Skip to main content

Classic Bubble Tea Recipe

3.1

(18)

Image may contain Cutlery Spoon Drink Juice Beverage Milk Coffee Cup Latte Cup Smoothie and Pottery
Photo by Shutterstock

Iced tea with tapioca pearls that are sucked from a large straw are perhaps Taiwan’s most famous culinary export. These bouncy, chewy balls are fun to munch on, much like chewing gum. The teas may be milky or not, sweetened or not, and flavored with any number of additional powders or infusions, like mango. My favorite style is this classic black tea with milk, and sweetened.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    2 servings

Ingredients

1 cup tapioca pearls (found in the dry goods section in Asian groceries)
4 cups freshly brewed strong black tea
1 tablespoon sugar
Ice cubes, for shaking
1/2 cup whole milk

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    While the tea is still hot or warm, add the sugar and stir to dissolve completely. Let cool and then refrigerate until completely chilled, about 2 hours, before serving.

    Step 2

    Place the tapioca pearls at the bottom of 2 cups. Use a cocktail shaker to shake together the ice, milk, and tea and strain into each cup and serve.

Image may contain: Food
Reprinted with permission from The Food of Taiwan: Recipes from the Beautiful Island copyright © 2015 by Cathy Erway. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Buy the full book from Amazon.

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
“Soft and pillowy, custardy and light—they were unlike any other scrambled eggs I had experienced before.”
From author Sonoko Sakai, this Japanese omelet is distinguished by its fluffy layers, with a touch of sweetness from maple syrup.
Crème de violette is an exuberantly floral violet liqueur that gives vibrant color to this fun frozen cocktail.
A short list of ingredients comes together in this elegant sake martini.
Frozen into a slushy, the classic tequila and grapefruit cocktail becomes even more refreshing.
Developed in the 1980s by a chef in Hong Kong, this sauce is all about umami.
Leftover rotisserie chicken finds new purpose in this endlessly comforting dish.
This frozen cocktail uses instant espresso for a strong flavor and unbeatable convenience.