different boba drinks shops.
Ready in 30 Minutes: From start to finish, including cooking the boba, this comes together faster than driving to the boba shop and waiting in line. This easy milk tea recipe is so simple anyone can make it.
Ingredients for Boba Milk Tea
This best boba milk tea recipe uses simple boba milk tea ingredients you can find at any Asian grocery store or online. The key is using quality black tea and fresh tapioca pearls.
What You'll Need
For the Boba:
- ½ cup dried tapioca pearls (quick cooking or regular)
- 4 cups water for cooking
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons water for syrup
For the Milk Tea:
- 2 cups water
- 4 black tea bags (or 2 tablespoons loose leaf black tea)
- 1 to 2 cups milk of choice (whole milk, oat milk, almond milk)
- 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
- Ice cubes
Why These Ingredients Matter
Tapioca Pearls: These create that signature chewy boba texture everyone loves. Quick cooking tapioca pearls take only 5 minutes to cook, while regular ones take about 20 minutes. Both work great for this boba tea recipe.
Strong Black Tea: Use quality black tea like Assam or Ceylon for the best flavor. A concentrated tea base is what gives this milk tea its bold taste that stands up to the milk and sweetness. This creates authentic black milk tea.
Brown Sugar: This creates that popular brown sugar boba milk tea flavor and adds a caramel note. You can also use regular white sugar or honey for a milk boba recipe variation. If you love tea drinks, check out my Vanilla Cinnamon Milk Tea too!
How to Make Boba Milk Tea
Step by Step Directions
- Cook the tapioca pearls. Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a pot. Add the tapioca pearls and stir gently. Cook according to package directions (usually 5 to 20 minutes depending on type). The pearls should be soft and chewy, not hard in the center.
- Make brown sugar syrup. While the boba cooks, combine sugar and tea in a pot and stir constantly over high heat. Actually, combine ¼ cup brown sugar with 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Heat until the sugar dissolves completely to make simple syrup. Set aside.
- Drain and soak the boba. Once cooked, drain the tapioca pearls and immediately rinse with cold water. Transfer to a bowl and pour the brown sugar syrup over them. Let them soak while you make the tea. This keeps them from sticking together.
- Brew strong tea. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add tea bags or loose leaf tea. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a strong black tea base. Remove tea bags and let the tea cool slightly. For quicker cooling, follow the tea brewing and chilling steps by placing the pot in an ice bath.
- Sweeten the tea. While the tea is still warm, stir in 2 to 4 tablespoons of sugar until dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness. Let cool completely or refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Assemble the drinks. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the brown sugar soaked boba to the bottom of each tall glass. Pour 1 cup of the tea into each glass. Add ice cubes to fill the glass about halfway.
- Add milk and serve. A concentrated tea base, and an equal amount (or more) of milk are mixed together for perfect milk tea. Pour in ½ to 1 cup of milk depending on how creamy you like it. Stir well with a wide boba straw and enjoy this yummy boba tea!
Hint: Make the tea and boba ahead of time and store separately in the fridge. When you want a drink, just assemble! The boba stays good for up to 4 hours in the brown sugar syrup.
My Top Tips for Boba Milk Tea
Don't overcook the tapioca pearls or they'll become mushy and fall apart. Follow package directions exactly and test one pearl before draining to make sure it's cooked through but still chewy.
Gold Tip: Shake the tea with ice in a cocktail shaker before adding it to your glass. This creates that frothy top layer you get at boba shops and makes the drink extra special. This is the secret to the best iced tea recipe texture for iced bubble tea beverage!
Little Moments in the Kitchen
The first time I made this at home, Olivia watched the tapioca pearls cooking and was mesmerized by how they bounced around in the boiling water. When I told her we were making her favorite boba drink, she literally started jumping up and down. "You can make the bouncy balls at HOME?! Why have we been buying it this whole time?!"
Now every Saturday, she asks if we can have "boba day." She's gotten really good at measuring out the pearls and stirring them while they cook (with supervision, of course). Her favorite part is choosing what color of boba straw to use and then showing me how many pearls she can suck up at once. It's become our special weekend tradition.
Substitutions for Boba Milk Tea
Dairy Free: Use plant based milk options like oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk instead of regular milk. Oat milk creates the creamiest texture for this milk tea boba recipe.
No Boba: Make this as a milk tea recipe no boba by skipping the tapioca pearls entirely. You'll have a delicious iced milk tea that's still refreshing and satisfying.
Fruity Version: Try a fruity bubble tea recipe by using fruit tea (like passion fruit or peach) instead of black tea. Add fresh fruit pieces at the bottom of the glass with the boba for extra flavor.
Variations on Boba Milk Tea
Strawberry Boba Milk Tea: Make strawberry boba milk tea recipe by blending fresh strawberries with the milk before adding to the tea. This creates a beautiful pink sweet bubble tea drink perfect for a pretty boba drinks presentation.
