I find it hard to believe that there are people out there that don’t even know what boba tea is!?! What the heck? Don’t miss out on this drink that eats like a meal! Originating from Taiwan, Boba tea, aka pearl or bubble tea is a sweetened tea drink which often has milk and tapioca pearls added. It is also my current addiction. Well, to be honest, I have been feeding this addiction on a regular basis for oh, the past 9 months or so. Lately, it has been getting out of hand, that is to say a daily addiction, so I have decided to investigate a home made solution.
photo credit: American Link
The need for a home made solution arises when you find yourself planning your day around dropping by the closest boba tea shop. That, and the last time I got my fix, I noticed everything being added to my drink came in a powdered format. Yes, you can only delude yourself for so long, and thoughts such as “no nutritional value” and “empty calories” start coming to the forefront. Coming from a tea drinking family, I believe afternoon tea is my birthright, so no facing the hard truth if a more healthful solution can be found.
So, here are the items you need to make your own Boba tea…
1. Boba Tapioca Pearls –
2. Sugar Syrup (Honey, White Sugar, Brown Sugar)
3. Tea (Green or Black)
4. Milk
5. Boba Delivery device aka Super Wide Drinking Straw
Here is a video to show you how to prepare the boba tapioca pearls – I am loving video for everything. Like they say, a picture is worth 1000 words!
Once you get your pearls ready, you can put your drink together. Brew your own coffee or tea, add milk, sugar to taste, as many pearls as your heart desires, et voila! Boba tea without the questionable powder. Although I returned home the other evening, and was greeted by a 100 count box of these bad boys…
photo credit: coffee sticks
…needless to say hubby has an addiction too, and is less concerned with the au naturel approach.
I have a fond memory of my first boba experience. Not of the boba itself, but the experience. It might sound unusual, but you have to prepare yourself for the bizarre sensation of sucking giant gelatinous balls of tapioca through a straw as part of your drinking experience. When my sister very gleefully shared this new fangled treat with me, I was not prepared. Practically choking on that first starchy explosion, I took to reversing the process and brandished the straw as a pea shooter. Perhaps I can re-purpose the boba pearl instructions for a fun outdoor game in a future post.
photo credit: pea shooter
Once you get the hang of making boba, share the love with all of your friends at your next party, since a person shouldn’t keep this much fun and tastiness to one’s self. Enjoy!