Homemade Brown Sugar Boba Pearls
There is something incredibly satisfying about the distinct "chew" of a perfectly prepared boba pearl. Whenever I make this at home, the kitchen fills with the deep, caramel-like aroma of brown sugar simmering away.
Ingredients
For the Pearls:
- 135 g Tapioca starch plus extra for dusting
- 60 g Dark brown sugar
- 75 ml Water
For the Syrup:
- 100 g Brown sugar
- 50 ml Water
For Serving:
- Strong brewed black tea
- Whole milk or oat milk
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- In a small pot, combine 75ml water and 60g brown sugar. Bring to a rolling boil.
- Turn heat to low and add about 1 tablespoon of tapioca starch. Whisk quickly until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in the remaining starch until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough onto a clean surface and knead until smooth and elastic.
- Roll dough into long thin ropes (about ½ inch thick) and cut into tiny pieces. Roll pieces into small spheres.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop in the pearls and stir gently so they don't stick.
- Once they float, cover and boil for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let them sit (covered) for another 15 minutes.
- Drain the pearls and immediately rinse under cold running water.
- In a clean pan, combine the syrup ingredients and the cooked pearls. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes until the syrup is thick and glossy.
- Spoon pearls and syrup into glasses, add ice, and pour over your prepared milk tea.