Bubble Tea - Food Craze or Genuinely Yummy? | Billi UK

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Bubble Tea – Food Craze or Genuinely Yummy?

Make Your Own Bubble Tea

Bubble tea is taking the world by storm. You can hardly go into a shopping mall without seeing a bubble tea shop anymore. But is the drink just a craze, or is it genuinely tasty? There are lots of ways you can drink bubble tea, and you can have it in almost any of your favourite flavours. So, whatever flavours you’re into, you’ll probably like it! It started as a firm favourite in Taiwan and the rest of Asia and has slowly made its way over to the west. If you can’t make it to a bubble tea shop, why don’t you try and make it at home? It’s surprisingly easy, and we think it’s yummy!

With a little imagination and creativity, there’s no limit to the flavours you could have of bubble tea. Change the flavours of the syrups, boba (bubble part) or tea to create a tasty, bubbly beverage. The bubbles are actually chewy boba tapioca balls, which are readily available in any Asian supermarket. All the other ingredients are really easy to come by too! Here is how you can make it at home.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup dried boba tapioca pearls per serving.
  • 1 to 2 tea bags per serving, pick your desired flavour!
  • 1/2 cup water from your Billi tap.
  • 1/2 cup sugar.
  • Milk, almond milk, or sweetened condensed milk.
  • Fruit juice or syrup.

Instructions

  • First off, you need to combine your boba with water. Measure 2 cups of water from your Billi tap for every 1/4 cup of boba being prepared. Pour the water into a saucepan with the boba in. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the boba and stir gently until they begin floating to the top of the water.
  • When the boba are cooked, they will float to the top of the water. Cook them for around 12-15 minutes on a medium heat. When they have all risen to the top, remove the pan from heat, cover, and let the pearls sit for another 12 to 15 minutes.
  • While the boba are cooking, make a simple sugar syrup to sweeten and preserve them once cooked. You can also flavour this syrup so that the boba are sweetened in your favourite flavour! Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil over high heat on the stove or in the microwave. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup sugar until dissolved. Set aside to cool.
  • Prepare a strong cup of tea. This can be done either while the boba are cooking or ahead of time. Allow enough time for the tea to cool completely before making the boba. Using your Billi tap, pour yourself 1 cup of boiling water. Then add the tea bag (or bags); use one tea bag for regular-strength bubble tea or two for a stronger tea flavour. Remove the tea bag after 15 minutes and chill the tea. The tea has to be cool before the boba is added!
  • Once the boba has finished cooking, drain them from the water and transfer them to a small bowl or container. Pour the sugar syrup over top until the boba are submerged. Then, let sit until the boba are room temperature. This should be at least 15 minutes, or simply refrigerate until they are ready to use. Boba are best if used within a few hours of cooking, but will keep refrigerated for several days.
  • Finally, to make the bubble tea, pour the prepared tea into a tall glass and add the bubbly boba balls. Add milk for a creamy bubble tea, juice for a fruity tea, or leave plain and add a little extra water. Sweeten to taste with the syrup from soaking the boba.

If you prepare your boba in advance, you can take them with you and easily make bubble tea in the office. Simply make the tea, add the syrup, juice or milk, then add the boba. It won’t just be a hit in Asia, it’ll be a hit in your office too.