Bubble Tea

Bubble Tea guide here - Bubble Tea at Home: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Browse our Bubble Tea range at Tuk Tuk Mart. The same great quality, freshness & value you'd find in store.

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Q: What do I need to make bubble tea at home?

A: The basics are: tea (black, green, or oolong), tapioca pearls, a sweetener such as brown sugar syrup, and milk or a dairy-free alternative. You'll also need wide bubble tea straws. Tuk Tuk Mart stocks the tapioca pearls, including quick-cook and instant black sugar pearls, plus jasmine and green tea for the base. Brown sugar syrup is easy to make at home: our bubble tea guide has a two-ingredient recipe.

Q: How do you cook tapioca pearls for bubble tea?

A: Boil tapioca pearls in a large pot of water for the time shown on the packet — usually 10 to 15 minutes. Once cooked, drain and immediately transfer them into brown sugar syrup while still warm so they absorb the flavour. Cook them fresh each time; they harden quickly if left to cool.

Q: What is the difference between tapioca pearls and popping boba?

A: Tapioca pearls are chewy, dense balls that soak up the flavour of the syrup they are stored in — the classic bubble tea topping. Popping boba are small gel spheres filled with flavoured juice that burst when you bite them. Both are popular, and some drinks include a mix of both.

Q: Can you make bubble tea without a special machine?

A: Yes. You do not need any specialist equipment. A jar or cocktail shaker with a lid works well for mixing. Shake the tea, milk, and ice vigorously to create the frothy texture. Wide straws are the only item that is genuinely hard to substitute, so have some ready before you start.

Q: Where can I buy bubble tea ingredients in the UK?

A: Tuk Tuk Mart sells Wu Fu Yuan tapioca pearls in several flavours, instant black sugar pearls, jasmine and green teas, and ready-to-drink bubble teas and popping boba drinks online, with UK delivery by DHL. Browse the full bubble tea range at tuktukmart.co.uk.