Sunday, July 18, 2010

Coconut Bubble Tea



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...We spent the day panning for gold. Really! Each year the town of Cottage Grove holds a Bohemia Mining Day celebration to commemorate the discovery of gold in the area. The event is much like a county fair and it's a wonderful family activity. What is less known, is that while the mine is closed, there are still active claims in the area. That makes it possible for the more adventurous to pan for gold. Ever up to a challenge, Bob and I trekked into the area and did some panning. We found no gold, but had a wonderful day and burned a lot of calories. That, of course, meant a special sweet treat could be enjoyed without any feelings of guilt. We decided to spend the expended calories on large glasses of bubble tea. Now, I can't begin to tell you how a day in a Bohemian community led to a drink of Chinese origin. It just did. The drinks are cold and frothy and they just seemed like a perfect way to end the day. Bubble tea was created in Taiwan in the 1980's. It spread across Asia and made its way to Canada before finally reaching the United States. While the drink has a frothy texture, its called bubble tea because it contains pearl-sized tapioca balls, bobas, that are dispersed throughout the drink. The balls have very little flavor, but they are gummy and are sipped through an oversize straw to be chewed between sips of tea. The base of the drink is tea and it can have milk or fruit flavors added to it. I prefer the milk-flavored version. The tapioca pearls have little flavor of their own, so they are soaked for about 30 minutes in sugar or honey after being boiled. I found a recipe at the New York Times: Dining and Wine site that can be used to make a really nice bubble tea at home. If you're curious you might want to give it a try. Here's my version of the recipe.

Coconut Bubble Tea
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, adapted from The New York Times: Dining and Wine

Ingredients:
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 cups tapioca pearls (1/4-inch wide)
For each bubble tea:
1/2 cup chilled tapioca pearls
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup coarsely chopped mango
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup milk
1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

Directions:
1) Combine sugars and 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Torn off heat. In a second pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add tapioca and cook until tender using time suggested on box. Drain. Mix tapioca with sugar mixture and chill.
2) To make a drink, spoon pearls into a large glass. Place ice, mango, coconut milk, milk and lime juice in a blender jar. Puree. When frothy, pour over pearls and stick in a wide straw. If straws are not available, serve with a spoon.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Ginger Tea - One Perfect Bite
Homemade Vanilla Chai Tea - The Mother Load
Indian Chai Hot Chocolate-Tea Recipe - Tea Escape - Tea Blog
Russian Friendship Tea - Bake It Pretty
The Ultimate Iced Tea Recipe - Cooking By the Seat of My Pants
Lemon Almond Iced Tea - Elite Tea
Herbal Iced Tea - Oprah.com
California Iced Tea - Lifestyle Food.com

64 comments :

Brad said...

What a simple, practical looking drink. I think I'm going to have to hit the print button on this one. Thanks for providing such great, varied and mouth-watering ideas.

Monet said...

While you might have not found real gold, this drink looks like it might be better! I love bubble tea, and anything with coconut makes me smile!

Lucie said...

Mmmm! I love the combination of coconut milk and mango, must be delicious! A great treat after a day out in the sun. Thanks, Mary!

Angie's Recipes said...

A very popular drink in Asia, and kids are so crazy for it...the addition of mango makes the drink so much more appealing!

Bo said...

Too bad you didn't find Amy gold...Ive always loved bubble tea...but I've never made it at home.

giorno26 ¸¸.•*¨*•. said...

Hi Mary,
questa è una bella idea... mi piacerebbe molto provare a fare questo " tea ", ma non sò se riuscirò a trovare la "tapioca".
Un abbraccio e grazie delle tue visite :-)

Linda Starr said...

I thought it was going to be a milkshake from the photo, I was fooled, did you get any gold?

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

I have never made this at home, but I wish to try out one day. Thanks for sharing Mary.

J e l e n a said...

well it looks like even though you didn't find any gold you had a golden moment with this exotic drink...what an end of the day....

Bakericious said...

Yummy beverage that cannot resist :0

The Words Crafter said...

There's a restaurant just up the road from where I work that advertises bubble tea. I had no idea what it was-thanks for clearing that up. It actually sounds delicious! Thanks for the post! (Like Monet, I love anything with coconut)

Lisa said...

I have been dying to try Bubble Tea for ages, but whenever I get the chance, it always turns out I'm short on money - no idea why lol That said...yours looks amazing and gives me a reason to make it without worrying about opening my wallet and seeing the lack of the dollar more I need :)

Diane said...

