Thai Tea Boba
Thai tea boba is a delicious drink with boba tapioca pearls added for fun and delicious flavors. The bouncy boba pearls add a playful texture to the vibrant flavors of Thai iced tea (Cha Yen), a popular drink in Thailand. It's a creamy bubble tea with a fun and delightful twist for kids and adults alike! Ready to serve in 20 minutes!
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
- 1 cup tapioca pearls, uncooked.
- 1 tbsp honey or agave. Optional. To use for soaking the tapioca pearls (so they don't stick together) before adding them to a serving glass). Use water for fewer calories.
- 1/2 cup Thai tea powder mixes-Panthai brand. Find these at your local Asian grocery store.
- 3 cup water for steeping tea.
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1-2 tbsp evaporated milk per glass. More as needed.
- 1/4 cup sugar. Adjust as needed for sweetness.
- 1/8 tsp salt. It helps round out the sweetness a bit.
- Ice cubes. Crushed ice is excellent for a fun drink.
Instructions
- 1
according to package instructions. If using the quick-cooking boba pearl (highly recommended), add the pearls to hot water until the balls float to the top of the pot. Strain the pearls over a sieve, then rinse with cold water. Place the pearls in a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of water to keep them from sticking. You can add honey for extra sweetness to the tapioca pearls. Set aside until ready.
- 2
Add Thai tea to the French press. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Then, add water to the French press. Use a spoon to stir in the leaves. Steep the Thai tea for 4-6 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea. Do not steep longer than 10 minutes. The tea can turn bitter if steeping too long. Setting a timer is very helpful.
- 3
While waiting for the water to boil (for steeping the tea), add sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and salt in a heat-safe bowl like a pitcher or glass bowl. Mix with a small spatula or whisk until well combined. Set aside for the tea in a little bit.
- 4
Plunge the French press after your timer goes off. Pour the tea over a tea sock or cheesecloth into the glass bowl with the sweetened condensed milk mixture to strain the tea even more. Whisk well and allow it to cool before mixing it with tapioca pearls.
- 5
. On the stovetop method. Bring 3 cups of water to a soft boil, then turn the heat off, leaving the pot on the stovetop still. Add Thai tea mix to the pot, and stir until all the leaves are submerged. Set a time to steep for 4-6 minutes. After the timer goes off, strain the tea over a tea sock or cheesecloth. Stir the tea in well with the condensed milk mixture.