Coconut-Mango Bubble Tea with Homemade Boba Pearls

( 4 servings)

Sometimes I feel as if I'm living in cocoon. There's been this bubble tea craze happening and I didn't even know about it! I checked and there are actually several places that serve this tasty drink right here in Dallas! Frankly I'm a bit surprised Starbucks hasn't jumped in on the bandwagon, heck in Germany and Austria, McDonalds has been serving this beverage since last summer!

This Taiwanese tea-based drink originated in the 80's. Initially it was just cold tea, sometimes infused with fruit or fruit juice. Later someone added tapioca balls to the mix. Sometimes these balls are white but more frequently they are black, made from a mixture of tapioca, sweet potato, brown sugar. This drink is often served with a special large straw so you can slurp up the tapioca balls as you enjoy your beverage.

Bubble tea is available in a variety of flavors ranging from white or green teas to milk infused dark tea combined with fruit or syrups such as durian or lavender. I tried an avocado flavored bubble tea at the Asian mall. It was smooth and creamy like a milkshake. For my first attempt at creating this tasty beverage at home I tried this version which tasted more like iced tea flavored with juice and coconut milk.

I found the big straws at the Asian supermarket, but when I looked for the boba pearls I was disappointed by all of the extra chemicals and artificial colors listed as ingredients. I ended up making the balls myself. I found a great tutorial online.

green tea boba balls
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1/2 tsp green tea powder, (optional; I added this for color)
1/2 cup boiling water, give or take

1 cup mango juice

Combine the starch and tea if using in a small bowl. Make a well in the centre and slowly add the boiling water while stirring. Stop when the mixture forms into a ball; you might not have to use all of the water. Knead the ball a few times.

Pinch off small pieces and form into small balls the size of petite peas. Err on the small side, otherwise you won't be able to suck them up with your straw. Dust with tapioca starch to keep them from sticking to each other.

Allow the balls to dry for a couple of hours.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and drop in the balls. Stir until they begin to rise to the surface, then allow them to simmer another 5-10 minutes. The tutorial suggested 20-30 minutes, but mine were done sooner. Try one after 5 minutes; it should be soft and chewy.

Remove the pearls from the pot with a slotted spoon and place into a small bowl. Pour the *mango juice over the pearls and allow them to cool. *Traditionally a sugar syrup is used here in place of the juice.

bubble tea
2 cups strongly brewed tea, cooled (any flavor you like; I used English Breakfast)
1 cup coconut milk
12 regular ice cubes
4 big bubble tea straws (I found mine at an Asian market)
liquid honey, optional

Divide the cooled boba balls and juice between 4 tall glasses. Add 1/2 a cup of chilled tea to each glass, then add 1/4 cup of coconut milk to each. Finish with 3 ice cubes per glass.

Serve with the big straws. Pass around the honey and enjoy!