I had my first bubble tea experience during my freshmen year in high school. An upper classman (and yes, it was a boy...so a VERY big deal) took me to THE hip and happening place called Star Snow Ice located on Bellaire, a street in the heart of Chinatown in Houston. And to tell you the truth, I was so preoccupied that I couldn't really enjoy the cold milky liquid and the chewy orbs that were being suctioned into my mouth through the extra large straw. Sure, the boy was pretty darn cute, but he wasn't the only distraction. Just being in a place where baggy pants (Jncos - you were coveted, but I don't miss having to staple you to the right length) and dyed hair were the norm made me feel, well...pretty cool. Oh how I'm glad those silly, insecure days are a distant memory..
From that point on, I became a loyal customer of Star Snow Ice. I don't even want to think about how much $$$ I "invested" in that place. I deserve a plaque! I tried a variety of flavors, but my go-to drink was the humblest of them all - milk tea.
Why the trip down memory lane? Because today is all about tea! This month, the Recipe Reduxers were challenged to share a tea-inspired recipe in honor of the World Tea Expo that's happening at the end of this month. I mostly drink green tea, but I also have a soft spot for chai (my usual at Starbucks: Chai tea latte with soy milk).
So I've decided to share with you this simple and fun recipe for chai coconut bubble tea. First thing's first - Before you do anything else, let's brew a strong cup of tea. At first, I steeped 2 tea bags in 1 cup of boiling water, but that wasn't strong enough. So the next time I tried 4, and it was perfect-0! Feel free to adjust to your liking. You want to cover the cup or pot to allow for the tea to brew to its fullest potential. After about 8-10 minutes, remove the tea bags and allow for the tea to chill for several hours. A very crucial step.
As for the boba (tapioca pearls), I've tried many different methods, but this one seems to work the best for me. The challenge in preparing the pearls is ending up with a soft, chewy texture. You don't want to undercook nor overcook them because dry/hard or mushy pearls will just ruin the experience entirely. I followed this wonderful guide by The Kitchn with some slight modifications. I found that I had to boil and let the pearls sit with the lid on for a longer period of time than suggested.
The pearls are not sweet so it's important to add some kind of sweetener. Instead of making a simple syrup, I chose the more convenient route - sweetened vanilla coconut milk. So there you have it! Not difficult at all, right? I like making bubble teas at home because not only are there so many flavor combinations you can play with, but you can control the amount of sugar that goes into them. FYI - this chai coconut bubble tea is not very sweet, but I think you'll appreciate the rich, warm, and comforting flavor of the chai tea that shines through. Served on ice, it's a light, refreshing beverage for the hot summer days to come!
Susannah says
Okay, just tried this! The tea turned out totally delicious, the sweetness was just right and the steeping time you suggested was absolutely, just perfect. The only problem was the pearls. Keeping in mind I've never made tapioca pearls before now, so it was probably an error on my end, I think I didn't turn the heat down far enough once I put the pearls in. I took one out after the initial 20 minutes and it seemed like letting them soak in the water for 15 more minutes was going to make them too soft, so I tried just letting them soak for 10, but they still came out too soft >.< I also would like to have the pearls soak up more sweetness from the honey. The initial flavor of them is good, but then the honey wears off and then not so much. Awesome recipe though, thanks so much! I'm just going to tweak the way I cook the pearls, but the tea recipe is perfect 🙂
Min says
Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed this tea! Yes, cooking the pearls require some trial and error. The cooking time also depends on the brand that you purchase as well. Have fun experimenting, and I have no doubt that you'll figure out the way to get perfect pearls everytime ;). Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know!
Nichole says
I happened across this on FoodGawker. I've never had bubble tea but am seriously intrigued by the look, and now the sound, of it.
And omg JNCO ... I haven't thought about those in years!! LOL Thank the gods they were a passing phase.
Min says
Hi Nichole! OH bubble tea is really good and fun to eat! Can't what for you to try it soon ;). It comes in many different flavors and the tapioca adds a nice, chewy texture. Haha..oh yes JNCO…I don't know what I was thinking. Sorry, mom, for sweeping the ground everywhere I went.
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says
I love bubble tea - so fun to drink! Love the coconut milk you used in yours.
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
Yes! I've got a pack of this boba in my cabinet right now - definitely going to make this tomorrow morning:)
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Min!!! Omg, you just brought me straight back to my teenage years, where bubble tea was the fever and I'd drink it at least once or twice a week! I loved the chewiness and when cooked well, these pearls are super addictive!! If I ever feel like I need bubble tea... I will use this recipe!!
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I've never had bubble tea! I loved reading about your first experience 😉
Matt Robinson says
I love everything about this, and it's actually way easier than it sounds. Thank you!
Marisa Moore says
Thanks for showing me how to make bubble tea at home! I love all of the flavors so I'm definitely trying it.
EA-The Spicy RD says
So fun! I will confess to never having tried bubble tea before, but your chai version looks delicious, and I love the story behind this post too! BTW, I'm dating myself, but I had to google JNCOS just to see what you were writing about 🙂
ellie @ fit for the soul says
This is too beautiful!!!! I think it's sooo awesome you found a way to make it less calorie-bomb-ish. And it's so funny some people call it bubble tea! I just know it as boba, haha.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
i love bubba tea but making at home - kudos to you! i love the flavor profile here.
Polly @ Tasty Food Project says
I love bubble tea and I love how you came up with a healthy version! I am definitely trying this! 🙂
Wendy Jo says
Love tapioca pearls! Thanks for the simplistic and delicious recipe with beautiful pics, too!
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life says
I'm still not completely sure how I feel about bubble tea. Sometimes I'm gung ho and then other times I'm kind of "meh" about it, but maybe that's because I haven't had yours yet!! I would definitely go the chai tea route too. When in doubt, always choose chai tea. Going to pin this for when the craving hits. P.S. I finally made your salmon cakes with mango sauce the other day (I had to push through the smell of the canned salmon but I made it out alive) and OMG. SO GOOD. I'm thinking I need to make them every week for my Sunday food prep!