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The Best Authentic & Easy Thai Milk Tea Boba Recipe

A person's hands holding a refreshing, cold glass of homemade Thai Milk Tea Boba on a sunny day.

A recipe for classic, homemade Thai Milk Tea with boba (tapioca pearls). The process involves brewing a strong, aromatic Thai tea, which is then sweetened with condensed milk and chilled. Chewy tapioca pearls are boiled and coated in a simple brown sugar syrup. The finished drink is assembled by layering the sweetened boba, ice, and chilled milk tea in a glass, then finishing with a float of heavy cream or half-and-half for extra richness.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 tablespoons Thai tea mix
  • 600 g (about 2 ½ cups) boiling water
  • 6 tablespoons condensed milk, or to taste
  • 100 g tapioca pearls (boba)
  • 25 g (about 2 tbsp) brown sugar
  • Ice
  • 50 g (about 3.5 tbsp) heavy cream or half and half

Instructions

  1. Place the Thai tea mix in a steeping sock or a large coffee filter set over a heat-safe container or pot.
  2. Pour the boiling water over the tea leaves and let the tea steep for about 10 minutes.
  3. Remove the steeping sock or filter, squeezing out any remaining tea. Discard the used tea leaves.
  4. While the tea is still warm, stir in the condensed milk one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired sweetness. Chill the tea in the refrigerator.
  5. Cook the Tapioca Pearls: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the tapioca pearls and stir immediately to prevent clumping. Boil uncovered for 15 minutes.
  6. Cover the pot, remove it from the heat, and let the pearls sit for another 15 minutes until they are translucent.
  7. Drain the cooked pearls and transfer them to a small bowl. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves and forms a syrup around the pearls.
  8. Assemble the Drinks: To each serving glass, add a portion of the sweetened tapioca pearls.
  9. Fill the glass at least half full with ice.
  10. Pour the chilled Thai tea into the glass until almost full.
  11. Top with a layer of heavy cream or half and half. Stir the drink before enjoying.

Notes

  • The recipe recommends making the tea slightly sweeter than you’d normally prefer, as the ice will dilute it.
  • The two-stage cooking process for the boba (boiling then resting) is key to ensuring they are cooked through with a chewy texture.
  • Keeping the cooked pearls in a brown sugar syrup prevents them from sticking and adds another layer of flavor.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/tea-boba/