This craft is available as the second take-n-make kit for teens participating in the Teen Summer Reading Challenge. ( Ages 13-20). Registration is required and that opened on June 9th. Once they are gone, they are gone! Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSew0_VmOA_4rNMQcx0VuPoSxKZcjZxOuH5F1-XS2jv7mLYsow/viewform?usp=sf_link or stop in at the library to register. For anyone else wanting to make their own bubble tea using their own materials, the instructions are as follows, which include what was in our kits, and how to make it with your own supplies:
Bubble Tea, also known as pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, or boba tea, is a drink that was made popular in Taiwan in the 1980s. It has become a fun and popular drink in the US in the past few years. Bubble tea drinks come in a wide variety of flavors, from traditional tea with milk to tea with juice or fruit smoothies. Drinks can be enjoyed hot or iced. The defining feature of bubble tea is the addition of chewy “pearls” made of tapioca starch.
The kit we used was prepackaged with one milk and tea powder packet, 1 straw, and 1 package of tapioca pearls. The kit has enough to make 1 serving of matcha bubble tea. Adding sugar and milk is up to you! If you would like to create more bubble tea uncooked tapioca pearls can be purchased at many local Asian markets or online retailers.
Note: This kit requires the use of a stove or microwave! Please make sure you have permission and/or supervision from your parents/guardian to use those before you make your bubble tea!
Materials needed to complete project
Included in kit ( You will need to purchase these items if you are making it on your own) :
- 1 wide bubble tea straws
- 1 serving of uncooked tapioca pearls
- 1 packet of matcha tea milk powder
- Extra goodies we included:
- Cheddar gold fish snacks
- 1 charging cable buddy for your phone, tablet, or headphones
- 1 book
Not included in kit:
- Kettle/saucepan and a mug OR large microwave-safe mug to make tea
- Saucepan with a lid OR microwave-safe mug to cook tapioca pearls
- Colander to drain the tapioca pearls
- Spoon
- Sugar or other sweetener (optional)
- Milk of your choice (optional)
- Ice (optional)
- Cup to drink it from
Instructions:
Brew your tea
(Note: If you want your finished drink to be cold, make your tea first. If you want your finished drink to be warm, cook your tapioca pearls first and make your tea second.)
Stovetop method:
- If you have permission to use the stove, boil water in a kettle or in a saucepan.
- Add milk tea powder in a large mug.
- While you wait for the water to boil, put your unopened bag of tapioca pearls in another heat-safe container.
- After the kettle starts whistling or the water is boiling, pour the boiling water into the container with the tapioca pearls and let sit for 1 minute. Then add boiling water into your mug with the powder. (Leave a little room at the top for the tapioca pearls and some additional liquid)
- Stir well while you wait for the pearls to be ready.
- Add contents of the tapioca boba bag into your tea powder mug. Then add a splash of hot water, iced water, or milk depending on if you want your final drink hot or cold, or extra creamy.
- Enjoy!
Microwave Method for if using a prepackaged kit like the one we used:
- Pour hot water in a cup leaving room at the top. Add milk tea powder and stir well.
- Add contents of tapioca boba bag into Step 1 and stir well. Heat in the microwave 20-30 seconds.
- Pour any additional hot water, cold water, or milk, depending on if you want your final drink hot or cold, or extra creamy.
- Enjoy!
If you liked this project and enjoyed the drink, you can recreate it by buying bulk tapioca pearls online or at a local Asian Market section of a grocery store. For the tea, any bagged black or green will do! Just steep the bags in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Then remove and your cooked pearls following the directions below. Or type in “boba kit” online and find premade kits like the ones used in this project.
Special note if you go on to buy your own tapioca pearls to make more:
Cook the tapioca pearls
Stovetop method:
- If you have permission to use the stove, fill a saucepan with 6-8 cups of water, and put it on the stove on high heat.
- Measure out the amount of tapioca pearls that you want to cook. Most bubble tea drinks use about 1/4 cup of tapioca pearls.
- Once the water is boiling, put your measured amount of tapioca pearls in the boiling water. Stir the bubbles with a spoon to keep them from sticking together.
- Once the pearls float to the top of the water, lower the heat of the stove to medium, put the lid on the saucepan and let the pearls cook for about 5 minutes.
- At this point, you can start checking the pearls for your preferred doneness by scooping out one and (carefully!) chewing it. If you like your pearls a little chewier, turn off the heat and proceed to the next step. If you like them a little softer, let the water boil for another 2-3 minutes and check them again.
- When your tapioca pearls are at your preferred doneness, remove the saucepan from the heat and drain the pearls into a colander. Rinse with cold water.
- If you want your pearls and finished drink to be sweet, put the warm tapioca pearls in a bowl and stir in a couple of spoonfuls of plain sugar, brown sugar, honey, or other sweetener. Let them sit while you assemble the rest of your drink ingredients.
Microwave method:
(Note: microwave tapioca pearls usually turn out a little chewier. If you prefer your pearls on the soft side, use the stove.)
- In a microwave-safe mug, pour in 3/4 cup of water.
- Microwave water on high for about 3 minutes. Take the mug of boiling water out of the microwave (Careful! It’s hot!)
- Pour 1/4 cup of tapioca pearls in the hot water.
- Put the mug with water and tapioca pearls back in the microwave and microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Take the mug out of the microwave and cover with a plate for 1 minute.
- Drain the pearls into a colander, rinse with cold water.
- If you want your pearls and finished drink to be sweet, put the warm tapioca pearls in a bowl and stir in a couple of spoonfuls of plain sugar, brown sugar, honey, or other sweetener.
Assemble your drink
- Using a spoon, put the tapioca pearls at the bottom of your cup.
- Pour in your prepared tea in your cup on top of the pearls.
- Add your ice and milk if you choose to have either.
- Put in your straw, give everything a stir, and enjoy your tea!
Cooked tapioca pearls need special storage, otherwise they get hard and unappetizing. If you have extra cooked tapioca pearls, they can be stored in sugar syrup for 1-2 days. Make sugar syrup by boiling 1/2 cup of water on the stove or in the microwave. Add in 1/2 cup of sugar, and stir until dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool. Put the pearls and syrup in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Uncooked tapioca pearls can be kept in an airtight container for 1-2 months.