Taro Milk Tea Boba: Use taro powder or mashed taro root mixed with the milk for taro milk tea boba. This creates that popular purple drink you see at boba shops and is amazing for cute beverages displays.
Thai Milk Tea Boba: Make thai milk tea boba by using Thai tea mix (the orange tea) instead of black tea and sweetening with condensed milk. This boba milk tea recipe with condensed milk creates an extra rich, creamy version. Try my Matcha White Hot Chocolate for another unique drink!
Equipment for Boba Milk Tea
Medium Pot: For cooking the tapioca pearls. A 2 quart pot works perfectly.
Tea Kettle or Pot: For brewing the black tea base.
Wide Boba Straws: Essential for sucking up those tapioca pearls! Regular straws won't work. Get reusable wide straws for sustainability.
Tall Glasses: Use 16 ounce clear glasses to show off the layers of boba, tea, and milk for that boba milk tea aesthetic.
Storage Tips for Boba Milk Tea
Cooked Boba: Store cooked tapioca pearls in brown sugar syrup in the fridge for up to 4 hours. They get hard after that, so it's best to cook them fresh each time.
Tea Base: Brew a big batch of tea and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. This makes assembling drinks super quick for this milk tea recipe for business potential.
Not Freezer Friendly: Don't freeze boba or the tea as the texture changes completely. Always make fresh for the best chewy boba texture.
Olivia's Tip for Boba Milk Tea
"When you suck up the boba pearls, try to get like five at once and then chew them all together. It's really fun! Also, if you shake the cup with your hand over the top, the tea and milk mix together and make bubbles on top like at the store. Just don't shake too hard or it spills!"
FAQ about Boba Milk Tea
What is boba milk tea made of?
Boba milk tea is made of cooked tapioca pearls, strong brewed black tea, milk (dairy or plant based), sweetener (usually brown sugar or honey), and ice. The combination creates that signature creamy, sweet drink with chewy pearls at the bottom that you suck up through a wide straw. This is the foundation of all korean boba and booba drink variations.
How to make delicious milk tea?
To make delicious milk tea, brew strong black tea (twice as strong as you'd normally drink it), let it cool, then mix with equal parts milk and sweeten to taste. The key is using quality tea and the right tea to milk ratio. A concentrated tea base ensures the tea flavor doesn't get lost in the milk for the best boba flavors.
Can I make boba at home?
Yes! You can easily make boba at home by cooking dried tapioca pearls in boiling water for 5 to 20 minutes (depending on the type), then soaking them in brown sugar syrup. Quick cooking tapioca pearls are the easiest for beginners. Homemade boba tastes just as good as the boba shop for this drink boba experience!
Can I just add milk to tea to make milk tea?
While you can add milk to regular strength tea, true milk tea uses a concentrated tea base that's much stronger than normal tea. This ensures the tea flavor comes through after adding milk and ice. Just adding milk to weak tea results in a watery, bland drink. Follow proper tea brewing and chilling steps for the best results. Try my Frozen Strawberry Lemonade for another refreshing drink!
Conclusion
This Easy Boba Milk Tea is the answer to all your bubble tea cravings without the expensive price tag. Once you realize how simple it is to make at home, you'll wonder why you ever paid $7 for a drink you can make for less than $2. Plus, making it yourself means you can control the sweetness, choose your milk, and make it exactly how you like it.
If you loved this boba milk tea recipe and milk tea recipes variations, you'll want to try these Avocado Cookies that I absolutely love when I want to drink Boba Milk Tea, or check out my Kashmiri Pink Chai Recipe for another unique tea drink. This how to make boba milk tea guide will become your go to for weekend treats and anytime you need a sweet, chewy, delicious pick me up. I pair mine with those amazing avocado cookies for the perfect afternoon snack combo!
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Boba Milk Tea:
📖 Recipe
Easy Boba Milk Tea
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil, then stir in the dried tapioca pearls. Cook according to the directions on the package. I always check one pearl before draining because Olivia loves telling me if it is chewy enough. When they are soft and bouncy, drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of water. Simmer until the sugar dissolves and turns glossy. This step fills the kitchen with the sweetest smell which always brings Olivia running in to see what is bubbling on the stove.
- Transfer the warm pearls into a bowl and pour the syrup over them. Let them soak while you prepare the tea. This keeps them from sticking together and gives them a rich caramel flavor.
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and steep the tea bags for 5 to 7 minutes. Strong tea is the secret to milk tea that does not taste watered down. I often let Olivia smell the steeping tea so she can guess which blend we used that day.
- While the tea is still warm, stir in your sugar or honey until it dissolves. Adjust based on how sweet your family likes it. Olivia goes for extra honey on boba day so sometimes I let her drizzle in her own.
- Spoon a few tablespoons of the syrup soaked pearls into each tall glass. Add ice, pour in the tea, and finish with milk. Give it a stir or shake it gently. Olivia calls it her fancy tea because she gets to shake hers like the boba shops do.
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