Decadent Chocolate Bubble Tea
This decadent chocolate bubble tea is made with easy-to-find ingredients and has maximum flavor. It is a super easy, affordable, and forgiving recipe that you definitely need to try out yourself!
Bubble tea is so popular these days that I just couldn’t resist making my own homemade version.
The thing I love about this recipe is that it’s super adjustable! You can adjust the amount of boba, type of milk, and sweetness levels to suit your taste, plus it is much cheaper than store-bought boba.
What Is Bubble Tea?
Bubble tea (a.k.a. boba tea) is a Taiwanese recipe made by blending tea with milk, fruit, and juices, then adding tapioca pearls and shaking vigorously.
Bubble tea has raged in popularity all across the globe in the past decade, but it has been a favorite in countries like China since the 1980s!
What Is Boba?
The boba (or bubbles) that you find in milk tea are yummy tapioca pearls that sit at the bottom of the glass.
There are two main types of boba, classic tapioca boba and popping boba. Let’s learn more about them!
Tapioca Boba
Tapioca boba is made of starch and is commonly referred to as pearls. Most tapioca pearls are black, but some versions are white and transparent.
Traditionally, boba pearls are found at the bottom of the cup and are very chewy. Their consistency is like a mix of chewing gum and Jell-O, and they can be enjoyed at all times of the day.
Boba pearls are usually coated with brown or muscovado sugar. You can also add some cocoa powder when making this at home to turn them into a chocolatey delicacy!
Popping Boba
Fruit-based milk teas can be paired with a variety of toppings, but are most commonly ordered with popping boba.
Popping boba is an edible, often fruit-filled sphere that has a gel-like skin that bursts with flavor when squeezed (hence the name).
Unlike classic boba (which is solid and chewy), popping boba is made of seaweed extract, calcium compounds, fruit juice, water, and sweetener.
Why Is Bubble Tea So Popular?
If you are wondering why all the hype about bubble tea, here are my thoughts:
- Boba tea offers a unique beverage experience. The drinking experience is like no other. Which other drink offers a combo of delicious liquid and bursting or chewy pearls?
- The variety of flavors is extraordinary. Bubble tea is served with either a milk base or a fruit base. Some bubble tea flavors are unique and taste like nothing on the market!
- Boba tea is very visually appealing. Boba or bubble tea has become popular in part because many customers share it on their social media pages, showing their friends and followers the uniqueness of the drink, they bought.
Essential Ingredients For Decadent Chocolate Bubble Tea
- Milk. I used almond milk, but feel free to use any favorite milk: coconut, oat, or dairy.
- Hot Chocolate Mix. This will give an amazing flavor. If you do not have a hot chocolate mix, you can use cocoa powder.
- Tapioca Pearls. Any tapioca pearls will do; you can find these in your local Asian supermarket or order online. You can also make them at home!
- Sugar. You can use regular sugar, brown sugar, or any liquid sweeteners available.
How To Make Homemade Boba Pearls
Making boba pearls is easier than you think. You just need some tapioca starch, muscovado sugar, and water.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar (with some extra for coating boba)
- ¼ cup water
- 4 oz tapioca starch
Instructions
1. Place the sugar and water in a saucepot. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil.
2. Stir 2 tbsp of tapioca starch into the mixture. Whisk to completely dissolve the starch, then gradually whisk in the rest of the tapioca starch. Stir quickly and constantly until you have a smooth dough.
3. Transfer the dough onto a clean working surface and knead until there are no traces of the tapioca starch.
4. Cut a small piece of the dough and shape it into boba pearls. Keep the remaining dough under plastic wrap so it does not dry out.
Notes
- Shaping boba into pearls can be a long, arduous process, especially if you want them perfect. Still, I have found an easier way thanks to a tool commonly used by fishermen: the carp boilies maker.
- With this tool, you just have to shape the dough into thin strips, place it into a carp boilies maker, and roll back and forward until you have perfect boba balls!
- The carp boilies maker comes in different sizes, so you can choose a smaller or larger one that will give the different sizes of the balls.
Homemade Boba Pearls
Making boba pearls is easier than you think. You just need some tapioca starch, muscovado sugar, and water!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup brown sugar (with some extra for coating boba)
- ¼ cup water
- 4 oz tapioca starch
Instructions
- Place the sugar and water in a saucepot. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Stir 2 tbsp of tapioca starch into the mixture. Whisk to completely dissolve the starch, then gradually whisk in the rest of the tapioca starch. Stir quickly and constantly until you have a smooth dough.
- Transfer the dough onto a clean working surface and knead until there are no traces of the tapioca starch.
- Cut a small piece of the dough and shape it into boba pearls. Keep the remaining dough under plastic wrap so it does not dry out.
Notes
- Shaping boba into pearls can be a long, arduous process, especially if you want them perfect. Still, I have found an easier way thanks to a tool commonly used by fishermen: the carp boilies maker.
- With this tool, you just have to shape the dough into thin strips, place it into a carp boilies maker, and roll back and forward until you have perfect boba balls!
- The carp boilies maker comes in different sizes, so you can choose a smaller or larger one that will give the different sizes of the balls.
Decadent Chocolate Bubble Tea
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 1 cup boba pearls
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 5 tbsp hot chocolate mix
- 2/3 cup hot water
- 2 cups almond milk (or milk of choice)
Instructions
1. Make the boba; add tapioca pearls to a pot full of hot water. Let simmer for 5-6 minutes. If you want your pearls to be softer, cook them for longer.
2. Remove the boba pearls from the heat and strain them through a sieve. Coat the boba tea with brown sugar in a small mixing bowl.
3. Make the milk tea; in a mug or a bowl, combine the chocolate mix with hot water and stir until the powder is dissolved.
4. To serve; place tapioca balls in a large glass. Cover the boba with ice, then pour in the hot chocolate. Finally, fill the glass up with milk.
5. Add more sweetener if desired and serve.
Decadent Chocolate Bubble Tea
This decadent chocolate bubble tea is made with easy-to-find ingredients and has maximum flavor. It is a super easy, affordable, and forgiving recipe that you definitely need to try out yourself!
Ingredients
- 1 cup boba pearls
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 5 tbsp hot chocolate mix
- 2/3 cup hot water
- 2 cups almond milk (or milk of choice)
Instructions
1. Make the boba; add tapioca pearls to a pot full of hot water. Let simmer for 5-6 minutes. If you want your pearls to be softer, cook them for longer.
2. Remove the boba pearls from the heat and strain them through a sieve. Coat the boba tea with brown sugar in a small mixing bowl.
3. Make the milk tea; in a mug or a bowl, combine the chocolate mix with hot water and stir until the powder is dissolved.
4. To serve; place tapioca balls in a large glass. Cover the boba with ice, then pour in the hot chocolate. Finally, fill the glass up with milk.
5. Add more sweetener if desired and serve.
