Instant Bubble Tea with Condensed Milk (Print Version)

Creamy bubble tea ready in 10 minutes with instant pearls, black tea, and rich condensed milk for a homemade treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tapioca Pearls

01 - 1/2 cup quick-cook (instant) tapioca pearls

→ Tea Base

02 - 2 black tea bags (or 2 tsp loose leaf black tea)
03 - 1 1/2 cups hot water

→ Sweet & Creamy Additions

04 - 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
05 - 1 cup cold milk (dairy or plant-based)

→ For Serving

06 - 1 cup ice cubes

# How to Make:

01 - Boil tapioca pearls according to package instructions (typically 3-5 minutes until soft and chewy). Drain and set aside.
02 - Steep tea bags in 1 1/2 cups of hot water for 3-5 minutes, then remove bags and let the tea cool slightly.
03 - In a pitcher or large bowl, combine the brewed tea, sweetened condensed milk, and cold milk. Stir until fully mixed and creamy.
04 - Divide cooked tapioca pearls between two large glasses.
05 - Add ice cubes to each glass.
06 - Pour the milk tea mixture over the pearls and ice. Stir well and serve immediately with large straws.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like a café drink but costs a fraction of the price, and you control exactly how sweet and creamy it gets.
  • The whole thing comes together in 10 minutes, making it perfect for lazy afternoons or late-night cravings when nothing else will do.
  • Instant tapioca pearls mean no complicated timing or guesswork—just boil, drain, and you're already halfway there.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the cooked pearls thoroughly—excess water pooling in the glass will dilute all that carefully created creaminess and make the drink watery and sad.
  • The sweetened condensed milk needs to be stirred into the warm tea first before adding cold milk, or you'll end up with stubborn clumps that refuse to dissolve.
03 -
  • Make a batch of cooked pearls in advance and refrigerate them in a bit of simple syrup so they stay soft and ready to go—you can have boba tea ready in literally two minutes whenever the craving hits.
  • If you find the drink too sweet, reduce the condensed milk to a quarter cup and add an extra splash of cold milk instead, adjusting until it tastes exactly how you want it.
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