I have never heard of bubble tea but one I now will certainly try. Diane

cocoa and coconut said...

Bubble tea is hugely popular amongst my friends, funnily enough I've never tried it. Never to late to try!

Deana Sidney said...

I like this idea.. sort of a drink dessert, isn't it? The texture must be fun to eat... and what a perfect dog days of summer drink!!

Unknown said...

How interesting! I have read about similar Asian drinks, but this is my first acquaintance with bubble tea! I can't wait for summer!
Thanks again Mary!

From the Kitchen said...

That's a nice combination of flavors. I've seen the bubble tea in many places but haven't tried a glass. Maybe I will next time. And, next time, I hope you strike gold!

Best,
Bonnie

penny aka jeroxie said...

I love this drink. There are usually so many options. It is possible to make it at home if you can find the tapioca balls in Asian grocer.

Anonymous said...

It sounds so… delicious!
I used to live in Queens NY, I often stopped by China Town to enjoy a bubble tea that was sold in some of their local bakeries and cafes, it was my favorite summer cooler.
Coconut milk and Mango is very tempting pairing, I’ll have to give it a try! Yum!

Thanks so much Mary!

Joanne said...

Perfect timing! I saw a guy walking down the street with bubble tea yesterday and had an INTENSE craving for it. It's been too long. My favorite flavor is coconut!

Panning for gold sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday :P

Anonymous said...

It sounds so… delicious!
I used to live in Queens NY, I often stopped by China Town to enjoy a bubble tea that was sold in some of their local bakeries and cafes, it was my favorite summer cooler.
Coconut milk and Mango is very tempting pairing, I’ll have to give it a try! Yum!

Thanks so much Mary!

Biren said...

Too bad you did not find any gold but the tea sounds like a great idea. The mango puree must give it great flavor.

Martha said...

Have heard of it but never tasted it -- it hasn't come to the prairie as yet!

CaSaundraLeigh said...

Bubble tea is so much fun--I first tried it Boston a couple years ago!

Vegetarian Yogini said...

...sorry to hear you found no gold :) Well, the tea looks delightfully fresh and rich, worth more than gold on a hot day!

Umm Mymoonah said...

Sounds very interesting, we used to make something like this, we call it as payasam.

Jen_from_NJ said...

My daughter loves bubble tea. Thank you for the idea! Have a wonderful day!

ann said...

That sounds so good. I love using the big pearl tapioca too! I can't wait to try this. ann

Gloria Baker said...

Really nice Mary, I love coconut look beauty! gloria huggs

Lori said...

I like your version better because of tha mango. I love bubble tea drinks. I dont make them nearly enough. I just found some oversize straws at Joanne's (5o % off too!). Too bad you didnt find any gold- what fun! My kids would love that.
We have been really enjoying the summer this year. VBS, fruit picking, get togethers, crafts- all these things make summer wonderful. Thank you for thinking of me and remembering that. You are very thoughtful.

Priya Suresh said...

Feel like grabbing that glass, very tempting tea..

Carla and Michael said...

Mango and Coconut! What a delightful combo for this tea. I've seen it made on FN's; Guy's Big Bite Show, though I've never tried it. I like your combination of flavors better than his.

Sushma Mallya said...

Really love the tea and equally tempting drink as well

Chele said...

Sounds like an interesting drink - a snack and a drink in one. Glad you had a great day panning for gold, I've always wanted tot ry my hand at it!

Susi's Kochen und Backen said...

I've heard of bubble tea and have always been intrigued by it. The recipe sounds simple enough that I should give it a try!

Crystal Sugar Cupcakes & Cakery said...

Thank you for the kind words of support, love your blog. Love the coconut in the tea!

Baking is my Zen...sweet nibbles for the soul said...

Never heard of Bubble Tea. I may give this a try! The only thing holding me back are the tapioca pearls. Maybe I'll buy the drink in a restaurant first. And if I like it, then I'll make it. :)

Happy Sunday Mary!

Carmen

Julie M. said...

Mary, I'm so glad you were able to find the flowers. Thank you for the kind words.

Your trip to the gold mine seems have revealed a much better treasure than gold; this bubble tea looks delicious! Where did you find your tapioca balls?

Julie M. said...

Mary, I'm so glad you were able to find the flowers. Thank you for the kind words.

