Easy Thai Bubble Tea
Easy Thai Bubble Tea is a make-at-home version of the popular iced tea drink in Thailand. Characterized by it’s bright orange color and unique sweet flavor, it is made with black tea infused with spices and coloring, sweetened condensed milk and boba.
Thai Milk Tea is everywhere in Thailand, called “Cha Yen” which literally translates to “cold tea”. Due to Thailand’s very warm climate they almost always serve tea cold. Thai Milk Tea is as popular in Thailand as iced coffee is here in the US in summer months. Bubble Tea, aka boba, is a popular addition to iced tea in Southeast Asia. Due to the fun and unique texture and it’s visual appeal it has become quite popular here in the US as well.
What is Bubble Tea?
Bubble Tea refers to any drink that has small black tapioca pearls called boba sitting at the bottom of it. Boba is made from boiled balls of tapioca that have been sweetened with black sugar. It is loved for its chewy texture and it’s ability to fit through special straws and be eaten along with sips of the tea drink making for a unique and delicious tea drinking experience
For this recipe I used these quick cook tapioca balls. They are easy to make by boiling in water on the stovetop. Once they are cooked, they are coated in a sugar coating before they are added to the tea. For this recipe I used honey to coat the boba.
What is Thai Bubble Tea?
Thai Bubble Tea has many names – it can be called Thai Boba Tea, Thai Milk Pearl Tea and Thai Tea with Boba to name a few, all variations of the name refer to Thai Milk Tea with the addition of boba.
The tea itself is a blend of black tea infused with spices. When you order Thai Milk Tea, here in the US or in Thailand, it will almost always be made with a pre-made mixture of black tea infused with herbs, spices and colorant. The orange color was added to make the tea stand out amongst other teas. The tea mixture may also have sugar and evaporated milk added that give it the sweet, creamy taste.
For this Easy Thai Bubble Tea, we are using this Thai Tea Mix, it is a mixture of black tea infused with spices and colorant, but does not have sugar or creamer added. We brew the tea and then mix it with sweetened condensed milk to sweeten it. Once the tea is chilled, we pour it over boba, you can also add heavy cream or coconut cream to make it extra delicious.
How do you drink Thai Bubble Tea?
You will need a wide straw specific to bubble tea in order to suck the boba up the straw while drinking the tea. Called “bubble tea straws” or “boba straws” there are many options to purchase on Amazon. Like these disposable straws, these reusable straws or even a boba package that comes with tapioca pearls and boba straws.
Thai Bubble Tea should be “made to order” even when you make it at home. You can prep the Thai Milk Tea in advance (up to 2 days), but the boba needs to be made right before serving the tea or it will harden and lose it’s chewy texture.
Easy Thai Bubble Tea
- Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
Description
Easy Thai Bubble Tea is a make-at-home version of the popular iced tea drink in Thailand. Characterized by it’s bright orange color and unique sweet flavor, it is made with black tea infused with spices and coloring and sweetened condensed milk and boba.
Ingredients
14 cups water, divided
1 cup Pantai Thai Iced Tea Mix
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup tapioca pearls
2 tbsp honey
1/2 cup heavy cream or coconut cream (optional)
Instructions
Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil
Add the Pantai tea mix
Strain out the tea grounds
Add the sweetened condensed milk in a large glass jar or a heat tolerant bowl
Pour the tea over the sweetened condensed milk and stir to dissolve
Put the tea in the refrigerator to chill
In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil over medium heat
Pour in tapioca pearls
Allow the pearls to float to the surface
Cover the pot and cook 2-3 minutes
Turn the heat off, cook 2-3 more minutes
Scoop the tapioca pearls into a bowl of cold water for 20 seconds
Strain the tapioca pearls and put them in a dry bowl
Pour the honey over the tapioca pearls, mix to coat
Divide the tapioca pearls into 4 glasses
Pour the tea over the pearls
Pour in cream to taste (optional)
- Cuisine: Thai
Keywords: #thaibubbletea, #thiamilktea, #boba, #bubbletea, #thaicookingathome
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