Taiwanese Bubble Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A refreshing sweet milk tea with chewy tapioca pearls, combining black tea, creamy milk, and brown sugar syrup in classic Taiwanese style. This Taiwanese-inspired dessert recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, brings together black tea leaves, water, tapioca pearls for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 250 calories and feeds 2, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 2 Taiwanese cuisine 250 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add 3 tbsp black tea leaves and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and set tea aside to cool.
  2. Step 2: In a separate pot, bring water to boil and add 1/2 cup tapioca pearls. Cook pearls for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they float and become tender but chewy.
  3. Step 3: Drain tapioca pearls and immediately toss with 1/3 cup brown sugar while still hot to create a sweet syrup coating.
  4. Step 4: Fill a tall glass halfway with ice cubes (about 1 cup). Add 1/4 cup of the brown sugar-coated tapioca pearls.
  5. Step 5: Pour in 1 cup cooled black tea followed by 1 cup whole milk. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
  6. Step 6: Serve with a wide straw to enjoy the chewy pearls with creamy sweet tea.

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