Instant Bubble Tea with Condensed Milk (Printable View)

Quick creamy bubble tea made with instant tapioca pearls, black tea, and sweetened condensed milk in just 10 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tapioca Pearls

01 - 1/2 cup quick-cook (instant) tapioca pearls

→ Tea Base

02 - 2 black tea bags (or 2 teaspoons loose leaf black tea)
03 - 1 1/2 cups hot water

→ Sweet & Creamy Additions

04 - 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
05 - 1 cup cold milk (dairy or plant-based)

→ For Serving

06 - 1 cup ice cubes

# How To Make It:

01 - Cook quick-cook tapioca pearls according to package directions, typically boiling for 3-5 minutes until tender and chewy. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
02 - Steep black tea bags in 1 1/2 cups hot water for 3-5 minutes. Remove tea bags and allow the brewed tea to cool slightly before combining with other ingredients.
03 - In a pitcher or large mixing bowl, whisk together the brewed tea, sweetened condensed milk, and cold milk until completely blended and smooth.
04 - Distribute cooked tapioca pearls evenly between two tall glasses. Add ice cubes to each glass, then pour the milk tea mixture over the pearls and ice.
05 - Stir well before drinking and serve immediately with wide straws to accommodate the tapioca pearls.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This bubble tea takes just 10 minutes from start to finish, letting you skip both the cafe lines and the hefty price tag.
  • The sweetened condensed milk creates a silky, indulgent texture that makes store-bought versions seem watery by comparison.
02 -
  • Never rinse the cooked tapioca pearls with cold water or theyll turn hard and unpleasantly crunchy instead of chewy.
  • The sweetened condensed milk needs thorough stirring, or youll end up with unmixed sweet pockets at the bottom of your glass.
03 -
  • Cook a double batch of tapioca pearls and store the extra in simple syrup in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours, making your next boba fix even faster.
  • Brew your tea the night before and refrigerate it for a more developed flavor profile and cooler base that wont melt your ice as quickly.
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