How to Make Bubble Tea at Home with Popping Boba

Bubble tea doesn't have to be a café treat. With popping boba and a good iced tea base, you can make it at home in about five minutes, with no cooking at all.

Popping boba vs tapioca pearls

• Popping boba are small spheres of fruit-flavoured juice inside a thin, soft skin. They burst in your mouth and are ready to use straight from the jar.
• Tapioca pearls are chewy balls made from cassava starch. They need to be cooked before use, then give that classic chewy bite.

Popping boba is the quickest way to start. Tapioca is great when you want the traditional chewy texture.

What you need (1 glass)

• 2–3 tablespoons popping boba
• Iced tea premix, as per pack instructions, or 200 ml chilled brewed tea
• Ice cubes
• A wide straw

Method

1. Spoon the popping boba into the bottom of a tall glass.
2. Add a handful of ice.
3. Mix the iced tea premix with cold water as directed on the pack, or pour in chilled brewed tea.
4. Pour over the ice, stir gently and serve with a wide straw.

Flavour pairings to try

• Peach iced tea + strawberry popping boba: fruity and summery.
• Lemon iced tea + passion fruit popping boba: bright and tangy.
• Mango iced tea + mango popping boba: double mango for mango lovers.
• Plain chilled green tea + lychee popping boba: light and floral.

Tips

• Keep opened popping boba refrigerated and use within the time on the pack.
• Add the boba last if serving kids, so they can see the colours.
• Use a wide straw so the pearls come up easily.