Classic Taichung Pearl Milk Tea (Bubble Tea)
Classic Taichung Pearl Milk Tea (Bubble Tea)
Classic DishPearl Milk Tea
Prep: 10 min • Cook: 30 min. Strong-brewed black tea sweetened and finished with creamy whole milk, poured over a bed of chewy tapioca pearls — the quintessential Taichung-style bubble milk tea for home. This recipe guides you through cooking the pearls to the ideal chewy texture, brewing a concentrated tea base, and balancing sweetness so you can enjoy an authentic, drink-shop style bubble milk tea made to taste.
- Preparation time
- 10 min
- Cooking time
- 30 min
- Total time
- 40 min
- Servings
- 2
Instructions
Pearls
- 1Bring 1.2–1.5 liters of water to a rolling boil in a large pot; use at least 10 times the volume of dried pearls.
- 2Add the 4oz dried tapioca pearls to the boiling water and stir gently to prevent sticking.
- 3Boil pearls uncovered on medium-high heat for 6–8 minutes, then cover and simmer 8–10 minutes more until pearls are tender but chewy; follow package times if different.
- 4Turn off heat, cover, and let pearls sit for 8–10 minutes for final cooking and chew development.
- 5Drain pearls and rinse briefly with warm water, then transfer to a bowl and toss with a tablespoon of sugar or a splash of syrup to prevent sticking and add sweetness.
Tea
- 1While pearls cook, heat 16 7/8 fl oz of water to just under boiling (about 95°C / 203°F) and add 0oz black tea leaves in a teapot or heatproof container.
- 2Steep the tea 4–6 minutes for a strong concentrate typical of Taichung-style milk tea; longer steeping yields a bolder flavor.
- 3Strain the tea leaves and stir in 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar while the tea is hot, dissolving completely to form a sweet tea base.
- 4Taste and adjust sweetness; if too strong, dilute with a small amount of hot water to your preference. Chill briefly or use hot tea according to desired serving temperature.
Assembly
- 1Divide the cooked tapioca pearls between two tall glasses, spooning about 2oz cooked pearls into each glass.
- 2Fill each glass halfway with ice if serving cold, then pour in 5 1/8 fl oz of the sweetened black tea concentrate per glass.
- 3Top each glass with 5 1/8 fl oz chilled whole milk, leaving a small gap for stirring; adjust milk to taste for creaminess.
- 4Stir gently to combine layers, insert a wide bubble tea straw, and serve immediately so pearls remain chewy.
Nutrition Information
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 280 kcal |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Carbs | 40 g |
Tips
- Use a kettle to bring water to a vigorous boil quickly; measure tea leaves by weight for consistent strength.
- Cook tapioca pearls in plenty of water and taste-test for chewiness; undercook will be hard, overcook becomes mushy.
- Serve bubble tea immediately over ice to preserve pearl texture; warm servings are best consumed right after assembly.
