Spotting a kit for making bubble tea at home, I decided to give it a go as one of my fifty-two new things in the year.
I’d only ever seen bubble tea available as a pre-made drink. I was dubious about how well this would turn out.
Bubble Tea Origins
The Taiwanese introduced us to the world of bubble tea, (also known as boba tea), in the 1980s. It’s so ubiquitous with the country that on 30th April, they celebrate National Bubble Tea Day there.
It grew in popularity across East and Southeast Asia, and is now available in a majority of countries around the world.
What Is Bubble Tea?
If you’ve not heard of bubble tea before, you’ve probably guessed it’s got tea in it, but there are a huge amount of variations in it.
- The tea part, is usually made with black, green, or oolong tea, (although others can be used). It is sometimes made with milk, and sometimes without.
- Sugar, or different flavoured syrups are generally added to sweeten the tea.
- The bubbles are most commonly either tapioca pearls, or popping boba pearls. The difference is;
Tapioca pearls are dark in colour and made using tapioca starch which comes from the cassava root, (it’s a bit like a potato), which is cooked with honey or sugar. The texture is a bit like a slightly chewy jelly sweet.
Popping boba pearls are often lighter in colour. When you read about how they’re made it sounds like a science experiment; sodium alginate, calcium chloride and fruit juice are combined in a process known as spherification. This results in little pearls which release an explosion of flavour when they burst in your mouth. It’s an extraordinary experience – in a good way!
What Does Bubble Tea Taste Like?
It really depends on the flavours you pick as to how it will taste. You’ll find an abundance of options and combinations available.
I’m yet to try a milk based bubble tea, but the fruit ones I’ve sampled have been deliciously refreshing, and the mix of the sweetened tea and popping boba creates some incredible flavours.
Making Bubble Tea At Home
Whilst there are many recipes to follow to make the drink completely from scratch, (including making the boba pearls), for my first attempt at making bubble tea, I used a Bubbleology kit which I picked up from a high street shop.
Containing all of the ingredients, I set about making the mango flavoured tea with lychee popping boba. The instructions were really straightforward.
- Put the jasmine tea bag into 100ml of boiling water. I did this in a jug first as I wasn’t sure how heat proof my glass was.
- Stir in the mango syrup.
- Pour in the boba balls.
- Top it up with 220ml of cold water.
I then poured the mixture into a tall glass and added some ice cubes.
Ridiculously Refreshing
Using the oversized paper straw included in the kit, I took my first sip of the tea. The straws are bigger than average to allow you to suck up those big juicy bubbles.
I don’t really like jasmine tea, but it wasn’t particularly identifiable through the other flavours. Instead, it was sweet, and surprisingly it actually tasted of mango. I say surprisingly, as I’ve tried other syrups which taste very synthetic and nothing like the intended fruit.
The bubbles were just joyous! Gently bursting one on the roof of my mouth with my tongue, it was like an intensely juicy flavour explosion. Delicious!
I didn’t have high hopes for the kit, but it delivered a ridiculously refreshing and fruity drink.
Why You Should Try Making Bubble Tea
If you’ve never had bubble tea before, you should definitely try it; it’s a fun sensation.
It’s really easy to make your own, and using a kit means it’s quick and easy.
Why not try making it if you’ve got children? It’s really easy for them to get involved in the making, and they’ll love the sensation of drinking it too.
Will I Be Making Bubble Tea Again?
It’s not a drink that I regularly have, but, as I love to try things I might have a go at making it entirely from scratch one day.
As for the kit, I certainly see myself making one of these again, for a deliciously thirst quenching fruity drink on a hot summers day.
Want To Try It Yourself?
- To try making the same bubble tea that I did, you’ll need to use a Bubbleology single kit. You can order them directly from their website, and you can find them in several high street shops in the UK.
- Some of the other places you can find kits online include Tempo Tea Bar, Bubble Panda, and The Tea Shed.
Cost Of Experience
- I paid £2.29 for the single kit, which made a big glass full.
- Prices will depend on where you buy your kit, and how many drinks the kit can make.
Recommendations
- Get creative. Now I’ve made one, there are plenty of ideas of how to mix things up a little. The Bubbleology website encourages experimentation. Try it with lemonade; use your own favourite blend of tea; or perhaps try one warm?
- Serve a drink with a difference. Why not serve up a bubble tea at your next event?
- Bubble As A Gift. The single kits make a great stocking filler gift idea
- Cheers! Let me know how you get on and what you think if you decide to give it a try.
I love bubble tea, and that’s great you got a kit to make it yourself! The mango flavor does sound tasty!
It was sooooooo delicious. I’m definitely going to make it again in the summer!
Thank you for commenting,
Sally :o)