DIY Boba Tea Pearls
DIY Boba Tea Pearls are soft, chewy tapioca pearls made from simple ingredients like tapioca starch, brown sugar, and water. Fresh, customizable, and better than store-bought, this easy homemade boba recipe is perfect for milk tea and bubble tea drinks
Servings: 4
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Knife or dough scraper
- Large pot
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup tapioca starch
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup water
Brown Sugar Syrup (Optional but Recommended)
½ | cup | brown sugar
½ | cup | water
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and water. Heat until fully dissolved and simmering.
- Remove from heat and immediately stir in about half of the tapioca starch until sticky.
- Gradually add the remaining starch and knead until a smooth, pliable dough forms.
- Roll dough into thin ropes, cut into small pieces, and roll into small balls. Dust lightly with tapioca starch.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add pearls and stir gently.
- Cook for 20–25 minutes until pearls float. Turn off heat, cover, and rest for 20 minutes.
- Drain and rinse briefly with warm water. Transfer pearls to brown sugar syrup and soak for at least 10 minutes before using.
Notes
- Hot sugar syrup is essential for forming the dough
- Work quickly while dough is warm
- Dust pearls with starch to prevent sticking
- Resting after boiling improves chewiness
- Best used fresh within a few hours
- Keep pearls coated in syrup to stay soft
- Tapioca starch is naturally gluten-free