Learn how to make bubble tea at home. This has Instant Pot boba tea directions and how to make iced bubble tea on the stove, so you can make this delicious drink at home. Bubble tea is a delicious creamy and slightly sweet summer drink, and it's easy to make in the Instant Pot.

Even though I live in a rural area, we have some pretty cool specialty shops. In the nearest town, there's a Dalgona coffee shop and a boba tea shop side by side.

I prefer coffee to tea, but I had to see what the fuss was about with the iced bubble tea. I love the different flavors of tea, but I can't be driving into town all the time.

So I wanted to learn how to make boba tea from scratch. I was making it on the stove, but now I make bubble tea Instant Pot because it saves so much time.

Cooking the tapioca pearls can take over an hour on the stove, but they only need to cook for 5 minutes in the Instant Pot!

So how do you make bubble tea? It's actually quite easy! I have directions for how to make homemade bubble tea on the stove or in the Instant Pot.

How to Make Homemade Bubble Tea

Name: How to Make Homemade Bubble Tea (Instant Pot or Stove Top Recipe)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Drink
Ingredients: 1 cup of wufu yuan black tapioca pearls; 1/2 cup of brown sugar; 2 cups of water; 8 earl grey tea bags; 4 cups of water; 3/4 cup of milk

Before we learn how to make boba tea from scratch, let's talk about what it is.

What is the Difference Between Boba Tea and Bubble Tea?

Boba simply means a drink with chunks in it. This can be iced bubble tea with tapioca pearls, which is what this recipe is, or even a juice drink with bits of fruit or tapioca pearls.

Ice bubble tea is also called boba tea or even pearl milk tea. The name varies by location. For example, in America the east coast calls it bubble tea, but the west coast calls it boba tea.

What is Iced Bubble Tea?

Iced bubble tea is a drink made with tapioca pearls, tea, and milk. Of course, it can be made with other ingredients and there are a lot of variations.

Sometimes it's made with milk and tea, just milk, or even fruit juice and milk. The fruit boba tea flavors are delicious, but I prefer iced boba tea with tea and milk.

What Does Boba Tea Taste Like?

Iced bubble tea tastes sweet and milky. It's not overly sweet because there's tea in it, and the tapioca pearls give it a creamy flavor.

Is Bubble Tea Served Cold?

Bubble tea Instant Pot is served cold. It's usually served over ice, but sometimes iced bubble tea is mixed in a blender.

Are You Supposed to Shake Bubble Tea?

When you are learning how to make boba tea from scratch, you will be instructed to shake it. Shaking it helps it combine and gives it the bubbles on top from which it gets its name.

I don't have a shaker glass, so I just pour the tea and milk over the tapioca pearls. You can give it a good stir to help combine things.

What Do You Call the Bubbles in Bubble Tea?

The bubbles in bubble tea Instant Pot are called boba. They are tapioca pearls.

Can you Eat Bubble Tea Balls?

The bubbles in iced bubble tea are made from tapioca pearls. You can eat them. However, be careful to chew them so you don't choke.

Can Kids Drink Bubble Tea?

When you learn how to make homemade bubble tea, you might wonder if your kids can drink it. It won't harm them to drink it. However, be careful giving it to young children because they can choke. I would avoid giving it to children who are at risk of choking.

Does Bubble Tea Use Real Milk?

When you learn how to make bubble tea at home, you can use real milk or a non dairy milk. I recommend using either oat milk or almond milk.

What Tea Do You Use for Iced Bubble Tea?

You can use green tea, black tea, or oolong tea when you learn how to make bubble tea at home.

What Are the Ingredients in Bubble Tea?

To make Instant Pot boba tea or iced bubble tea on the stove, you will need:

Black tapioca pearls
Brown sugar
Water
Tea bags
Milk

How Do You Make Bubble Tea?

Step #1

To make Instant Pot boba tea, place the boba pearls in the Instant Pot with 2 cups of water. Close the lid and pressure valve. Cook at high pressure for 5 minutes. Release the pressure when finished.

To make iced boba tea on the stove, in a large sauce pan, heat 8 cups of water until boiling. Add 1 cup of tapioca pearls and stir gently. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 40 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and cover. Let sit for 20 minutes.

Step #2

Drain and rinse the pearls. Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and stir well.

Step #3

Set the Instant Pot to sauté or use a medium sized pan. Add 4 cups of water and the tea bags. Bring the tea to a boil and remove tea bags. Add the rest of the brown sugar and stir in the milk

Step #4

In a glass, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup boba pearls and add ice. Pour the tea and milk mixture over the ice.

Tapioca pearls are best used within 4 hours. They will get mushy after this, so don't save any leftovers for later.

Now you know how to make homemade bubble tea Instant Pot or on the stove!

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