Description
Tiger Milk Tea is a visually stunning and delicious Taiwanese-inspired drink featuring tapioca pearls coated in a rich brown sugar syrup that creates signature ‘tiger stripes’ inside the glass. This creamy milk tea offers a perfect balance of sweetness and chewiness, served hot or iced for a refreshing treat.
Ingredients
Tapioca Pearls
- ½ cup tapioca pearls
- Water, enough to fill half your pot to boil the pearls
Brown Sugar Syrup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons water
Milk Tea
- 3 cups milk (adjust based on glass size)
- Ice cubes (optional, for iced tea)
Instructions
- Bring Water to Boil: Fill a pot with enough water (about half the pot) and bring it to a rolling boil to prepare for cooking the tapioca pearls.
- Cook the Tapioca Pearls: Add the tapioca pearls to the boiling water. Allow them to cook until they start floating, which usually takes 3 minutes for homemade pearls. Continue boiling for an additional 7 minutes to achieve a softer and chewier texture.
- Cook Store-Bought Pearls: If using store-bought quick-cook pearls, follow their respective cooking times as brands vary.
- Make Brown Sugar Syrup: While the pearls boil, combine brown sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of water in a pot over medium heat. Allow the sugar to melt without stirring to avoid crystallization. Optionally, add a bit of lime or lemon juice to prevent crystal formation.
- Combine Pearls and Syrup: Once the pearls are cooked, drain and add them directly to the syrup. Stir the pearls in the pot over medium heat until the syrup thickens enough to coat the spoon and the sides of the pot, about 5-10 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Assemble the Tiger Milk Tea: Hold a tall glass horizontally and spoon half of the syrup-coated pearls (about 5 tablespoons) near the rim. Slowly straighten the glass so the pearls slide down the inside, creating the signature tiger stripe effect on the glass walls.
- Let Syrup Set: Allow the syrup-coated pearls to rest in the glass for 2 minutes so the stripes harden slightly and don’t dissolve instantly when milk is added.
- Add Milk: Pour cold milk into the glass over the syrup and pearls. For an iced version, add ice cubes as desired; however, note that ice may dilute the drink slightly.
Notes
- Cooking times for tapioca pearls vary by brand; quick-cook versions are recommended for convenience.
- Do not add too much water when making the brown sugar syrup to ensure it thickens properly.
- Avoid stirring the sugar while melting to prevent crystallization, or add a splash of lemon/lime juice as a natural anti-crystallizing agent.
- Letting the syrup set before adding milk is crucial to maintain the visual tiger stripe effect.
- Serve immediately after assembly for the best flavor and texture experience.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Taiwanese
