Ingredients
Tea Mixture
- 625 g dairy or non-dairy milk (preferably oat milk)
- 4 Earl Grey tea bags
Tapioca Pearls
- 100 g tapioca pearls
- 50 g brown sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons water (optional, to adjust syrup consistency)
Additional
- Ice cubes as needed for serving
Instructions
- Steep the Earl Grey Tea: In a small pot, combine the milk with the 4 Earl Grey tea bags. Bring the milk to a gentle simmer, then turn off the heat. Cover the pot and allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes to infuse the milk with robust flavors.
- Extract the Tea Flavor: Use the back of a spoon to press the tea bags against the pot’s side to squeeze out the remaining tea-infused milk. Discard the tea bags. Transfer the infused milk tea to a glass container with a spout, cover it, and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Prepare Tapioca Pearls: Rinse the pot and add enough water to fill about 1 inch deep. Bring this water to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Cook the Tapioca Pearls: Add the tapioca pearls to the boiling water and stir immediately to prevent clumping. Boil the pearls uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Let Tapioca Pearls Sit: Remove the pot from heat, cover it, and let the tapioca pearls sit for an additional 15 minutes to fully cook and soften.
- Make Brown Sugar Syrup with Pearls: In a small bowl, place the brown sugar. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked tapioca pearls into the bowl, draining excess water. Stir the pearls with the brown sugar so the heat helps dissolve the sugar, forming a sweet syrup. If the mixture seems too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to achieve a syrupy consistency.
- Assemble the Bubble Tea: In each serving glass, add about 100 g of the brown sugar-coated tapioca pearls with syrup. Fill the glass 3/4 to full with ice cubes. Pour approximately 300 g of chilled Earl Grey milk tea over the ice and pearls. Stir well to combine. Adjust sweetness by adding any leftover brown sugar syrup to taste.
Notes
- Oat milk is recommended for a creamy texture and natural sweetness, but other milk alternatives or dairy milk can be used.
- Stir tapioca pearls shortly after adding to boiling water to prevent sticking.
- Ensure pearls are fully cooked by allowing them to simmer and then sit covered off the heat.
- The brown sugar syrup coats the pearls and adds rich sweetness; adjust water to achieve preferred syrup consistency.
- Serve immediately after assembly to enjoy the best texture of the pearls.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
- Diet: Vegetarian
