How to make boba milk tea at home

Ever since I moved to California I have been a fan of boba milk tea. If you never had one, you are missing out! I would love to to consume this every day but it wouldn't be good for my health and wallet. Thankfully, our baker friend shared with us her tips and tricks to make boba milk tea at home for a fraction of its price. First thing first get the right tapioca pearl:  

After trying a few, this one is our favorite: Bolle. I found it at the local Asian grocery store or Amazon.

In a medium size pan boil 1500 ml of water

Once the water is boiling, add in 1 cup of tapioca pearl tea

Use the strainer mesh to pick up the smaller pieces

Continue cooking for 30 minutes while stirring once in a while

After 30 minutes, turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let it be for another 30 minutes.

In the mean time, make a simple syrup with 1 cup of water and 1.5 cup sugar. Heat sugar and water in a saucepan. Continue stirring until sugar completely dissolved. Leave to cool before move it in a container. I use the rock sugar below instead of cane sugar because I prefer its taste but feel free to use whichever you like or what you have in hand.

When the 30 minutes is up, strain, and transfer the boba to a bowl or a tiny slow cooker like this one below to keep the boba warm and squishy. Add about three tablespoons of simple syrup

Make your favorite tea. I use this black tea from Amazon.

Pour some tea inside a cup, add some milk or half &half, and simple syrup, stir, and enjoy.

Homemade boba milk tea

Ingredients:

1 cup tapioca pearl

black tea

milk

sugar

water

simple syrup: 1 cup of water + 1.5 cup sugar. Heat sugar and water in a saucepan. Continue stirring until sugar completely dissolved. Leave to cool before move it in a container. I use rock sugar instead of cane sugar because I prefer its taste but feel free to use whichever you like or what you have in hand.

Directions:

1. In a medium size pan boil 1500 ml of water
2. Once the water is boiling, add in 1 cup of tapioca pearl tea
3. Continue cooking for 30 minutes while stirring once in a while
4. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let it be for another 30 minutes.
5. In the mean time, make a simple syrup
6. When the 30 minutes is up, strain, and transfer the boba to a bowl or a small slow cooker to keep the boba warm and squishy. Add about three tablespoons of simple syrup 
7. Make your favorite tea.
8. Pour some tea inside a cup, add milk, and simple syrup, stir, and enjoy.