How to Make Bubble Tea (Easy Boba Milk Tea Recipe)

Boil 20 minutes. Add the water to a 5-quart pot, and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the tapioca pearls and boil for 20 minutes. They will float to the top fairly early in the cooking process; when this happens give them a stir. After boiling for 20 minutes, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid, and then rinse and drain the boba.

Soak 20 minutes. Put the boba back into the pot. Stir in the reserved 1 1/2 cups of cooking liquid and the brown sugar. Cover the pot and let the boba steep/soak for 20 minutes. Drain the boba except for 2 tablespoons of the liquid (this small amount of liquid will help prevent the pearls from sticking together).

While the boba is cooking, make the tea. Add the water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove the water from the heat and add the tea bags. Let the tea steep until it cools to room temperature, and then remove the tea bags.

Divide the ice between 4 glasses, and then add 1/4 of the cooled tea, simple syrup, and half and half to each glass. Top each with 1/2 cup of boba. Serve immediately.