When Mountain Rose Herbs launched its organic Thai Tea, I knew I had to craft something new and special with it. When I visited Thailand many moons ago, I enjoyed a lot of Thai iced tea, and it was very different from the kind served here in the US. It didn’t have the same added spices (or food coloring)and I have to admit, I missed the added spices, but not the coloring. When I saw the ingredients in the new Mountain Rose Herbs tea, I knew I was going to have to craft something really special with it.
 
The tea blend is made of an organic Assam tea (black tea) base and is paired with star anise pods, coconut flakes, safflowers, holy basil, and vanilla bean powder. The result—a rich and complex tea perfect for making one of my other favorite treats—boba! 
 
I had tried to make boba pearls, also sometimes referred to as tapioca pearls, several times before without success, and gave it up for a while. After trying this new That tea, I was once again motivated to get back on the proverbial horse and try again. After a few more attempts, I finally got it and wow was it good (and organic)!  I made a brown sugar version that compliments the earthiness of this Thai tea really well.  

How to Make Boba Pearls from Scratch 

This is definitely a more intermediary to advanced level of “cookery,” but I feel it’s really worth it. You can tweak the recipe to add other flavors, swap the water for an herbal infusion, or use different sweeteners. Once you get the rhythm of the process, it opens a whole world of opportunities! In the meantime, hang on tight, this recipe is a bit of a ride! 

Homemade Tapioca Pearls for Boba 

Equipment 

• Kitchen Scale 
  
• Bowls 
  
• Sifter/Strainer 
  
• Whisk 
  
• Firm Spatula 
  
• Silicone baking mat (optional) 

Ingredients 

• 50 grams brown sugar 
  
• 60 grams pure filtered water 
  
• 100 grams organic tapioca starch + more for dusting
  

Directions 

1. Pre-measure all ingredients into bowls 
   
2. Set out a silicone baking mat or very clean counter space and sprinke tapioca starch. This will prevent the dough from sticking too much when the mixture is ready to be worked.  
   
3. Add brown sugar and water to a saucepan and turn to medium heat.  
   
4. Stir frequently until completely dissolved. 
   
5. Allow mixture to come to a boil and remove from heat. 
   
6. While whisking, slowly sift 1/4 cup of tapioca starch from your weighed out bowl. 
   
7. As your mixture begins to get more firm, swap your whisk for a firm spatula to help mix.  
   
8. Add back to heat and continue to stir mixture to keep the heat up for about 1 minute. It will begin to get thick at this point.  
   
9. Begin to slowly sift the remaining tapioca, continuously folding the mixture together and scraping the sides of the pan.  
   
10. As soon as it is incorporated, scrape all content onto silicone baking mat or clean countertop.  
    
11. The mixture should be soft and tacky,  but not act like glue on your hands.  If it’s too gluey, slowly add more tapioca and massage into the dough until it is workable.  
    
12. Once the dough is ready, cut it into 4 equal parts. Cover 3 pieces with beeswax wrap or reusable wrap of choice to keep warm and prevent drying. 
13. Roll dough into a snake shape until it is about 1/2 inch in diameter.  It doesn’t have to be perfect, you are going to hand-roll them into the right size and shape.  
14. Cut into 1/4 inch pieces.  
15. Hand roll each into a small bowl and set aside. They should be about the size of a dime. Keep in mind they will expand when you cook them.
16. A each piece is rolled, keep to the side on the baking mat or a flat plate. I have found that it's harder to maintain their shape when they are in a bowl and the ones on the bottom get a little smooshed.  
17. Continue for each of the remaining dough quarters. Before starting the last one, put 6 cups of water on the stovetop on medium heat to bring to a boil. The water should be ready at about the same time you finish your last rolls.  

 
Pro Tip: Since cooked boba won’t last more than a few days, you can dry some of your tapioca pearls and store them in the freezer. Fresh is best, but this is a good way to extend the results of your labor!  To dry, you can put them in a dehydrator. 

Cooking the Boba 

1. Once your water is at a boil, add boba balls slowly to the pot and stir immediately to prevent them from sticking together.  
2. Let them cook for about 30 minutes. They will begin to get bigger, translucent, and will float.
3. Remove from heat and let sit for about 15 minutes.   
4. Scoop out tapioca pearls and place in a bowl filled with cold cold water. They will shrink a bit at this stage, but will still be bigger than your original size. 

Pro Tips: 

• This is not an easy DIY recipe so be patient with yourself!  It took me several attempts to get it right and find my rhythm with it. It’s opened a lot of opportunities in the kitchen and my teen stepson thinks it’s pretty cool, which automatically makes it worth it!  
  
• Your boba pearls don’t have to be perfectly round! It’s a hard thing to achieve with hand-rolling. They will still taste great. 

Brown Sugar Syrup for Storing Boba

Ingredients

• 1 cup water 
  
• 1/2 cup brown sugar  
  

1. Add water and brown sugar to a saucepan and turn to medium heat. 
2. Simmer to reduce water content for about 10 minutes. 
3. Add boba pearls to saucepan and mix well. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
4. Pour mixture and boba pearls into a glass jar and allow to cool before placing lid on.
5. Label with date and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.  

How to Make Homemade Thai Iced Tea & Hot Tea 

Brew Your Tea 

• 2 1/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup organic Thai Tea 
• 1-2 Tbsp. organic brown sugar (or to taste)   

1. Pour water into saucepan and heat until a gentle simmer.
2. Add Thai Tea and brown sugar and stir.  
3. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 3-5 minutes. (This blend contains black tea so over-steeping will result in a more tannic beverage.)
4. Strain herbs and make into hot or cold Thai Tea

Thai Boba Tea Recipe- 2 Ways 

Hot Thai Boba Tea 

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. boba pearls with syrup 
  
• 1 cup brewed organic Thai Tea 
  
• 1-2 Tbsp. organic brown sugar (or to taste)   
  
• 2 Tbsp. frothed organic milk or half and half 
   
  

Directions

1.  Add boba pearls into your glass followed by the hot tea and brown sugar. 
   
2. Top with frothed creamer and enjoy.  
    

Thai Iced Tea with Boba 

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. boba pearls with syrup 
  
• 1 cup chilled organic Thai Tea 
  
• 1-2 Tbsp. organic milk or half and half 

• Add boba pearls into your glass followed by a few ice cubes  
  
• Pour the chilled Thai tea and half and half and stir.  
  
• Enjoy! 
   
  
  
  

Looking for More Fun Beverages to Try?

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