Description
A refreshing and fruity Strawberry Bubble Tea with homemade strawberry puree, chewy tapioca pearls, and creamy milk tea.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup dried tapioca pearls (black or clear)
- 8 cups water, for boiling
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, for syrup
- 1/4 cup water, for syrup
- 4 cups water
- 4 black tea bags (or 4 tablespoons loose leaf black tea)
- 2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy, your choice!)
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (adjust to taste)
- Ice cubes
- Whipped cream
- Fresh strawberry slices
- Strawberry syrup
Instructions
- Wash and hull the strawberries, then cut them into smaller pieces.
- In a blender or food processor, combine the strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice.
- Blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed.
- (Optional) Strain through a fine-mesh sieve for an extra smooth puree.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil in a large pot.
- Carefully add the dried tapioca pearls.
- Once the pearls float, reduce heat to medium and simmer for the time specified on the package (usually 10-15 minutes), stirring occasionally.
- Turn off heat, cover, and let steep for another 10-15 minutes.
- While steeping, prepare the brown sugar syrup: combine brown sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved and syrup thickens slightly (3-5 minutes).
- Drain and rinse the pearls under cold water.
- Transfer the cooked pearls to the brown sugar syrup and stir to coat. Let soak until ready to assemble.
- Bring 4 cups of water to a near boil.
- Place tea bags (or loose leaf tea in an infuser) into the hot water. Steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove tea bags/infuser, squeezing out excess liquid.
- Allow the tea to cool to room temperature (refrigerate to speed up).
- Spoon tapioca pearls (with some syrup) into the bottom of each glass.
- Add a layer of strawberry puree on top of the pearls.
- Fill the glasses with ice cubes.
- In a separate pitcher, combine milk and sweetened condensed milk. Stir well.
- Pour the milk mixture over the ice in each glass.
- Gently pour the cooled black tea over the milk mixture.
- Stir gently to combine layers.
- (Optional) Top with whipped cream, fresh strawberry slices, and strawberry syrup.
- Serve immediately with a wide straw.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness to your liking by modifying the sugar in the puree and the sweetened condensed milk.
- Experiment with other fruits like raspberries, blueberries, or mangoes.
- Try different teas like green tea, oolong tea, or herbal teas.
- Make it vegan by using non-dairy milk and vegan sweetened condensed milk.
- Prepare the puree, pearls, and tea ahead of time and store separately in the refrigerator.
- Bubble tea is best enjoyed immediately, but leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- Add a splash of vanilla extract, almond extract, or rose water to the milk tea for a unique flavor twist.
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best taste.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice in the strawberry puree.
- Get creative with toppings like mochi, pudding, or boba ice cream.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes