Originating in Taiwan, boba tea — also known as “bubble tea” — has recently become very popular around the world. People like this unique drink because of its recipe variations and flavors, and one of the most beloved flavors is brown sugar milk tea, which some also call “tiger milk tea.” So, what’s so special about tiger milk tea, and how is it made?
Brown sugar milk tea is made from tapioca pearls, brown sugar, and milk or water. Based on your taste, you can add other toppings as well. To make this tea, boil water, brown sugar, and tapioca pearls. Next, put syrup and the pearls in a glass and stir well. Add milk, and it’s ready to serve.
Let’s explore which ingredients are found in brown sugar boba, how it’s made, and whether you can make dairy-free boba tea.
What Are the Ingredients in Brown Sugar Boba?
The main ingredients you’ll need to make brown sugar boba tea are tapioca pearls, brown sugar, and milk or fresh water.
Tapioca pearls are made from tapioca starch. Take tapioca balls and infuse them with brown sugar if you want to make your own tiger boba pearls at home. You can do this by boiling the starch with brown sugar. However, it’s much easier to buy ready-made tapioca pearls.
Brown sugar boba is also known as “milk tea,” “tiger milk tea,” or “bubble tea,” and is originally caffeine-free. However, many leaf blends and topping combinations were later added as the drink became widely popular, and caffeine and other ingredients are now sometimes used.
Over the years, the recipe for brown sugar boba has greatly evolved as its market has become more diverse.
It’s now available in many milk ranges like whole and skim and also comes with non-dairy substitutes like almond and coconut. Very often, there’s no milk, as the boba comes in cold tea and juice-based drinks.
Boba tea is also available in a wide range of flavors and color varieties, like fresh strawberry boba fruit tea.
How Do You Make Brown Sugar Boba?
Luckily, making brown sugar boba tea is easy. However, finding the right ingredients can be challenging in some areas.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- 40-50 g brown sugar
- 100 g tapioca pearls (on Amazon)
- 60 ml water
- Tapioca starch (on Amazon)
- A pot
Let’s discuss the step-by-step process to make boba tea:
- Make (or Buy) the Tapioca Pearls: You can buy dried, ready-to-use tapioca pearls. You can also make these pearls from tapioca starch and brown sugar. It’s much easier to buy these pearls, especially if you don’t have time or tapioca starch.
- Boil the Tea Mixture: Start by mixing water and brown sugar. Add half of the brown sugar to the pot. Pour water in it and let it boil until the sugar is dissolved.
Keep the heat low and add the pearls. Add the other half of the brown sugar and boil it well.
- Let It Cool: Take the pot off the heat when the sugar is properly dissolved, and let it cool for 8-12 minutes. Cooling it properly will result in a thick syrup of the mixture and will retain a good taste.
- Mix Syrup and the Boba Mix in a Glass: Next, you’ll have to add the brown sugar syrup and boba mix to an empty glass. You’ll see “tiger stripes” formed on the glass’s side. Mix thoroughly to give the Boba tea some taste. You can also substitute syrup for honey or sugar.
- Add Milk: Lastly, pour some milk into the glass. You may add ice cubes or other combinations if you like. This step is optional, and you don’t need milk if you have lactose intolerance.
The brown sugar boba tea is ready to serve.
Can You Order Dairy-Free Brown Sugar Boba?
You can order dairy-free brown sugar boba if you’re lactose intolerant or prefer it milk-free. It’s commonly available with non-dairy substitutes like almond and coconut flavors.
Almond bubble tea is dairy free and is made by mixing creamy and light almond tea with tapioca pearls. It gives the same taste.
Typically, bubble tea was made with cow’s milk. However, based on changing taste preferences and market diversity, you may get fruit tea or iced tea that contains no milk at all. You can also order flavored non-dairy tea that’s either fruit-based or botanical.
People usually prefer dairy-free boba tea because it improves their digestion and is also usually fat-free. It’s also the best option for people with lactose intolerance.
Compared to dairy brown boba tea, it has less flavor but more cream. It’s also lighter, easy to make, and cheaper than most dairy teas.
What Are the Most Popular Boba Flavors?
Boba tea is largely available in many flavors, like taro blended milk tea and strawberry boba fruit tea.
Here are some of the most popular flavors you can order:
- Classic Boba milk tea: This contains caramelized tapioca pearls mixed with dairy milk and water. It’s a popular traditional recipe in Taiwan. You can also add crushed ice as a topping.
- Taro blended milk tea: With its coconut-like flavor and purple-brown to lilac color, taro tea is largely preferred in Taiwan and throughout Asia and the West.
- Fruit-filled boba tea: If you’re dairy conscious, you may like to try fruit-filled boba tea like strawberry boba fruit tea. Other flavors include winter melon, tomato, lemon, and mango.
- Added-in boba tea: Fully filled with added-ins like grass jelly, almond jelly, custardy egg puddings, and chia seeds, you can get limitless boba tea flavors like sea salt, cheese, tomato, or chocolate.
- Cheese tea: This version of Boba tea is very popular in Taiwan and is made by combining cheese and salt with cream and milk.