Obtaining Bubble Tea Supplies Bubble Tea Recipes What is Bubble Tea? The Four Components of Bubble Tea Basic Steps in Preparing Bubble Tea

What is Bubble Tea?

Bubble tea is a mixture of iced or hot sweetened tea, milk, and often other flavorings. The distinctive characteristic of bubble tea is the black gummy balls made of tapioca, called "pearls" or "boba," that sit at the bottom of the cup, and are consumed through a very thick straw. Originating in Taiwan in the mid 1980s, bubble tea is extremely popular in Asia, California, and Canada.

The Four Components of Bubble Tea

1. Liquid Component: The base or medium of bubble tea can be black or green tea, water, milk and/or fruit juices.
2. Flavor Component: Can be a wide range of flavored powders or syrups.
3. Sweetener Component: Binds all the different ingredients of bubble tea together, bringing out the drink's flavor, and can be sugar syrup, honey, and/or fructose.
4. Texture Component: Gives bubble tea its "bubble," and can be tapioca pearls, coconut jelly, and/or flavored puddings.

Basic Steps in Preparing Bubble Tea

The basic steps for preparing bubble tea are below. Here are two basic recipes for bubble tea, one cold and the other hot: Making Cold Milk Tea and Making Hot Milk Tea.

1. Prepare the tapioca balls, or other texture component. Here is a basic recipe for Preparing Tapioca Pearls.
2. Prepare the tea, milk and/or fruit juice. Here are basic instructions for Brewing Loose Leaf Tea. A black tea or jasmine green tea are suggested teas for bubble tea.
3. Prepare the sweetener. Here is a basic recipe for Making Sugar Syrup.
4. Measure out the flavor powder or syrup. Bubble Tea Flavored Powders can be found in our store.
5. Combine all ingredients in a shaker cup.
6. Shake vigorously.
7. Add ice, if desired.
8. Serve (with a fat straw, of course!).