bubble tea

Bubble Tea

Jar of tapioca balls with sweetened
    syrup (usually in brown or red)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
    (preferably Longevity Brand)
Tea - Chinese tea, such as Oolong or
    Black, or Japanese Green Tea
3 teaspoons granulated sugar
Pot of boiling water

For a single serving, use a quarter cup of tapioca balls. For servings of two or three, use half the jar. Use the entire jar for family servings.

Pour desired amount from the jar into a strainer so that all the syrup separates from the tapioca balls. Bring a pot of water to boil. Once the water starts boiling, put in the tapioca balls. Add 3 teaspoons of sugar (so that the tapioca balls have a softer yet chewier texture). Let the tapioca balls boil for about 5 minutes. Bring the pot to simmer for 3 minutes. Then drain and rinse in cold water using the strainer. Leave it in the strainer. Prepare a pot of tea.

Afterwards, open sweetened condensed milk and pour about a tablespoon into a 12 ounce glass. (For single servings, use about a tablespoon of condensed milk, as this stuff is really thick and sweet. For larger servings, add to taste.) Refrigerate unused sweetened condensed milk after opening. Add about 8 ounces of tea to the glass of condensed milk. Mix until the condensed milk has fully dissolved into the tea. From the strainer, pour the tapioca balls into the glass of milk and tea. Drink through a large diameter straw.

bubble tea

Bubble Tea

1/2 cup chilled, cooked large Chinese tapioca pearls
    (if substituting regular small tapioca, use 1/3 cup)
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup very strong chilled black tea (or orange pekoe
    tea or Chinese litchi tea)
1 cup milk, or to taste
Honey or sugar, to taste

Place the pearls in a large parfait glass. Combine all remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker, and shake vigorously until the mixture is frothy. Pour into the glass, and serve with large-diameter straw. Yields 1 (16 ounce) drink.

Variations
Prepare the tapioca pearls by adding with sugar to boiling water and simmer briefly; use a blender; add various flavorings (coffee, almond, etc.); use sweetened condensed milk; use green tea, etc.