So… I heard a Boba shortage would be happening soon, so I thought, what better time to share my 3 INGREDIENTS ONLY Brown Sugar Boba recipe that is fun and easy to make at home.
Chewy, sweet, addicting Brown Sugar Boba is an easy recipe that only requires a few simple ingredients. I use to make these with my mom as a kid as a fun weekend activity, something about homemade boba that is super satisfying! Make these Brown Sugar Boba in bulk and freeze them for up to 1 month!
Boba was invented in Taiwan in the 1980s and has been the most popular dessert ever since!
Growing up in Taiwan, I drink Boba tea at least 2-3 times a week. You can find Boba at night markets, in restaurants, food stalls, basically every corner; someone is selling Boba (Boba Heaven).
When I first immigrated to Canada, there was only a handful of Boba Tea shops. I remember taking the bus for 45 minutes just to have some Boba Tea downtown!
It is funny how sometimes you don’t realize what you take for granted until you lose it. Luckily now Vancouver is blessed with AMAZING Boba shops, so I always get my cravings satisfied.
Brown Sugar Boba has become the new hype, and I am totally for it!
Not only is it visually appealing, but it is also super delicious. To get the beautiful “tiger pattern” you see at popular Bubble Tea Shops, you need to make sure to warm up the brown sugar just before it becomes caramelized. This process will make your house smell AMAZING. I love walking into a dessert shop and smelling fresh boba being prepare.
I am enjoying my Brown Sugar Boba today with milk and steeped red tea; however, you can also use other tea such as Oolong and Green Tea. Alternatively, you can also pair with smoothies or any flavor of your choice. Let me know if you want me to share more recipes with you!
All you need to make Brown Sugar Boba is 3 SIMPLE INGREDIENTS – Tapioca Starch, Water, and Brown Sugar.
I am using Taiwanese Brown Sugar today to give it an authentic caramel flavor. It is more of a powder consistency, so it also melts faster. If you don’t live near a local Asian supermarket, you can also use regular brown sugar as well, but the boba will turn out slightly lighter in color.
I will not lie; making Brown Sugar Boba at home is super time-consuming.
That is why I highly recommend making Boba bulk and freezing them to make your time worth it. It is super easy; it just takes time. I love making these with my mom, because similar to wrapping dumplings, it is a fun bonding activity you can do with your loved ones!
Want more AUTHENTIC and EASY Taiwanese Recipes? Here are some of my personal favorites that you will love too!
- Taiwanese Black Pepper Steak Sauce (Nightmarket Style!)
- Milk Mochi (4 Ingredients ONLY!)
Ingredients
- 160g Tapioca Starch
- 60g Brown Sugar
- 80ml of Water
Brown Sugar Glaze
- ½ cup of Brown Sugar
Milk Tea
- 2 Red Tea Bags
- 1/2 cup of Milk
- Ice
- In a pot, mix 3 tbsp of Tapioca Flour, 80 ml of water, and 60g of brown sugar. Make sure everything is thoroughly combined before bringing it to the stove.
- Turn the heat to medium-high and keep stirring until it becomes a thick and sticky consistency. Turn the heat off, and add in the remaining tapioca starch. Mix until slightly cooled down and pour onto a clean surface. (Not everything will be mixed well, but it’s ok)
- Once it is safe to knead (warm), knead until it becomes a smooth consistency with no lumps. This process takes around 5 minutes. If it is too sticky, you can add in a bit of bit more Tapioca Starch, but make sure to keep kneading.
- Cut into 4 pieces. Roll out each piece and cut it into small pieces. The size depends on how big you prefer your pearls to be. The pearls do expand a little bit once you cook them.
- Roll the pieces into a ball and coat with tapioca starch. At this point, you can freeze the tapioca balls in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- Boil a big pot of water and once everything is simmering, add in the tapioca starch. Let it cook on medium heat for 25 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally, so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. After 25 minutes, put the lid on, turn the heat off and let it rest for another 15 minutes. (If you prefer your boba to be on the softer side, simmer for an extra 5 minutes, and rest for another 5 minutes.)
- Drain the boba and let it rest in cold water until ready to use.
- To make the thick brown sugar glaze. In a pot, add in ½ cup of brown sugar and turn the heat up to medium. Heat the brown sugar and mix for 2-3 minutes or until slightly melted. Add in drained boba and mix till it becomes a thick consistency, around another 2-3 minutes.
