Bubble Tea Recipe（珍珠奶茶）

Milk tea is a beverage loved by many, especially girls. In winter, it's warm to hold in your hands and sweet to drink. In summer, it's refreshing and cool, with a rich and fragrant taste. Bubble tea, in particular, is a popular type of milk tea enjoyed by the masses.

In the summer, do you find yourself craving a refreshing glass of Bubble Tea just like I do? Whether relaxing at home or out shopping, a cup of milk tea always brightens the mood. Today, let's talk about how to make this globally popular drink at home.

1.What is Bubble Tea?

Bubble Tea, also known as Pearl Milk Tea, is a popular tea-based beverage that originated in Taiwan. Its name initially referred to the bubbles formed when the milk tea was shaken, rather than the pearls (tapioca balls) in the drink itself.

In Taiwan, there are two businesses that claim to be the inventors of Bubble Tea: Chun Shui Tang in Taichung City and Hanlin Tea Room in Tainan City. Chun Shui Tang claims that their employees invented the first Bubble Tea in 1987 by combining tapioca pearls with iced milk tea and lemon red tea. On the other hand, Hanlin Tea Room's claim is that their owner was inspired in 1986 after seeing white tapioca pearls, which were later mixed with milk tea. The name "Bubble Tea" came from the pearls' translucent appearance resembling pearls. Later, black sugar was added, changing the color to black.

The making of Bubble Tea involves a unique craftsmanship. First, high-quality tea leaves are carefully selected and processed to retain their original flavor through expert roasting techniques. The pearls, which are the essence of Bubble Tea, undergo multiple steps where starch is mixed with water and kneaded into small, translucent pearls through a series of processes.

2.What are the ingredients needed?

Tapioca Flour: It's best to use tapioca starch for making pearls, as other starches cannot achieve the chewy and smooth texture.

Brown Sugar: Brown sugar not only provides sweetness to the pearls but also gives them a deep red sheen.

Black Tea: You can choose black tea according to your personal preference. It is recommended to use broken black tea leaves as they brew quickly and are ideal for making milk tea.

Whole Milk: Using whole milk allows you to create a rich and creamy bubble tea without needing too much additional sweetness, avoiding it from becoming overly sweet or cloying.

3.How to make tapioca pearls?

Prepare a pot of hot water, add brown sugar chunks, and stir until dissolved. Then add tapioca flour and mix thoroughly until the mixture becomes sticky. Shape the mixture into pearl-sized balls.

4.How to Prepare Black Tea?

Bring about 6 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, add black tea leaves. Stir in white sugar and whole milk. Then, strain the tea through a filter.

If you're in a hurry, you can prepare milk tea in advance, or you can use tea bags for black tea, which eliminates the need for straining. Simply remove the tea bags after boiling.

5.How long can bubble tea be stored?

This bubble tea recipe is best enjoyed soon after preparation, ideally on the same day. If you prefer cold bubble tea, you can add ice cubes to the prepared bubble tea, or refrigerate the cooked tapioca pearls and milk tea separately and combine them later.

Today I'm going to teach you how to make bubble tea at home. The milk tea is rich and fragrant, and the pearls are chewy and smooth. It tastes even better than store-bought versions, and best of all, it doesn't contain any additives. Drink it with peace of mind! If you love bubble tea as much as I do, let's get started right away.