Ever since the bubble tea trend went viral on TikTok, the drink has drawn wide interest, and rightfully so. This naturally vegan-friendly boba is made with tapioca and is a great addition to any of your favorite beverages. Think of any milkshake, or milk-based tea, and you’ll just take it up a notch with the addition of the boba pearls. With the Chinese New Year here, if you’re looking for a Chinese/Taiwanese drink to serve your guests, then look no further than boba or bubble tea! It can be customized to your desire—hot, cold, milky, fruit, boozy and more! It’s the perfect addition to begin (or end) an elaborate Chinese meal you’ll be eating during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
What is Bubble Tea (Boba)?
Bubble tea of Boba milk tea is a popular Taiwanese drink that is hugely popular around the world, and is widely served in many Asian restaurants. Usually a milk-based cold drink, bubble tea is also served as fruity drinks without any form of milk. Boba pearls are basically small chewy pearls made with tapioca starch. You could make them from scratch, but you can just as easily find ready-to-cook boba tea kit in most grocery stores. They’re cooked, and then added to the tea based and topped off with a milk and other toppings of your choice.
How to Cook Boba Pearls
In a large pot, bring some water to a boil. When it hits a rolling boil, add the tapioca pearls (or boba) and boil until they float to the top of the water. Once the boba is floating, lower to the heat, and continue to cook for 30 minutes uncovered. Then remove the boba and use in whatever drink you desire!
What Does Bubble Tea Taste Like?
While there are many ways to serve bubble tea ranging to creamy to milky to slushy to fruity, the boba by itself is pretty flavorless. The tapioca pearls mainly add texture to the tea—soft, chewy and absorbing flavors from the tea itself. One of the most commonly serve boba tea is the traditional brown sugar Thai iced tea, which tastes sweet, and milky with the added texture of the boba.
How to Make Bubble Tea From Scratch:
Best Bubble Tea Recipes
