Coconut jelly for bubble tea is coconut water set with agar into firm, chewy cubes. Shop "nata de coco" is fermented and takes weeks; this agar version takes 30 minutes and tastes cleaner.
Prep: 5 min · Cook: 10 min · Total: 15 min · Makes: about 500g jelly (6–8 drinks)
Ingredients
- 400ml coconut water
- 100ml coconut milk (optional, for a creamy jelly)
- 5g agar powder
- 40g sugar
Method
- Whisk the agar and sugar into the cold coconut water.
- Bring to the boil and simmer 2 minutes, stirring.
- Stir in the coconut milk and pour into a shallow tray.
- Set 30 minutes at room temperature or 15 in the fridge, then cut into 1cm cubes.
Troubleshooting
- Will not set: agar must boil for 2 full minutes.
- Too hard: use 3–4g agar.
- Weepy: normal for agar after 2 days; drain before use.
Variations
- Pandan: add 1 tsp pandan extract.
- Lychee: swap half the coconut water for lychee juice — see lychee jelly.
- Clear jelly: leave out the coconut milk.
Storage
Keeps 3–4 days in syrup in the fridge.
Making it for a café or event? See bubble tea supplies or our one-day training course.
People also ask
- How do you make popping boba at home?
- Blend sodium alginate into juice, drip it into a calcium bath, and lift the spheres out after 60 seconds. Read the full answer
- How do you make lychee jelly for bubble tea?
- Boil lychee juice with agar for two minutes, set it in a shallow tray, and cut it into 1cm cubes. Read the full answer
- What do you need to make bubble tea at home?
- Strong tea, milk or fruit, brown sugar syrup, tapioca pearls and a wide straw — a kit covers the rest. Read the full answer
- What are the bubbles in bubble tea made of?
- Tapioca pearls: cassava starch, water and brown sugar. The name itself comes from the foam on a shaken tea. Read the full answer
Need boba supplies in bulk?
We supply tapioca pearls, popping boba, syrups, powders, cups and sealing film on trade terms, with shipping across the UK, Europe and further afield.
