Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is a cool drink with large tapioca pearls at the bottom of the cup. The milk tea is actually very easy to prepare at home because you can find the boba in most Asian shops. They can have a diameter of 1 to 3 millimeters and come in different colors - black, white or colorful. They have a neutral taste, so they are usually mixed with sugar and other flavorings. Before being added to desserts and drinks, they must first be cooked to obtain a gummy-like consistency. How long do you have to cook these pearls to make the perfect bubble tea? Just read on.
1. Fill a large pot with 8 cups water and bring to a boil. Add the pearls. When the beads begin to float to the surface, turn the heat to medium.
Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the balls from sticking to the bottom or to each other.
Turn off the heat and leave to rest with the lid on the pot for 30 minutes.
2. Once the boba is cooked, drain and rinse with cold water. Place the balls in maple or sugar syrup and “marinate” for at least 20 minutes. Set aside but leave at room temperature otherwise they will harden. The longer they sit, the “crisp” they become. Therefore, it would be ideal to consume the bubble tea within 24 hours.
3. Brew your favorite tea and let it cool. If you have a cocktail shaker, combine tea, ice, milk and fruit (to your liking) and shake. If you don't have a shaker, start with 2 tablespoons of cooked balls, a few ice cubes and the tea on top. Get extra large straws so the large beads can get through. Have fun cooking tapioca pearls!
You can find out more about the nutritional values of tapioca pearlsread in this article.
