How to Make Honeycomb for Bubble Tea

What it means

• Honeycomb makes a crunchy, caramel-flavored topping that pairs well with milk tea and brown-sugar boba.
• It is the same candy as standalone honeycomb, just broken into smaller bite-size pieces.
• Because it is hygroscopic, it goes sticky in liquid, so it is added at the last moment rather than stirred in.

Action steps

1. Cook about 1 cup (200g) sugar with 1/4 cup (60ml) golden or corn syrup to the hard-crack stage, about 150C/300F.
2. Off the heat, whisk in 1 to 2 teaspoons of sifted baking soda until it foams, then pour onto parchment.
3. Let it set and cool completely, then chop into small bite-size pieces.
4. Add the pieces to milk tea or brown-sugar boba as a crunchy topping just before drinking.

Risks & deadlines

• Molten sugar causes severe burns — handle it carefully.
• Honeycomb dissolves and softens in liquid, so store pieces airtight and top the drink at the last second.