Your trip to the gold mine seems have revealed a much better treasure than gold; this bubble tea looks delicious! Where did you find your tapioca balls?

Ingrid said...

Love bubble tea love coconut as well! YummY!

melissa said...

Thanks so much for the sweet comment you left me on my blog. A nice treat, to be sure.

I'm enjoying visiting here as well. Interesting to read your explanation of what bubble tea actually is. A store near here (since gone) sold the tea, but I never tried it.

Would love to make it at home...and I do have a box of tapioca! :)

Take care.

Jeanette said...

I have heard of bubble tea but never tried it. This looks so good. I am so glad you liked the mirror

Katerina said...

So many exotic flavors. Simple and tasteful. Thanks for sharing it Mary.

RV said...

Perfect way to chill out this summer. TH will love this drink.

Colours and Textures said...

I haven't heard of this but it sounds fun.

LittleRed said...

We have just returned from a two week vacation down the West coast and back up through the interior of Washington and Oregon....after a little dip into the Red Woods. My son brought along his gold pan to try his hand at panning. We stopped at few recreational gold panning spots but never found any gold. We really wouldn't know where to best dig a sample anyway. It was fun imagining what we might find anyway:) Now we are back and I feel like I need to go out and get a bubble tea. I love taro milk bubble tea....yumm

oneordinaryday said...

Thank you for the information on the origins of bubble tea. We've just returned from our beach vacation, where there is a bubble tea shop on the boardwalk. I can't say I'm a fan, but I have been interested in how it came about so I'm happy to have the background.

The Cilantropist said...

Both panning for gold and drinking bubble tea sound like a fun way to spend an afternoon! I love all types of bubble tea, although I have never tried coconut... I think the time has come. :)

Velva said...

I am loving this bubble tea-how refreshing.
Your day sounded like a great day. What fun it would be to pan for gold. I know my son would really enjoy it.

A SPICY PERSPECTIVE said...

What a fun adventure! And the bubble tea looks delightful!

My Little Space said...

What a fun trip! Too bad no gold was found but you found some yummy sweet treat after all! haha.... That is better than gold. The tea sounds really mouthwatering. This kind of tea is very popular over in Asia. yummm.... Hope you're enjoying your day.
Blessings, Kristy

Christine said...

While I've never been much of a fan for the commercial bubble teas, finding them too sweet, your recipe is one that I will save and tinker with to find the perfect balance for me. I'm a big fan of tapioca and love making tapioca pudding with just the barest amount of sugar. I know, weird.
We just drove by Cottage Grove on our way home from Portland today. We often stop in there for lunch on our comings and goings and really enjoy that historic little town. Had I known you were there ...
:0

Deb in Hawaii said...

Bubble tea is very popular here. I like the coconut milk in this one. ;-)

Jeannie said...

Looks refreshing! Bubble teas are very popular here and I love the coconut flavored ones very much, especially if the coconut milk is really fresh!

scrambledhenfruit said...

I've heard of it, but never tried it. Sounds interesting with the little bites of tapioca. Perhaps it's time to be adventuresome! Thanks for sharing :)

Beth @ DiningAndDishing said...

Bubble tea is not something I like very much but my little sister just adores it! And she loves coconut so I'm thinking this would be a perfect something to make for her :).

M. said...

beautifully refreshing :)

FoOd FaNaTiC said...

MMMMMM! This looks DELICIOUS! I will be trying it tonight! We were just in Thailand and the coconut milkshakes were AMAZING.. can't wait to try this!

PranisKitchen said...

this is very new recipe to me looks so good.. sure will give a try.. i like the tapioca peals. we used to make sweet with this tapioca kheer .. good one Mary

L'Chicken said...

You just made my week! I've always wanted to know how to make this!!!

taste traveller said...

I had no idea you could make this at home. I got introduced to it in University by a classmate who drank it all the time in high school. She claims that the bubbles stick really well when you spit them! ;-)

Terrianne, Call me Ree said...

Hi Mary, Long time no see. I hope you've been having a wonderful summer. Your bubble tea looks so delicious. I've always wanted to try it. I think it's fantastic I can make it at home. I love coconut. It's one of my favorite flavors! Thank you.

Tia said...

I've tried to make the bubbles but they always come out with a hard center... :(

Paulina said...

Mmm, so good. I used fresh pineapple instead of the mango & my tapioca pearls were smaller but it worked out anyway. My son loved it.

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