Homemade Brown Sugar Bubble Tea

I drank black sugar bubble tea every day when I visited Taiwan and decided to bring back some tapioca pearls (boba) to make my own at home. This is a versatile recipe: you can vary the tea and milk you use and sweeten it to taste. Brew tea to your preferred strength, though it's a good idea to use strong tea because you're going to dilute it with milk and ice. You'll need a wide straw to drink the boba, or use a long spoon for fishing them out!

• Preparation Time: 5 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 248 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup milk
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 4 ¼ cups water, divided
• 2 tablespoons black tea leaves
• ¼ cup white tapioca pearls (boba)
• 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add tapioca pearls and stir gently until they begin floating to the top. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until softened and dark, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea leaves. Let steep for 15 minutes. Strain out tea leaves and refrigerate tea.

Step 3

Drain pearls. Bring 1/4 cup water to a boil in the empty saucepan. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Immerse pearls in syrup and let sit until room temperature, about 15 minutes

Step 4

Divide pearls and desired amount of syrup between 2 tall glasses. Pour in tea.

Step 5

Add ice, milk, and sweetened condensed milk to both glasses. Stir before drinking.