Add strawberries, 1 cup of water & sugar to a saucepan.
Bring to boil, lower the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Once strawberries are soft, mash them with a fork.
Remove from heat. Pour the syrup through a sieve into a bowl.
Use a fork to squish out any remaining liquid from the strawberries.
Milk Tea
In a mug, combine1 cup of boiling water with tea. Steep for 5 minutes, then set aside to cool.
Add tapioca pearls to a pan full of boiling hot water.
Let simmer for about 5-6 minutes. If you want the pearls to be softer, cook them for longer. If you want them chewier, cook them for less long.
Remove from heat and strain through a sieve. If you don't have a sieve, simply scoop out the balls with a spoon.
Immediately soak them in half of the strawberry syrup. Stir & set aside.
To serve, ensure the syrup & tea have cooled down.
If desired, blend milk with a handful of ice cubes for an extra refreshing version.
Divide tapioca balls between 2 glasses. Cover with plenty of crushed ice (if desired). Then add tea, milk, and the remaining strawberry syrup.
Stir well and add more sweetener (like sugar, syrup, etc)if desired.
Notes
Important: Always taste before serving. Adjust the sweetness to your own personal taste. Everyone enjoys their boba differently!
The drink can separate a bit - don't panic, this is completely normal. Simply give it a stir!
Decaf - Replace green/black tea with fruit tea. Peach, mango, or strawberry tea work particularly well.
Don't let boba pearls stand around for too long - soak them in strawberry syrup straight away.
When cooking boba, follow the instructions on your own package. Instruction and cooking time can vary!
Lukewarm boba tea is a no-go! Make sure you serve it ice-cold (or very hot!)
If using strawberry milk - Skip the syrup section. Make tea. Then make tapioca balls as described in the recipe. Soak them in 2 tablespoon of sugar. To serve, divide the balls between 2 glasses. Then add tea to each glass and pour strawberry milk on top until the glass is full. Mix & enjoy!To store - Place milk tea (with no pearls and no ice) in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Add fresh pearls and ice when you're ready to serve it.