This Hot Bubble Milk Tea is a delicious drink perfect to enjoy during the colder months! It features aromatic black tea, creamy plant milk, and chewy brown sugar boba pearls. Just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes needed!
If you're an avid bubble tea drinker, you know that it's most often served cold with plenty of ice cubes and cold tea.
But did you know that you can as easily make hot bubble tea? And it's even quicker since you don't have to wait for the steeped tea to cool down.
This way you don't have to compromise between being warm and enjoying your favorite drink during the winter months.
For more bubble tea recipes, check out my Chocolate Bubble Tea, Oreo Bubble Tea, and Strawberry Bubble Tea Smoothie.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Texture heaven. Picture this: creamy plant milk, chewy tapioca pearls, and aromatic black tea come together into one delicious drink!
- Customizable. The best part about making bubble tea at home is you get to control the sugar level and adjust it to your personal preference.
- Made with 4 ingredients. The only specialty ingredient you'll need is the brown sugar boba, which is available to order online on Amazon or you can buy it from your local Asian grocery store.
- Cost-effective. Treat yourself without breaking the bank! Making hot boba tea at home is a budget-friendly alternative to going to bubble tea shops.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Tapioca pearls (boba): You can always make your own boba from scratch, but for convenience, I recommend using quick-cooking brown sugar boba.
- Plant-based milk: Use your favorite unsweetened plant milk such as oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, etc.
- Sweetener: I use my brown sugar syrup for boba, but if you can't be bothered to make it, maple syrup or agave syrup can also work.
- Black tea: This is traditional, but you can also use your favorite herbal tea instead. Continue reading to find out my tips on the best tea to use!
- Water: To steep the black tea.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
Variations
- Vanilla tea: Either use sweetened vanilla milk or add ½ - 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to your drink.
- Lavender milk tea: Use lavender tea instead of black tea, or use lavender syrup as a sweetener.
- Chai milk tea: Use a chai blend instead of black tea, or make your own masala chai.
- Pumpkin spice: Add ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and ½ cup of my pumpkin puree without oven.
- Caramel milk tea: Instead of brown sugar syrup, use caramel simple syrup.
- Coffee milk tea: Use a shot of espresso instead of the hot tea.
- Taro milk tea: Use 2 tablespoon of taro powder and whisk it with the milk using a frother or a whisk.
- Make it richer: Instead of using plant milk, use light coconut milk from a can or a non-dairy creamer. Keep in mind that coconut milk will give the drink a coconut-y flavor.
How To Make Hot Bubble Milk Tea (Boba)
Step 1: Start by steeping your black tea in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Make sure to follow the tea's packaging instructions for best results.
When the tea is ready, remove the tea bags and set aside.
Step 2: In a small pot, add water and bring it to a boil. Add the pearls and cook over medium heat following the packaging instructions.
Step 3: Then, drain and add to a small bowl. Coat with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup.
TIP: To prevent sticking, coat the pearls with the syrup immediately after draining them.
Step 4: Warm the milk in a saucepan until it reaches 140ºF (60ºC), or until it's warm enough to your liking.
Step 5: Assemble the hot bubble tea by adding the tapioca balls at the bottom, then pour your warm milk.
Step 6: Top it off with your hot black tea. Stir to incorporate all of the ingredients and enjoy!
👩🏼🍳 Petra's Tips
- Cook the tapioca pearls according to packaging instructions. The cooking time may differ based on the brand, so I can't give you exact instructions. Make sure to follow the packaging notes to avoid overcooking your boba.
- Serve with freshly cooked tapioca pearls. Their texture changes after a few hours, so they're not suitable for cooking ahead of time.
- Adjust the sweetness to taste. Start with 2 tablespoon of sweetener and go up from there if needed. I find that 2 tablespoon is perfect for me, as I don't like my bubble milk tea too sweet.
- Don't use a boba straw! Drinking a hot liquid with a straw can cause burning, so it's best to use a small spoon to scoop the tapioca pearls.
Hot Boba FAQs
Absolutely! In the colder months, you can enjoy boba tea warm or hot, with no need for ice.
Yes, this recipe uses black tea which does have caffeine. However, it's still less caffeine than a cup of coffee, and you can always reduce it by using a different kind of tea like chamomile or jasmine tea.
Yes, they're the same thing. Boba pearls are made from tapioca starch, hence why they're sometimes called tapioca pearls.
Yes, boba is naturally gluten-free. However, it's important to be aware of the other ingredients added to bubble milk tea. Oat milk, for example, sometimes contains gluten.
Best Types of Tea To Use
- Black tea: This is the traditional tea used in boba tea, and in my opinion, it's the best option.
- Earl Grey: This is a black tea flavored with bergamot oil, which gives it a unique citrusy aroma and flavor. If you like bergamot, you'll love boba with Earl Grey tea.
- Matcha: Similar to my oat milk matcha latte, you first need to whisk the matcha with hot water, and then assemble the boba tea as mentioned in the recipe.
- Green tea: Green tea is a popular and refreshing choice as a base for boba tea. Steep it similarly to black tea, following the packing instructions.
- White tea: It has a delicate and mild flavor, which can provide a light and refreshing alternative to the more robust taste of black or green tea. Check the packing instructions for preparation.
Storage & Freezing
I highly recommend serving this hot boba fresh, right after you cook the tapioca pearls.
The only thing you can make ahead of time is the black tea. Brew it following the packing directions, then let it cool and transfer to a mason jar. Store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
This recipe is also not freezer-friendly.
More Boba Recipes
If you tried this Hot Bubble Milk Tea or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
📖 Recipe
Hot Bubble Milk Tea (Boba)
Ingredients
- 2 black tea bags
- 2 ½ cups water
- ½ heaping cup tapioca pearls
- 2-4 tablespoon brown sugar syrup add more if you like it sweeter
- 1 cup plant milk of choice I use soy milk
Instructions
- Start by steeping your black tea in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Make sure to follow the tea's packaging instructions for best results. When the tea is ready, remove the tea bags and set aside.2 black tea bags, 2 ½ cups water
- In a small pot, add water and bring it to a boil. Add the pearls and cook over medium heat following the packaging instructions.½ heaping cup tapioca pearls
- Then, drain and add to a small bowl. Coat with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup.2-4 tablespoon brown sugar syrup
- Warm the milk in a saucepan until it reaches 140ºF (60ºC), or until it's warm to your liking.1 cup plant milk of choice
- Assemble the hot bubble tea by adding the tapioca pearls at the bottom, then pour your warm milk. Top it off with your hot black tea. Stir to incorporate all of the ingredients and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.
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