Description
Homemade Brown Sugar Bubble Tea is a sweet, creamy, and refreshing drink made with chewy tapioca pearls, rich brown sugar syrup, strong black tea, and milk. It’s a DIY version of the popular bubble tea shop favorite that’s customizable and fun to make at home.
Ingredients
- 4¼ cups water, divided
- ¼ cup white tapioca pearls
- 2 tablespoons black tea leaves (or 3–4 tea bags)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup ice cubes
- ¼ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (optional, adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water, add tapioca pearls, and cook until they float. Simmer for 25 minutes, then cover and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Boil another 2 cups of water, remove from heat, add black tea, and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and chill.
- Boil remaining ¼ cup of water, add brown sugar, and stir until dissolved. Add cooked pearls and stir to coat. Let cool in syrup for 15 minutes.
- Divide syrup-coated pearls between 2 glasses. Add chilled tea, ice cubes, milk, and sweetened condensed milk.
- Stir gently and serve immediately with wide straws.
Notes
- Use quick-cooking tapioca pearls for faster prep—follow package instructions.
- Swap black tea for jasmine, oolong, or green tea for variation.
- Make dairy-free by using plant-based milk and condensed milk alternatives.
- Store leftover pearls in syrup for up to 1 day, reheat gently before use.
- Adjust sweetness by reducing brown sugar or omitting condensed milk.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Boiling, Steeping, Mixing
- Cuisine: Taiwanese-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
