Bubble tea – or boba – is the Taiwanese drink that has taken the world by storm: iced tea with milk or fruit, and chewy tapioca pearls that you drink through a wide straw. The good news is that you don't have to go to a bubble tea shop: with just a few ingredients, you can make it at home in fifteen minutes – for a fraction of the price.
What you need
- Tapioca pearls – the classic dark balls. You can find more varieties in our bubble tea collection.
- Tea – black tea is classic, jasmine and green tea also work wonderfully. See our tea selection.
- Milk or plant-based milk – regular milk, oat, or coconut.
- Sweetener – brown sugar, honey, or syrup.
- Wide straws and ice cubes – straws are included in most bubble tea kits.
How to make classic bubble tea (2 glasses)
- Brew the tea: Steep 2 bags of black tea in 2 dl of boiling water for 5 minutes. Chill.
- Cook the pearls: Add 1 dl of tapioca pearls to plenty of boiling water. Cook for 5–10 minutes (see package instructions) until they are chewy and translucent, stirring occasionally.
- Sweeten the pearls: Drain and toss the pearls in 2 tbsp of brown sugar or syrup – this will give you the classic "brown sugar" flavor.
- Build the glass: Pearls at the bottom, fill with ice, pour in cold tea, and top with milk to taste.
- Serve with a wide straw – and shake or stir well first.
Tapioca pearls or popping boba?
The two types offer completely different experiences. Tapioca pearls are chewy and firm, made from tapioca starch, and need to be cooked. Popping boba are small spheres with liquid fruit filling that burst in your mouth – they don't need to be cooked, just added directly to the glass. Perfect for fruit tea and for children who find tapioca strange. We carry popping boba with mango, strawberry, peach, and passion fruit.
Variations to try
- Brown sugar milk tea – the classic from the recipe above.
- Matcha latte boba – replace black tea with 1 tsp of matcha whisked in hot water, top with milk.
- Fruit tea with popping boba – green tea + mango or passion fruit boba, without milk.
- Taro or strawberry – use flavor powder or syrup from kits.
Tips and common mistakes
Tapioca pearls should be served the same day – they become hard in the refrigerator. Therefore, cook them just before serving. If they become too soft, they have cooked too long. And don't skip rinsing in cold water: that's what gives them the right chewy consistency.
Everything in one place
You'll find tapioca pearls, popping boba, complete kits, and ready-to-drink bubble tea in our bubble tea collection – with delivery throughout Norway, or in our stores in Holmen and Røa.
