Cooked tapioca pearls
1/2 cup
Drinks
Bubble tea and brown sugar boba.
Brown-sugar-coated pearls meet chilled milk, with an optional black-tea variation.
- Makes
- 1 large drink
- Hands-on
- 10 minutes
- Total time
- 15 minutes, plus package pearl-cooking time
- Effort
- Easy
GET WHAT YOU NEED
Your shopping list
For 1 large drink.
Brown sugar syrup
3 tbsp
Cold milk
1 cup
Ice
1/2 cup
The listed ingredient is ice, not an ice-tray purchase; make with household water.
Amounts are what the recipe uses, not package sizes. Compare quantities and product details before buying.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Tools & supplies
Saucepan
Cook and warm pearls.
Strainer
Drain cooked pearls.
Large glass and wide straw
Serve chewy pearls safely.
STEP BY STEP
Make it
Cook pearls
Prepare enough dry pearls for 1/2 cup cooked, following their package timing. Drain.
Coat
Warm cooked pearls with syrup over low heat for 2–3 minutes.
Stripe
Spoon into a glass and tilt to spread syrup up the sides.
Pour
Add ice and cold milk. Stir before drinking and serve immediately.
Good to know
- This base is brown sugar milk, without tea. For milk tea, replace half the milk with strong brewed black tea that has cooled.
- Pearl cooking times vary widely by brand; do not use a universal boiling time.
SAVE THE MAKING
Prefer it ready-made?
Compare these finished options with making your own.
Ready-to-drink bubble tea
A packaged complete drink skips cooking; pearl texture varies.
Links go to the selected products. Availability and delivery vary by location; check the current listing and package size before ordering.
Sources & further reading
Independent instructions informed by the sources below. No affiliation or endorsement is implied. These instructions have not been kitchen- or workshop-tested by DIBuyIt.
- Love Bubble Tea: Brown Sugar Milk Tea — Ingredient quantities and preparation method.