Oolong Bubble Tea (Oolong Boba Milk Tea)

5 from 3 votes

See how easy it is to make delicious oolong boba milk tea at home!

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Taiwanese

Servings: serving (16 ounces)

Author: Jee Choe

Steep oolong tea in hot water for 5 minutes. and cool.
Set the water temperature to 195°F if you're using an electric kettle with a temperature setting. Use filtered water when possible.
Discard tea sachets and stir in brown sugar.
Set aside to cool.

Boil ¾ cup of water and sugar in a saucepan. Add tapioca balls.
Combine water and brown sugar in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. When you see big bubbles (2-4 minutes), add tapioca balls. Keep boiling for 8 more minutes on medium-high heat. Cool slightly, until tapioca balls aren't too hot to eat. They should still be quite warm.

Add warm tapioca balls in brown sugar syrup into a cup.  Add ice, cooled down tea, and milk.
Serve immediately and stir before drinking. Use an extra wide straw to drink.

Brown sugar goes well with bold teas like oolong, but you can use white granulated sugar if that's all you have.
Any milk can be used, including plant-based milk like oat milk. Whole milk or half & half will make this drink creamier.
Like soft and chewy mochi, tapioca balls will have a similar texture when they're very warm. I add them to drinks when they have cooled down enough to eat without burning my mouth.
Since bubble tea is made with milk and sugar, you don't need to use the highest quality tea (loose tea). Feel free to use tea bags or tea sachets as they won't create a mess.
Brown sugar is used to make the brown sugar syrup to sweeten the tapioca balls and the drink.
The tea can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It will already be cool when you're ready to use it.
Boba should be made at the time you're making the drink, and not too much beforehand. After about 3-4 hours, the boba will start to harden.
All bubble teas are served with a wide straw so you get some tapioca balls with each sip of tea.
Make sure to chew the tapioca balls instead of swallowing them whole.