The tapioca normally cooks in boiling water for 15 minutes before you remove the pot from the heat. Then, you usually need to let the pearls sit in the water for an additional 15 minutes. The instructions might differ depending on the size of the pearls or whether or not you’re using quick-cooking tapioca. Always check the instructions to make sure you’re preparing it properly.

If you like vanilla, you could add 1 teaspoon (4. 9 mL) of vanilla extract to the simple syrup once it has been removed from the heat. This will infuse the tapioca pearls with a light vanilla flavor.

Always be careful when working with hot water. Wear oven mitts when you pick up the pot if it’s still hot to the touch, and pour slowly so you’re less likely to get splashed.

Make sure the container you’re using is clean before you put the tapioca into it. You don’t want any cross-contamination happening to your boba!

The tapioca pearls should be completely submerged in the syrup. If you need more, make another batch to add to the container.

If your container has a lid, use it. If not, cover the container with plastic wrap. This should help the tapioca dry out less quickly. Uncooked, dry tapioca can be stored in your cupboard for 12 months. [7] X Research source

Remember that you’ll be adding ice, boba, and perhaps some milk to your tea, so you want it to be extra strong. If you want to enjoy boba tea regularly, you could make an entire pitcher of tea and keep it in the fridge so that you always have some ready to go.

Not all boba tea is served with ice, so if you want a cold drink but don’t want to add ice, put your tea in the fridge for a few hours.

Depending on how sweet you like your tea, you can always add more simple syrup, too.

You can always add more milk to your tea after it is all assembled if you want to. If you want chilled boba but don’t want to put ice in your drink, shake the tea and milk in a cocktail mixer with a few ice cubes before straining the liquid over the tapioca pearls. [12] X Research source

It’s common to see boba tea served both with and without ice. If you skip the ice, just make sure to chill your tea in the fridge beforehand so it’s as cool as possible.

You can purchase wide straws online if you can’t find them at your local grocery store. Some Asian supermarkets may also carry them.