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Brown Sugar Boba Tea

A delightful and comforting homemade brown sugar boba tea that combines chewy tapioca pearls with the rich flavor of black tea and creamy milk.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Beverage, Snack
Cuisine: Asian, Taiwanese
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Boba Pearls
  • 1/2 cup dried tapioca pearls (boba) Choose larger pearls for a chewier texture.
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar, divided Use for sweetening both the pearls and the tea.
  • 1/4 cup water Used to sweeten boba pearls.
For the Tea
  • 2 bags black tea Use your favorite brand.
  • 1 cup hot water, for brewing tea Steep the tea bags in this hot water.
For Assembly
  • 1 cup whole milk, cold For topping the drink.
  • Ice cubes ice cubes To cool down the drink before serving.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Start by bringing a medium pot of water to a boil.
  2. Once boiling, add the dried tapioca pearls. Cook according to package instructions, typically 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. After cooking, drain the pearls and immediately transfer them to a bowl. Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of water to the pearls. Stir over low heat for about 2 minutes until glossy.
  4. While the pearls are cooling, steep two black tea bags in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in the remaining 1/4 cup of brown sugar while tea is still hot.
Assembly
  1. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the cooked boba pearls into the bottom of two tall glasses.
  2. Fill each glass with ice cubes.
  3. Pour the cooled brown sugar tea over the ice in each glass.
  4. Top each glass with cold whole milk and stir gently to mix before serving.

Notes

Best enjoyed fresh. Store tea and boba separately to maintain texture. Freeze uncooked tapioca pearls for later use.