Makes 1 drink
INGREDIENTS
¼ strong black tea
¼ cup cooked tapioca pearls
¼ fresh mango syrup or Chai syrup (recipes follow)
¼ cup coconut milk
Crushed ice
DIRECTIONS
Make black tea and allow to cool. Allow to cool in the refrigerator. In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stove. Add the tapioca pearls (make 2 cups for a batch to make 8-10 drinks). They will fall to the bottom of the pot. Allow to boil about 20 minutes. Take off heat and allow to rest covered for about 15 more minutes. Pearls should float when finished cooking. Place the pearls in a metal bowl and pour a little of either of the mango syrup or the chai syrup and mix, just enough that they don’t stick together. Place in the refrigerator and cool. To make the bubble tea, in a shaker filled with crushed ice, place ¼ cup syrup of your choice, 2 to 4 cups strong black tea, ¼ cup coconut milk and shake vigorously. Pour the mixture into a glass and add tapioca pearls and stir.
Fresh Mango Syrup
Makes 2 cups of syrup
INGREDIENTS
2 fresh ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
¾ cups sugar
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
½ cup water
DIRECTIONS
In a medium sauce pan bring all ingredient to a boil and reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. Take off heat and cool. Blend in a blender until smooth.
Chai Syrup
Makes 2 cups of syrup
INGREDIENTS
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
1 star of anise
2 cardamom pods, shell removed
4-5 whole allspice
2 cloves
1 tablespoon black pepper corns
1⁄3 cup brown sugar
DIRECTIONS
With a mortar and pestle crush spices so they are just cracked. In a medium sauce pan bring all ingredients to a boil and reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. Take off heat and cool. Strain.