Brown Sugar Bubble Tea with Tapioca Pearls

This is the drink that made Taiwan world-famous on Instagram: a tall glass with dark tiger stripes of brown sugar syrup painted down the inside, and a base of soft, chewy tapioca pearls. It’s somewhere between a cup of tea and a dessert. The pearls are steeped in a thick syrup until they become shiny and caramel-like, then topped with cold milk and a strong Taiwanese tea. You don't need a machine or special equipment, just a pot and a little patience.

• Cuisine: Taiwanese
• Time: 30-45 minutes
• Servings: 2 large glasses
• Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Bring plenty of water to a boil in a pot. Add the dried black tapioca pearls and stir gently to prevent them from sticking to the bottom.
2. Cook the pearls according to the package instructions – typically 20-30 minutes – and let them steep covered for an additional 15 minutes. They should be completely transparent without a white core in the middle.
3. Strain the pearls and rinse them quickly in cold water to stop the cooking process.
4. Melt brown sugar or muscovado with a little water in a small pot until it forms a thick syrup. Toss the warm pearls in the syrup and let them steep for 5-10 minutes to absorb the sweetness.
5. Brew a strong cup of Taiwanese or Thai tea, preferably double the normal strength, and let it cool.
6. Divide the pearls and syrup between two tall glasses. Rotate the glass while scraping the syrup up the sides with a spoon – this is how the classic stripes are created.
7. Fill the glass with ice cubes, pour in the cooled tea, and top with cold milk. For the café version, stir in a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk.
8. Serve immediately with a wide straw so you can slurp up the pearls.

Tips

• Tapioca pearls are best enjoyed the same day they are cooked. In the refrigerator, they become hard and mealy, so only make what you will drink.
• For a rich, creamy café version, use sweetened condensed milk or a good oat drink with cream instead of regular low-fat milk.
• Brew the tea extra strong – it will be diluted by both ice and milk, and a weak tea will completely disappear in the sweetness.
• Be careful not to overcook the pearls if you have already let them steep. If they are overcooked, they will disintegrate and lose their chewiness.