My kids love bubble tea, and we have been enjoying it at restaurants and shops for years.  Part of the fun is getting the bubble tea while we are out, but it really is just as easy to make at home!

When we visited Seattle, we had a chance to check out some great bubble tea places.  However, these drinks can be expensive, so it is nice to have the option to make them at home.

You only need a few ingredients for bubble tea: tapioca pearls, tea mix, and ice.

First, you will need your “bubbles”, which are tapioca pearls.  These come in different varieties, and we have purchased these both on Amazon and our local Asian Grocery Store.  These don’t have much taste, and have a gummy quality to them.


Tapioca pearls are so easy to prepare.  You simply boil them according to the instructions, and it only takes a few minutes.

These pearls are black/gray, but we have bought different colors.  The darker ones show up better in drinks, as you can see from our photos.

The next thing you need is your drink.  You could really prepare whatever drink you like, but there are also lots of bubble tea mixes available as well.

If you have ever been to a Bubble Tea cafe, there are often dozens of flavors, and you can find a large variety online or in stores.  We have tried quite a few, from strawberry to melon to Thai Tea.


To complete your drink, prepare the drink mix, or your own, and add your tapioca pearls and ice.  That’s it!

My kids love making these drinks and getting creative with different combinations.  It is a fun activity to do especially when they have friends or guests come to visit.

Enjoy!