MAKE IT CUTE

Getting bored of your basic smoothie? Try something new this weekend by making your own bubble tea! This cool drink comes from Taiwan, where its fun flavors and chewy tapioca are all the rage. But you don’t have to travel all the way to Taipei to try this delicious treat—here are our directions for how you can make your own simple bubble tea at home:

What you'll need: 1/3 cup of tapioca pearls • 3 cups of water • 5 ½ teaspoons of sugar • ½ cup of milk • 1 black teabag • 1 cup of ice cubes

Directions

1. Boil Those Bubbles
First, you’ll have to buy some boba (tapioca pearls) to be the bubbles in your tea. These will be available in most Asian grocery stores. Boil two cups-worth of water on the stove; once the water is ready, stir in one and a half teaspoons of sugar. Then, add 1/3 cup of the tapioca pearls. Cook for thirty minutes, stirring occasionally. Then drain them and let them cool to room temperature.

2. Tea Time
Brew one cup of black tea by boiling a cup of water and steeping the tea bag for at least 10 minutes (longer for stronger tea). Mix in ½ cup of milk and sweeten with 4 teaspoons of sugar. Mix the tea with a cup of ice cubes and allow it to cool.

3. Enjoy!
Once both the tea and tapioca pearls have cooled, mix them together and the bubble tea is ready to drink. Serve in a tall glass with a wide straw for slurping up yummy boba!

Try it out yourself, and let us know what you think. Do you love boba?

by Kjerstin Burdiek | 4/13/2016