People have heard of the Latte Factor, when the daily $3 latte quickly adds up to a significant sum of money at the end of the month. But those of you who are lucky enough to live near Asian tea shops know there’s such as thing as the Boba Factor.
Boba milk tea is a drink originally from Taiwan, made from tapioca balls (also called boba balls) in a milk and tea concoction. It’s simply delicious. But a drink at a tea shop can range from $3.50 for a medium to over $5 for a large. So how did I counteract the Boba Factor without giving up the delicious goodness of boba milk tea? It’s simple, I became a baller.
Get it? Get it? I’m a (tapioca) baller ’cause I am totally (tapioca) ballin’ by making my own tapioca balls! 
Okay you all can stop groaning now. My joke may be lame I don’t care! Because I’ve successfully made boba milk tea (also known as bubble tea) in the comfort of my own home. It’s quick and easy to do, and so much more wallet-friendly.
Here’s what you need:
Tea (I used Thai Tea here, but you can use black tea, green tea, jasmine tea, whatever tea that strikes your fancy), sugar, honey, milk / creamer, and package of tapioca balls.
Here’s how you make it:
Measure boba balls and cook according to the direction on the package (you can get these quick cooking boba balls at Asian supermarkets).
Make sure you don’t overcook the boba balls. In my opinion, the perfect boba ball is bouncy and chewy but completely cooked through. It should have just the right amount of “give” and “resistance”, and the outside should never be mushy. In fact, the worst boba balls are ones that are mushy on the outside but undercooked on the inside.
Make the thai tea, then add milk or creamer to your liking. Add sugar to taste.
Submerge boba balls in a bowl with a honey and water mixture for 30 minutes if you like the balls to be sweeter.
Spoon balls into milk tea.
Voila! One perfect cup of boba milk tea, ready for your enjoyment. 
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Brilliant! Now i can come over and visit you for some Boba (heh heh).
Oh cool! This gave me a boba craving
Ah, so now I know what those little balls are!!
I’ve never been a huge bubble tea fan, but this is pretty nifty. I will definitely be sharing it around with those I know who enjoy bubble tea.
I must be the only one in the world who hasn’t seen this before…? I feel so un-cultured now.
Looks like something I’d want to at least try before writing it off, but definitely not something I’d try to make before buying it somewhere first.
This looks soooo good! You’re making me crave boba now!
I love boba. But I have to admit that some store-bought drinks (at least in the more “upscale” stores where a drink is $3-$5 instead of $2-$3) is way better than my homemade version.
i, too love boba and am quite addicted to it. i have to have my fix almost everyday! i make milk tea at home but i haven’t thought about making the boba myself. thanks for the post!
looks yummay…
This has got to be way healthier than I’ve seen some stores make it (here in Singapore) – loads of syrup and non-dairy creamer. Ew.
I need to get some boba and try making it, Mr M likes boba in fruit smoothies. I usually just make traditional tapioca pudding, I’ve never seen the boba balls in the store. I live in the SGV, I must be able to find it!
YAY!! I had no idea you could buy boba balls in a package like that. I pictured you like.. forming them, haha. Yum must try this sometime
thank you!! ~
ahahaha sweet! Great minds think alike!
I was just taken by a craving for some bubble tea and was scouring Chinatown for the ingredients! What a well-timed post!
I’ve even got the same tapioca balls as you do
My problem is trying to find the taro flavouring I like so much. Everywhere they have pre-made sachets of it, but they’re small and expensive, I just need a big bag of the flavour and I’ll add my own cream!