Make your own bubble tea at home!

While bubble tea is a relatively novel concept for westerners, in Taiwan the beverage has been big since the early 1980s. In fact the bubble tea concept and aesthetic is very ’80s when you think about it: all that colour and geometric balls moving about in it.

Taiwanese immigrants first brought bubble tea to the US and Australia in the mid-1990s, but it’s in the late Noughties that the trend really hit our shores hard.

The tea itself – usually served cold – is perfect for the Aussie summer, and it now boasts an array of tea styles including milk teas and fruit teas with a whole variety of toppings (ie: chewy tapioca balls also known as “boba” or “pearls”).

Although consumption of bubble tea is today widespread, with specialist bubble tea stores open from Taiwan to Tokyo, Perth to Paris, London to LA, the cost of the product is still relatively high; far higher than the average coffee or cupt of tea at your local cafe. Which is why you should get excited about Cup 49, a brand that creates bubble tea ready to be made in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Tapioca pearls are a necessary ingredient in bubble tea and provide a fun ‘popping’ sensation in the mouth when chewed.

From just $1.20 per serve, you can have your bubble tea fix without breaking the bank, and have your bubble tea kits delivered straight to your door. A typical bubble tea kit from Cup 49 includes a packet of tea bags (we opted for Jasmine Green Tea, which lends itself nicely to added flavours); jar of fruit syrup (plenty to choose from; we chose Passionfruit); jar of fructose; and shrink-wrapped pack of tapioca pearls.

Bubble tea most commonly includes these chewy tapioca balls, but it can be made with other toppings such as grass jelly, aloe vera, red bean, and even ‘popping’ boba.

The process of making it is a bit intense for the first-timer but after a couple of goes, you’re sure to turn pro. First you prepare the tapioca balls by simmering them in a pot of water for about 20 minutes. Drain them and keep aside to cool while you’re preparing the tea.

The tea is the easy part; just be sure to let the teabag steep in hot water for one to five minutes – depending on how strong you like your tea; then add one to three tablespoons of fruit syrup of your choice, and one to three teaspoons of fructose (the more fructose the sweeter the drink).

Pour your tapioca pearls and your tea over a cup half full with ice, then stir. Et voila! You’ve got your glass of delicious bubble tea made in your very own kitchen.

For a party, you can prepare your tea the day before since bubble tea can stay in the fridge for up to 24 hours and will keep its consistency and flavour within that time.

Bottoms up!

Lisa Andrews

For more information about or to order your Cup 49 Bubble Tea DIY Kits, visit cup49.com.

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