With only three ingredients, you can make your own tapioca pearls (or boba pearls) from scratch! Pair them with homemade milk tea for an authentic, refreshing bubble tea experience that’s perfect any time of day.
My children absolutely love bubble milk tea! Whenever I tell them we’re going to the milk tea shop, they light up with excitement and can stay happy for the entire day.
They always want snacks like deep-fried mantou, but bubble milk tea is the absolute must-have treat.
After a few tries, I learned how to make tapioca pearls from scratch, along with our favorite boba milk tea at home.
To my surprise, it’s much simpler than I expected!
Now, making it at home has become part of our family routine, and what I love most about it is that homemade milk tea is not only budget-friendly but also healthier.
When I make it myself, I can control exactly how much sugar goes into it, making the sweetness just right for everyone.
How to Store Homemade Tapioca Pearls
When you make a batch of tapioca pearls, you might have more than you need. The good news is, they’re easy to store!
If you’re not cooking them right away, simply freeze the raw pearls directly in an airtight container.
They’ll stay fresh in the freezer, ready to be cooked whenever you’re craving a glass of milk tea. No need to thaw them before cooking—just take them straight from the freezer to the boiling water.
Ingredients
For the Tapioca Pearls:
- 150g tapioca starch
- 50g brown sugar
- 100g water
For the Milk Tea:
- 1000g water
- 10g black tea leaves (or about 4-5 tea bags)
- 250ml whole milk
- Sugar (optional, to taste)
Instructions
(1) Prepare the Tapioca Pearls
In a small pot, combine 100g water and 50g brown sugar. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves and the water reaches a gentle boil.
Note: Watch closely—turn off the heat as soon as it boils to prevent excess evaporation, which can alter the texture.
Immediately turn off the heat and quickly add 150g tapioca starch to the pot. Stir vigorously until the tapioca starch is well-incorporated, forming a cohesive, slightly sticky dough.
Once the dough is cool enough to handle, transfer it to a lightly floured surface (use additional tapioca starch to prevent sticking). Knead until smooth, about 3-5 minutes.
(2) Shape the Pearls
Divide the dough into 10 equal portions. Roll each portion into a thin log, approximately 0.5 cm in diameter.
Use a knife or dough cutter to cut each log into small pieces, around 0.5 cm long.
Roll each small piece into a ball using your palms to create smooth, round pearls. Dust with tapioca starch to prevent sticking.
Note: Uniform pearl sizes ensure even cooking.
(3) Cook the Tapioca Pearls
- Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil.
- Carefully add the prepared tapioca pearls to the boiling water, stirring gently to prevent them from sticking together.
- Allow the pearls to boil until they begin to float to the surface, then continue cooking for an additional 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
(4) Rinse and Sweeten the Pearls
- Drain the pearls and transfer them to a bowl of cold water. Let them sit for a few minutes to set their chewy texture.
- For extra sweetness and flavor, toss the cooked pearls with a small amount of brown sugar or honey before using.
(5) Prepare the Milk Tea
- In a pot, bring 1000g water to a boil, then add 10g black tea leaves (or tea bags). Let the tea steep on medium heat until the water returns to a boil.
- Add 250ml whole milk to the tea, stirring gently. Continue to simmer on low heat for another 2-3 minutes to infuse the milk with tea flavor.
- If you prefer sweeter milk tea, add sugar to taste. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Strain the milk tea through a sieve to remove the tea leaves or bags, leaving you with a smooth, fragrant milk tea.
(6) Assemble the Bubble Milk Tea
- Scoop the tapioca pearls into a serving glass.
- Pour the freshly made milk tea over the pearls.
- Stir, and enjoy your homemade bubble tea!
Notes
- Tapioca Starch: Tapioca starch is essential for that chewy boba texture; avoid substituting with cornstarch.
- Serving Suggestion: For a fun twist, try serving your bubble tea iced or with added flavors like vanilla or a touch of honey in the milk tea.
How to Make Tapioca Pearls (Boba Pearls)
Ingredients
For the Tapioca Pearls:
- 150 g tapioca starch
- 50 g brown sugar
- 100 g water
For the Milk Tea:
- 1000 g water
- 10 g black tea leaves or about 4-5 tea bags
- 250 ml whole milk
- Sugar optional, to taste
Instructions
(1) Prepare the Tapioca Pearls
- In a small pot, combine 100g water and 50g brown sugar. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves and the water reaches a gentle boil.
- Note: Watch closely—turn off the heat as soon as it boils to prevent excess evaporation, which can alter the texture.
- Immediately turn off the heat and quickly add 150g tapioca starch to the pot. Stir vigorously until the tapioca starch is well-incorporated, forming a cohesive, slightly sticky dough.
- Once the dough is cool enough to handle, transfer it to a lightly floured surface (use additional tapioca starch to prevent sticking). Knead until smooth, about 3-5 minutes.
(2) Shape the Pearls
- Divide the dough into 10 equal portions. Roll each portion into a thin log, approximately 0.5 cm in diameter.
- Use a knife or dough cutter to cut each log into small pieces, around 0.5 cm long.
- Roll each small piece into a ball using your palms to create smooth, round pearls. Dust with tapioca starch to prevent sticking.
- Note: Uniform pearl sizes ensure even cooking.
(3) Cook the Tapioca Pearls
- Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil.
- Carefully add the prepared tapioca pearls to the boiling water, stirring gently to prevent them from sticking together.
- Allow the pearls to boil until they begin to float to the surface, then continue cooking for an additional 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
(4) Rinse and Sweeten the Pearls
- Drain the pearls and transfer them to a bowl of cold water. Let them sit for a few minutes to set their chewy texture.
- For extra sweetness and flavor, toss the cooked pearls with a small amount of brown sugar or honey before using.
(5) Prepare the Milk Tea
- In a pot, bring 1000g water to a boil, then add 10g black tea leaves (or tea bags). Let the tea steep on medium heat until the water returns to a boil.
- Add 250ml whole milk to the tea, stirring gently. Continue to simmer on low heat for another 2-3 minutes to infuse the milk with tea flavor.
- If you prefer sweeter milk tea, add sugar to taste. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Strain the milk tea through a sieve to remove the tea leaves or bags, leaving you with a smooth, fragrant milk tea.
(6) Assemble the Bubble Milk Tea
- Scoop the tapioca pearls into a serving glass.
- Pour the freshly made milk tea over the pearls.
- Stir, and enjoy your homemade bubble tea!
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