Boba Tea Hack with Condensed Milk (Printable)

Creamy homemade boba tea with instant pearls and sweetened condensed milk ready in 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:

01 - Cook instant tapioca pearls according to package directions, boiling for 3-5 minutes until soft 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 tea to cool slightly.
03 - Combine brewed tea, sweetened condensed milk, and cold milk in a pitcher or large bowl. Stir until fully incorporated and creamy.
04 - Divide cooked tapioca pearls between two large glasses. Add ice cubes to each glass, then pour milk tea mixture over pearls and ice.
05 - Stir thoroughly before drinking. Serve with large straws to accommodate tapioca pearls.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweetened condensed milk creates this impossibly smooth, velvety texture that puts regular milk tea to shame
  • You can have authentic tasting bubble tea in under ten minutes without hunting down specialized ingredients
02 -
  • The pearls harden quickly if they sit too long after cooking, so time them so they are ready right when you are about to assemble the drinks
  • Stir the condensed milk into the hot tea first, then add the cold milk, otherwise the sweetener does not dissolve completely
03 -
  • Use the widest straw you can find because there is nothing more frustrating than getting your perfect pearl to the straw and it will not fit through
  • Let the milk tea mixture chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving if you want the flavors to really meld together
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