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Bubble tea experiment

I have no idea why, but I really like bubble tea. There I said it :) A few days ago I took a trip to State College where there is a great out of the way restaurant called "The Big Bowl" which has some amazing noodle soups and top-shelf bubble tea, and they were closed due to a graduation. I had been tasting it during the drive, so dejection was an understatement. The next day I went about making my own and doing some experimentation. I figured I'd share some of my findings:

I bought the tapioca pearls and bubble tea straws for less than $3 total at an Asian market in Pittsburgh.

My first attempt was with a really good Assam I had hanging around. I brewed it a bit stronger than if I had been intending to drink it as is, maybe 5-7 minutes. Then I made the sugar syrup mixture with 1 part white sugar, 1 part brown sugar, 2 parts water. I used a 1/4 cup each of the sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Then disregarding the super long cooking instructions for the tapioca I just put some pearls in a bigger mug, poured in some of the extra boiling water and stuck in in the microwave for about 2 minutes, then let it stand for another 5 or so while I got everything together. I used a little less than a 1/4 cup of organic skim milk, and about 6-8tsp sugar syrup, ice, about 2 cups of tea, and then added the pearls. It came out great.

Using quality tea and good tapioca pearls makes a huge difference over standard fare bubble tea. I stopped short of Pu-erh, but Keemun, Yunnan tipped, Chinese restaurant blend, oriental beauty, and a sencha/ matcha blend all were awesome as well.

Then I found you can buy the small strips of young coconut meat which are used in the drinks that are similar to bubble tea but more fruity juice based (and no tapioca). Strawberry sencha, Mango white, Lychee juice, and sassafrass black tea all worked really well.

So who knows, if anyone finds it helpful, great. As someone who hates the thought of milk or sugar in my tea for the most part, bubble tea is a big stretch for me but I can't help my addiction :) Now that I can satisfy my craving without the trips or cost I'm pretty happy, but I'm sure there are still plenty of "Big Bowls" ahead of me no matter what.

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.
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All the bubble tea shoppes in my area have closed up. I can still get it at two grocery store counters one by the duck rack and fish in the other. You didn't say if you got the white or black tapioca. It took me once or twice after sloshing myself to figure out which end of the straw is used to perforate the pastic cap that comes served in a soda drink cup. I like bubble tea on hot days and chai on cold when I'm about if I can find it. I'd drink more if I wasn't too lazy making either myself.

Jim

Dom> I have no idea why, but I really like bubble tea. There I said it :)

Reply to
Space Cowboy

I used the black tapioca, but the nice thing is that they are "rubbery" out of the package so they do not take as long to become soft. Honestly from beginning to end may have taken 7-10 minutes to make everything and be sipping away... with the blunt end of the straw :) Subsequent cups took about 30 seconds to mix up. Super easy and quick, now I just have to figure out how to adhere a thin plastic sheet to the top of my cup so I can get the full experience.

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

The white ones disintegrate. You're not alone with the winking beady black eyes in the milk. I remember it was the cling film that makes a mess with the wrong end of the straw. My wife switched from dairy milk to soy about five years ago. I really like the creamy texture and the taste. Chill that stuff down and it is like a shake. She drinks her tea loaded with soy so maybe I can get her to go out of the way.

Jim

Dom ...I delete me...

Reply to
Space Cowboy

Ever heard about "teh tarek", the malaysian version ? One more reason I spend half my time in Asia hanging out in tea stalls.

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Enjoy, Karsten

Reply to
psyflake

No, I had never heard or seen this before... pretty neat. Can you explain what it is made up of? Type of tea, milk, sugar, etc. Seems easy enough to do but I'm sure there is a slight learning curve to the "pulling."

I only wish Americans could realize that a little effort and some interactivity makes things more fun and lively instead of just queuing up and being filed through like cattle in sterile chain shops... and the workers would probably have a bit more enjoyment in life too... or just claim they need to unionize due to the huge "demands" of the job.

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

Re: bubble tea

I thought it's a dangerous beverage when you find yourself desperate trying to suck those balls with the oversized straw after the tea's long gone. Them pearls could get stuck in your wind pipe.

Phyll

Reply to
Phyll

Now *that*'s a humiliating way to die.

/Lew

Reply to
Lewis Perin

OK, just so we're all clear... Use the non-pointy end of the straw to drink from _AND_ try to get all of the *ahem* "balls" before finishing all of the liquid.

No wonder products like Preparation-H need labels saying to not take it orally, or hairdryers warning against their use in the tub or shower.

The things you learn about folks :)

- Dominic

;)

Reply to
Dominic T.

It's too late for me not to sound stupid anyway, so I'll ask:

Is there supposed to be the pointy-end of the straw? On the rare occasions that I buy this ballsy beverage, each end of the straw provided is the same as the other, which is non-pointy. And is there really an unwritten disclaimer that you have to finish the balls first before you slurp all the tea away? Or else you might die....?

And Preparation-H can not be taken orally?!?! No wonder!

Phyll :)

Reply to
Phyll

Yes, yes, it is all very complex and confusing, I know... for years I was drying my hair in the shower and then I read that little sticker. :)

I guess not all bubble tea will have the pointy straw but all that I've drunk have. When they make it there is a little machine that seals the top with a thin plastic sheet. Then you use the pointy bit to stab through. And all of the bulk straws had pointy ends when I went to buy some at the market, just different colors (I went with yellow).

And, no, you can save the balls till last if you wish... I guess some people may do this, just like I've seen folks drink all of the broth from their ramen/pho first and then eat the noodles... weird but I guess whatever floats your boat (and doesn't lodge in the trachia and cause death).

;)

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

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