- Using two tea bags, steep ¼ cup of tea. In a cup, add in the brown sugar boba, swirl the brown sugar boba around the cup, so it leaves a tiger pattern. Add in steep tea, ice, and milk. Enjoy!
Brown Sugar Boba
So… I heard a Boba shortage would be happening soon, so I thought, what better time to share my 3 INGREDIENTS ONLY Brown Sugar Boba recipe that is fun and easy to make at home. Chewy, sweet, addicting Brown Sugar Boba is an easy recipe that only requires a few simple ingredients. I use to make these with my mom as a kid as a fun weekend activity, something about homemade boba that is super satisfying! Make these Brown Sugar Boba in bulk and freeze them for up to 1 month!
Prep Time10 mins
Active Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 10 mins
Course: Dessert, Drinks, Snack
Cuisine: Asian, Taiwanese
Keyword: Asian Food, Asian Recipes, Boba, Bubble Tea, Dessert, Easy Recipes, Taiwanese Food, Taiwanese Recipes
Yield: 4 People
Materials
- 160 g Tapioca Starch
- 60 g Brown Sugar
- 80 ml of Water
Brown Sguar Glaze
- ½ cup of Brown Sugar
Milk Tea Recipe
- 2 Red Tea Bags
- 1/2 cup of Milk
- Ice
Instructions
In a pot, mix 3 tbsp of Tapioca Flour, 80 ml of water, and 60g of brown sugar. Make sure everything is thoroughly combined before bringing it to the stove.
(Video) Homemade Boba | Boba Milk TeaTurn the heat to medium-high and keep stirring until it becomes a thick and sticky consistency. Turn the heat off, and add in the remaining tapioca starch. Mix until slightly cooled down and pour onto a clean surface. (Not everything will be mixed well, but it’s ok)
Once it is safe to knead (warm), knead until it becomes a smooth consistency with no lumps. This process takes around 5 minutes. If it is too sticky, you can add in a bit of bit more Tapioca Starch, but make sure to keep kneading.
Cut into 4 pieces. Roll out each piece and cut it into small pieces. The size depends on how big you prefer your pearls to be. The pearls do expand a little bit once you cook them.
Roll the pieces into a ball and coat with tapioca starch. At this point, you can freeze the tapioca balls in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Boil a big pot of water and once everything is simmering, add in the tapioca starch. Let it cook on medium heat for 25 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally, so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. After 25 minutes, put the lid on, turn the heat off and let it rest for another 15 minutes. (If you prefer your boba to be on the softer side, simmer for an extra 5 minutes, and rest for another 5 minutes.)
Drain the boba and let it rest in cold water until ready to use.
To make the thick brown sugar glaze. In a pot, add in ½ cup of brown sugar and turn the heat up to medium. Heat the brown sugar and mix for 2-3 minutes or until slightly melted. Add in drained boba and mix till it becomes a thick consistency, around another 2-3 minutes.
Using two tea bags, steep ¼ cup of tea. In a cup, add in the brown sugar boba, swirl the brown sugar boba around the cup, so it leaves a tiger pattern. Add in steep tea, ice, and milk. Enjoy!
Video
FAQs
What is brown sugar boba made of? ›
All you need to make Brown Sugar Boba is 3 SIMPLE INGREDIENTS – Tapioca Starch, Water, and Brown Sugar. I am using Taiwanese Brown Sugar today to give it an authentic caramel flavor. It is more of a powder consistency, so it also melts faster.
Is brown sugar boba the same as regular boba? ›“Regular” or clear boba pearls are made from tapioca starch, which comes from the cassava root, and they're relatively tasteless. Brown sugar boba pearls (a.k.a. black sugar boba) are made from tapioca and brown sugar, which gives them a black color and sweeter taste. For this bubble tea recipe, use black boba pearls!
How do you make brown sugar boba without tapioca starch? ›Theoretically, you can substitute tapioca flour with cornstarch, potato starch, or sweet potato starch. You can also substitute brown sugar water with any type of sweet drink you like.
What is dirty boba milk? ›Dirty Boba is a “signature drink created first when the boba are coated and cooked in brown sugar. The drink can be filled with a choice of milk or fresh teas. Finally, the dirty boba is topped with a milk cheese foam and a caramelized creme brulee topping.”
Is brown sugar boba healthy? ›As its ingredients are milk, brown sugar, and brown sugar soaked tapioca pearls, this drink is very sweet. Out of all the bubble tea drinks out there, brown sugar milk is definitely the least healthy for you in terms of sugar level.