Chai bubble tea is sweet, creamy, and full of fragrant spiced flavor. Get the secrets to making this 6-ingredient drink and perfect tapioca pearls at home.
- A homemade chai bubble tea that’s ready in 15 minutes.
- Step-by-step instructions on making chai bubble tea using store-bought boba.
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CONTENTS
Homemade Chai Bubble Tea
Full of fragrant spices, chai is a drink from India that’s made by steeping black tea with a medley of spices, including cinnamon, cardamon, ginger, star anise, and black pepper.
Every recipe usually has its own blend and ratio of spices to get the perfect balance. The tea is served with milk and can be enjoyed hot or cold.
This recipe combines an iced chai latte with tapioca pearls to make a rich, decadent bubble tea.
RELATED: Brown Sugar Bubble Tea
Recipe Highlights
- This iced bubble tea is made from 6 ingredients using chai tea bags, milk, brown sugar, tapioca balls, water, and ice.
- Since it is made with black tea, chai bubble tea contains caffeine.
- Store-bought tapioca goes from hard to chewy and bouncy in just a few minutes when cooked in boiling water.
- This recipe makes a 16 ounces (2 cups) drink, so make sure to have a cup that can fit it.
RELATED: Matcha Bubble Tea
Ingredient Notes
- Chai
Chai tea bags are used for a quick cleanup but you can also make the spiced tea from scratch. - Tapioca balls
Store-bought tapioca balls are the easiest way to make bubble tea at home and they’re ready in minutes. - Dark brown sugar
This recipe uses dark brown sugar but any sugar you’d like works. - Milk
Whole milk makes the drink creamier, but plant-based varieties like oat and almond milks can also be used. - Water
Use filtered water for a better tasting drink. - Ice
Make ice using filtered water if possible.
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Step-by-Step Instructions
For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to see the recipe.
- Steep tea bags in hot water.
Strain out tea, stir in brown sugar, and let cool. - Cook tapioca balls in brown sugar and water.
Boil brown sugar in water, then add tapioca balls.
- Put tapioca balls and brown sugar syrup into a cup.
- Add ice.
- Pour in chai.
- Top with milk.
Serve immediately. Stir before drinking and use an extra wide straw.
RELATED: Jasmine Bubble Tea
How to Drink Bubble Tea
Enjoy bubble tea with a wide straw so you can get both the tea and tapioca pearls at the same tip. The boba should be chewed and not swallowed whole.
Recipe Notes
Warm tapioca balls are perfectly soft and chewy.
Serve tapioca balls while they’re still warm, but not hot enough to burn your mouth. The boba will have the best bouncy consistency.
Make boba right before the drink.
Try not to make the tapioca pearls in advance since they’ll start to harden as they cool.
A homemade brown sugar syrup adds flavor and sweetness.
The boba is cooked in brown sugar and water to make a syrup that sweetens both the tapioca balls and the tea.
RELATED: 17 Best Bubble Tea Recipes
Tea Sommelier’s Tips
- The chai can be steeped ahead of time and stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. Add the milk and tapioca balls right before serving.
- To make the drink even more decadent, swap the milk for a cold foam.
- Always use a wide straw to drink bubble tea. This allows you to get a few tapioca balls with each sip.
- Line the inside of the cup with brown sugar syrup for a pretty presentation.
- Sprinkle some cinnamon on top as a finishing touch.
Questions You May Have
Because it’s made with a fragrant mix of spices, chai has a deep earthy flavor. It’s typically made with milk, which gives the tea a rich, creamy texture.
The best chai is one that’s made from scratch. You can make it by brewing black tea with spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and ginger.
For perfectly soft and chewy tapioca pearls, cook the boba for 8-10 minutes.
No! Boba and bubble tea are both names for the same drink. You’re likely to hear it referred to as boba on the West Coast and bubble tea on the East Coast.
Related
- Iced Chai Latte
- Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Latte Copycat
- Starbucks Chai Frappuccino Copycat
- Chai Syrup
- Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
Chai Bubble Tea
INGREDIENTS
Iced Chai
- 3 chai tea bags
- ¾ cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 cup ice
- ⅓ cup milk
Tapioca Balls
- ¾ cup water
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup tapioca balls
INSTRUCTIONS
MAKE TEA
- Steep chai tea bags in hot water for 5 minutes. Set the temperature to 175°F if you're using an electric kettle with a temperature setting. Use filtered water if possible.
- Remove and discard tea bags. Stir in sugar.Stir until sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool.
COOK TAPIOCA BALLS
- Boil ¾ cup of water in a saucepan and add tapioca balls.Boil water in a saucepan on the stovetop then add tapioca balls. Cook on medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Tapioca balls should be soft all the way through. Turn off heat and cool slightly, until tapioca balls are quite warm, but aren't too hot to eat. (Follow directions on your tapioca ball packaging if you're using a different brand than the one I’m using.)
- Drain tapioca balls.
ASSEMBLE DRINK
- Put warm tapioca balls into a cup. Add ice, cooled down tea, and milk.Serve immediately and stir before drinking. Use an extra wide straw to drink.
NOTES
- Chai tea bags are used for a quick cleanup, but you can also make the spiced tea from scratch.
- The boba is cooked in brown sugar and water to make a syrup that sweetens both the tapioca balls and the tea. You can use another sugar if you’d like
- Whole milk makes the drink creamier, but plant-based varieties like oat and almond milks also work.
- Use filtered water for a better tasting drink. Make ice using filtered water if possible.
- Serve tapioca balls while they’re still warm, but not hot enough to burn your mouth. The boba will have the best bouncy consistency.
- Try not to make the tapioca pearls in advance since they’ll start to harden as they cool.
- The chai can be steeped ahead of time and stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. Add the milk and tapioca balls right before serving.
- Always use a wide straw to drink bubble tea. This allows you to get a few tapioca balls with each sip.