Zhen Zhu Nai Cha (Taiwanese Bubble Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls)
Local name: 珍珠奶茶
In short: Zhen zhu nai cha is Taiwan's original bubble tea: strong black tea mixed with milk and brown sugar syrup, served over ice with chewy tapioca pearls. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 2 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 360 kcal
Bubble milk tea started in Taiwan in the 1980s and has since traveled the world. The base is strong black tea, chilled and mixed with milk and brown sugar syrup, then poured over a spoonful of chewy tapioca pearls. The pearls need patient boiling and a long rest in the hot water, and they taste best within a few hours of cooking.
Instructions
- Bring the 1 liter of water to a rolling boil in a medium pot. Add the pearls and stir. When they float, lower the heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring now and then.
- Turn off the heat, cover the pot and leave the pearls in the hot water for 20 minutes, until chewy and soft right through to the center. Cooking times vary by brand, so follow the package if it differs.
- While the pearls rest, dissolve the brown sugar in the 60 ml of water in a small pan over low heat. Simmer for 3 minutes until lightly syrupy. Keep it warm.
- Drain the pearls and rinse them briefly under cool running water. Stir them into the warm syrup and soak for 10 minutes.
- Steep the tea in the boiling water for 5 minutes, then strain and let it cool to room temperature. Brew it strong, because the ice and milk will dilute it.
- Spoon the pearls and some syrup into 2 tall glasses. Fill with ice, then pour in half the tea and half the milk per glass. Stir well, taste and add more syrup if you like. Serve with a wide straw.
Tips
- Serve the pearls within 4 hours of cooking and keep them at room temperature in syrup. In the refrigerator they turn hard and chalky.
- Brew the tea darker than you would for a hot cup. The milk and melting ice soften the flavor, and a weak tea gets lost.
Questions and answers
What are the bubbles in bubble tea?
They are chewy balls made from tapioca starch, usually colored dark with brown sugar. They are boiled until soft, rested in the hot water, then soaked in syrup before being added to the tea.
Can I make bubble tea dairy-free?
Yes. Swap the milk for unsweetened soy milk or oat milk. Soy milk is popular in Taiwan, and oat milk gives a creamy result. Add a little more syrup, since plant milks are less sweet.
Why are my tapioca pearls hard in the middle?
They were undercooked or not rested long enough. Boil them in plenty of water, then cover and leave them off the heat until chewy right through. Old pearls can take longer to soften.
How long does it take to make Zhen Zhu Nai Cha (Taiwanese Bubble Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls)?
About 55 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Zhen Zhu Nai Cha (Taiwanese Bubble Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls)?
About 360 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 78 g of carbohydrates and 4 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 360 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 78 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 55 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
