Boba Is Always Tasty—But This Bubble Tea Kit Elevates It

Back when I was in college, my then-boyfriend (now husband) and I used to spend our Sundays together at the mall. First, we’d browse through Barnes and Noble for the latest releases. Then, it was off to the bubble tea cafe for a honeydew boba drink. Now that my affinity for gourmet teas has grown, I rarely venture out for a cup of tea made by someone else. Still, there’s something about those playful tapioca orbs that always draws me back.

As someone who takes the “we have X at home” philosophy to heart, I’m no stranger to at-home bubble tea kits. Most boba tea kits—like this option from O’s—are more than suitable for getting a trendy Instagram look. However, you’ll often find that they’re chock full of unnatural ingredients and sugar. The “tea” is also less tea and more “mystery powder” bolstered by artificial flavors and milk solids.

While these cafe-style kits are still delicious (and may be just what you’re looking for), I’m a real tea drinker. For me, faux tea powder just isn’t going to scratch the same itch as a freshly brewed batch of rooibos. Trying to find a bubble tea kit made for tea drinkers is how I came across the bubble tea kits from Uncommon Goods. Not to be dramatic, but I finally feel seen.

These all-in-one kits aren’t just easy to use, they’re also perfect for anyone looking for a tea experience enhanced by boba, rather than the mystery powder concoction serving purely as a vehicle for popping pearls or chewy tapioca.

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Uncommon Bubble Tea Kits

Grab your favorite tea steeper. It's time to take your specialty tea hobby to the next level.

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Why I’m Obsessed With This Bubble Tea Kit

Unlike most boba kits, the bubble tea kits from Uncommon Goods come packaged with real, specialty loose leaf tea from Thereabouts. There are two kits available: a traditional tapioca boba kit and a popping boba-style kit.

The milk tea kit contains Royal Milk (a darjeeling and assam blend) and Rooibos Chai (a caffeine-free spicy chai made with rooibos, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, black peppercorn, fennel and coriander).

The fruit tea kit comes with Peachy (a caffeinated ceylon and nilgiri black tea blend with real dried peaches, raspberry leaf, strawberry leaf and lemon balm) and Mango Green (a Japanese sencha green tea with dried mango, lemon balm and ginger).

All the included tea is loose leaf-style and incredibly fresh, so it’s great for both boba and drinking on its own, should you run out of pearls. The fruity kit comes with a sealed container of strawberry flavored popping bubbles, while the milky kit arrives with a bag of uncooked tapioca pearls. In addition, you also get two big, reusable stainless steel boba straws for sipping.

How I Make Homemade Boba

As I mentioned, I’m a bit of a tea snob. But I’m also not an expensive tea snob. I cite my favorite tea subscriptions for introducing me to the wonderful world of loose leaf steeping. While I’ll still brew the occasional cup of Red Rose black tea for nostalgia, I now also have a pretty extensive collection of gourmand-style blends. If you ever see me at home, there’s an 80% chance I’ll be sipping from a cup of tea. In the biz, we call this being a “chaophile.”

That said, I truly believe loose leaf tea is for everyone. It just requires a little introductory know-how. And boba, with its playful texture, is the perfect place to start. To begin enjoying your bubble tea kit, the first step is brewing the tea. Steeping loose leaf tea from the Uncommon Goods boba kits isn’t much different than brewing tea from a bag. Simply load up your trusty tea infuser with a heaping—and I mean heaping—teaspoon of your tea leaves.

Then, take a look at the steeping recommendations below. If you don’t have an electric kettle with temperature controls, that’s okay. I believe that the pursuit of perfection should never stand in the way of culinary exploration. In other words, regular old boiling water also works fine.

• Green Tea: Steep for 2-3 minutes at 170º
• White Tea: Steep for 2-4 minutes at 180º
• Oolong Tea: Steep for 2-5 minutes at 190º
• Black Tea: Steep for 2-5 minutes at 212º
• Herbal Tea: Steep for 5-8 minutes at 212º

The next steps depend on the kit you purchased.

Milky Boba Tea

The tapioca pearls in the milk tea kit aren’t ready to eat out of the box. They require a little cooking to get from their pre-packaged dehydrated state to that chewy texture we all know and love. First, bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Then, add about 1/4 cup of the dry boba. That should yield enough for a single serving.

Next, give the boba a good stir. When they start to float, lower the temperature to medium and cover. Then, boil the covered boba for 5 minutes for a chewier texture, or 10 minutes for a softer texture. Once finished, drain the boba. I like to run cold water over the cooked pearls to bring the temperature down before putting them in my glass and covering with ice.

Lastly, add your tea to the boba and ice, then add milk to taste. For a sweeter drink, take a look at my boba tips below.

Fruity Boba Tea

While the tapioca bubble tea kit requires a little prep work, the fruity popping bubbles are ready right out of the box. Just brew one of the included Peachy Black or Mango Green teas as directed on the instructions. Then, pour your tea over ice to cool it down. The final step is to spoon in the the popping bubbles and add your straw. I also like to add a little of the strawberry juice that the popping pearls arrive swimming in for some sweetness.

Voila! A refreshing, fruity treat fresh from the kitchen!

Loose Leaf Tea Tip

One thing to keep in mind before purchasing Uncommon’s bubble tea kits is that they don’t come with any kind of steeping utensils. If you’re new to the world of loose leaf tea, you’re going to want to invest in a reusable infuser. There are tons of options to choose from, but I highly recommend going with something whimsical like this Baby Nessie. If you’re going to invest in a new piece of kitchenware, it might as well be one that makes you smile!

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to steep the tea cold rather than pour it over ice, you can create overnight iced tea in the refrigerator using something like this steeping carafe from Williams Sonoma. For smaller servings, try a steeping bottle like this one from Adagio Teas. Both options make excellent companion gifts to the boba kits for holidays and birthdays.

Boba Tips

I’ve been making boba at home for years now, so I’ve learned a few things along the way. For a sweeter tapioca pearl and a more authentic taste, consider creating a reduced brown sugar syrup to toss the pearls in. Try modifying a simple syrup recipe by subbing out brown sugar for white sugar. Alternatively, adding a little brown sugar to your tea gives a similar effect for less effort.

For the popping pearl drinks, try adding a dash of honey or a tablespoon of fruit juice or puree for a sweeter tea. Heck, you can even toss in finely diced fruits to suck up in your straw alongside the popping bubbles. There are endless ways to create a drink that suits your tastes, so have fun! After all, that’s what drinking boba is all about.

Where To Buy

I'm Obsessed

Uncommon Bubble Tea Kits

Curious about boba? This bubble tea kit includes everything you need to get started.

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Those ready to level up their tea time can snag both the milky and fruity bubble tea kits from Uncommon Goods. Each kit rings up for around $40. I find this fair for two 1.8-ounce bags of specialty tea, plus the boba and straws. Normally, a 1-ounce bag of premium loose leaf can ring up for $15 or more on its own, depending on the quality. And honestly, the quality of this tea is pretty dang good. Everything comes nestled in a colorful box, making for an impressive gift or self care splurge.