How to Make a Coconut-Flavored Boba Tea

Boba tea or bubble tea has been a favorite drink in Taiwan for years. It is now popular in North America as well. A blend of black or green tea with ice, milk and almost any flavor you can imagine, it's like iced latte with an exotic twist. Best of all, it has tapioca "pearls" at the bottom of each cup, waiting to be sucked up with an extra-wide straw. Coconut boba tea is easy to make at home, if you have the right ingredients and some giant straws.

Instructions

1.Prepare the tapioca pearls. Make sure you get the large pearls, since Asian groceries usually sell smaller pearls as well. Bring 3 1/2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Add 1/2 cup pearls to the boiling water, and let them continue to boil for 30 to 45 minutes, or until they are clear.

2.Boil the tapioca pearls until they are clear.

When the pearls are clear, take the saucepan off the heat and let the pearls sit in the hot water for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse the pearls in warm water.

3.Rinse the tapioca pearls in warm water.

Drain the pearls thoroughly and put them into a bowl. Sprinkle the pearls with 2 tbsp. brown sugar and toss. You may also add 1/2 tsp. honey with the brown sugar, if you like. Divide the sugared pearls equally between two tall glasses.

4.Toss the pearls in brown sugar.

Brew 1 cup black or green tea, making sure that it is very strong. Steep it for a longer time than usual, or put in two tea bags instead of one. Put this into a drink shaker along with 1 cup crushed ice, more honey to taste, and 1/2 cup each milk and coconut milk. Both kinds of milk can be either full-fat or low-fat, but not skim.

5.Make your tea extra strong.

Shake the tea mixture until it is frothy and bubbly. Pour into the two pearl-filled glasses in equal amounts, and place an extra-wide straw into each glass. Serve immediately.