Boba pearls in brown sugar syrup are the most popular sinks at the bottom of a popular Taiwanese drink known as “brown sugar boba milk” or “tiger milk tea.” Due to the large amount of brown sugar, these boba pearls have a distinctive, rich flavor and appealing aesthetic. They are easy to make and can be used in milk tea beverages.
Why it is so popular
When simmered with brown sugar, the boba pearls take on the deep, molasses-like flavors of the brown sugar. The thick syrup with boba pearls can be drizzled to make the strips on the glass cup, just like tiger milk tea. It’s called “tiger” milk tea because of the distinctive stripes created on the inside of the cup by the drizzling of brown sugar syrup, resembling a tiger’s stripes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup boba pearls
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup boiling water (optional)
Types of boba pearls
First, read the instructions on the package and check whether it is a regular or quick boba pearl.
To prepare regular boba pearls, they must be boiled in water for about 20 to 30 minutes (times may vary depending on the brand and size of the pearls) and then allowed to rest in hot water for another 20-30 minutes until they reach the desired chewiness.
Quick boba pearls are a more convenient alternative to regular boba pearls. They are pre-cooked and then dehydrated. Quick boba pearls can be ready in about 5 to 10 minutes, much shorter than traditional ones.
Cook boba pearls firstly
I will introduce you to the half-cooking, half-resting method to cook the boba pearls to achieve the best texture and results.
Add water to a pot, bring it to a boil, pour in the boba pearls, and cook for 5 minutes or maybe 20 minutes, depending on the instructions on the package. Keep stirring during the cooking process to avoid the boba pearls sticking to the pot.
Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and set aside for another 5 minutes for quick boba pearls and 20 minutes for regular boba pearls. This helps the heat penetrate the pearls and achieve evenly chewy texture.
Then, strain the pearls and rinse them with cool water. With this step, the stickiness on the surface will be removed and give the boba pearls a more cleaner texture.
Pour the cooked pearls back into the pot and add brown sugar and 1/3 cup of boiling water. Cook the mixture over low heat for another five minutes. Please remember to stir at all times during the cooking process to avoid burning.
You can skip adding water if you are in a hurry.
If you love making boba pearls， we have lots of creative, homemade boba pearls. Check the following.
How to use
You can use boba pearls for most boba recipes or milk teas. You can also use them to make a lovely dirty boba, which is also called tiger boba. It can also be used in following recipes.
- Matcha boba
- Blueberry boba – Blueberry Milk Tea
- Dragon Fruit Boba
- Coffee Milk Tea With Boba – A coffee lover bubble tea
- Thai Tea Boba
How to Cook Brown Sugar Boba Pearls
Ingredients
- 1 cup boba pearls
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Add water to a pot, bring it to a boil, pour in the boba pearls, and cook for 5 minutes or maybe 20 minutes depending on the instructions on the package. Keep stirring during the cooking process to avoid the boba pearls from sticking to the pot.
- Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and set aside for another 5 minutes for quick boba pearls and 20 minutes for regular boba pearls. This helps the heat penetrate the pearls and achieve evenly chewy texture.
- Then, strain the pearls and rinse them with cool water. With this step, the stickiness on the surface will be removed and give the boba pearls a more cleaner texture.
- Pour the cooked pearls back into the pot and add brown sugar and 1/3 cup of boiling water. Cook the mixture over low heat for another five minutes. Please remember to stir at all times during the cooking process to avoid burning.You can skip adding water if you are in a hurry and cook until the sugar turns into syrup texture.