This satisfying taro bubble tea with chewy tapioca balls is based on jasmine tea & has a slightly nutty flavor. No real taro root required & super easy!
This popular drink is a mix of nutty, floral, smooth & aromatic! Being homemade, it's way cheaper than buying the equivalent from bubble tea/coffee shops (like Gong Cha, Ding Tea, Chatime, Tastea, Starbucks, etc).
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💌 What to Expect
- So simple & refreshing
- Silky & creamy texture
- 5 ingredients only (plus optional add-ons)
- Customize it to taste
- Looks incredible
Did you know? Taro is a starchy root vegetable originating from Southeast Asia. It can be used to make sweet or savory food and is often mistaken for purple yam (ube).
🥛 Ingredients
These are the simple ingredients you'll need to make your rich taro milk tea!
Ingredient Details
Milk - To keep this dairy-free I use oat milk. You can use soy milk, almond milk, etc. Coconut milk is a good choice too but remember it has a strong, overpowering flavor.
Taro root powder - I like to buy it online (Amazon, eBay) or from my local Asian supermarkets. Taro powder normally comes sweetened. If yours doesn't, you will need to add some sugar to the drink.
Tea - I recommend jasmine tea (tea bags or loose leaves). It's floral, neutral, and pairs well with the taro flavor. You can also use other green, oolong, Assam, and herbal tea.
Tapioca (boba) balls - Go for quick-cooking tapioca pearls. They take just a few minutes to cook. Similarly to taro root powder, you can buy them online or in Asian grocery stores.
Sugar - Ideally, you should use light brown sugar. It has a caramel note which adds a new flavor dimension to this drink. Coconut sugar works well too. If you don't have either, simply use white granulated sugar or whatever you have on hand.
Vanilla extract - Optional, but highly recommended! I used real vanilla paste, but you can also use vanilla essence.
Tip - Every taro powder is slightly different so keep in mind your final drink might not look exactly the same as mine! For example, it could be lighter, darker, etc.
🥄 Equipment
- Mug
- 2 tall glasses
- 1 small saucepan
- Sieve/strainer
- Blender (immersion blender works too)
- Wide straws - optional
⏲️ Steps
Wondering how to make taro boba milk tea? This step-by-step guide teaches you all you need to know!
This is just a quick overview. Detailed instructions & exact quantities are waiting for you in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
1 - First, make the tea in a large mug. Set aside for later.
2 - In the meantime, add tapioca pearls to a pot full of boiling water. Let simmer on medium heat for a few minutes (depending on the brand you're using*).
3 - Reserve about 3 tablespoon of water & drain the rest.
4 - Add sugar straight to the pot & mix well. This will prevent the pearls from sticking together.
5 - Add taro powder, milk & vanilla to a blender. Blend until smooth.
6 - Fill the glasses with ice cubes, then add boba pearls, tea & taro milk mixture. Enjoy!
Serve it immediately. Remember it doesn't taste good if you let it stand at room temperature for too long.
* Remember that every brand of tapioca pearls is a little different. While I provide general instructions, I recommend you follow the instructions found on your packaging label.
💡 Pro Tips
- Taste the taro drink before serving & then adjust to taste. Everybody enjoys their bubble milk tea differently - you can add more milk, tea, sugar, etc.
- Cook the tapioca pearls properly.
- Undercooked or overcooked pearls can ruin the texture of this taro milk bubble tea. Follow the instructions on the package carefully and adjust the cooking time if needed.
- Add a little bit of maple syrup or agave nectar to enhance the sweetness and help balance out the earthy taro flavor.
- Using a high-speed blender or milk frother to create a creamy, frothy texture will make the drink even more refreshing and satisfying.
- Use extra sugar or liquid sweeteners if you prefer a sweeter taste.
- Serve the taro bubble tea over ice for a refreshing and cool drink, and be sure to include a wide straw to make it easy to enjoy the tapioca pearls.
- The drink might separate slightly. Don't worry, simply stir it again.
❓FAQ
Taro bubble tea has a distinct taste, a mixture of sweet, nutty, and vanilla-like.
The texture of chewy tapioca pearls provides a contrast to the silky smooth texture of taro milk tea.
It's refreshing and slightly sweet. You can customize the sweetness according to taste.
Don't forget that the flavor will also depend on
- the type of milk you're using (I used oat),
- the flavor of tapioca pearls you choose (I used brown sugar).
There are approx. 300 calories in one portion.
Remember this is an estimate only and will depend on many factors such as:
- the milk you're using,
- the taro powder you're using,
- any additional sweeteners.
Taro powder itself doesn't contain caffeine.
However, the tea you're using likely does.
Most green and black tea contains caffeine. You can use herbal or fruit tea or opt for decaf if you want a caffeine-free version.
- The complex flavor is distinctly different from all other bubble tea flavors.
- The beautiful purple color.
- The very Instagram-able appearance.
Be careful - not all taro powder is vegan. Many brands contain milk powder.
Make sure to read the ingredients list carefully before using.
To keep this drink vegan you will also need to serve it with vegan milk (soy, coconut, oat, etc).
🍵 Serving
To serve COLD
Fill ¾ of a tall glass with ice cubes. Then add cooked pearls, tea & the taro milk mixture.
Remember to try the drink & then adjust it to taste. You might require more sweeteners, milk, ice, tea, etc.
To serve HOT
Simply leave out the ice cubes. Use hot tea & hot milk.
📦 Storage
Most importantly, you need to store the tea & the tapioca pearls separately.
To store the tea, simply transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. Don't use any ice cubes as they will dilute the drink.
Drink it within 24 hours.
To store the cooked tapioca pearls, make sure they are thoroughly soaked in simple syrup.
You can use syrup from a grocery store or make a simple syrup yourself. Just combine 1 cup of water with ½ cup of white sugar in a small pan. Let it simmer for about 12-15 minutes, then use it to cover the pearls.
No boba pearl should be left uncovered.
Keep in the fridge for about 2-3 days.
🍹 More Boba Recipes
If you enjoyed this taro boba tea, you might enjoy the massive selection of other bubble tea flavors on my blog:
PS - Don't get intimidated by the long-ish recipe! This recipe is beginner-friendly and the steps are all very simple.
🍴Recipe
Taro Bubble Milk Tea - Boba
Equipment
- Mug
- small saucepan
- Sieve/strainer
- Blender or immersion blender
- 2 Tall glasses
- 2 Large straws optional
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoon jasmine (or black/green/oolong) tea 1 teabag
- 1 cup (235 ml) boiled water
- ½ cup (80 g) quick-cooking tapioca pearls
- 2 tablespoon light brown sugar or white/coconut/granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoon taro root powder
- 1 cup (235 ml) oat milk or any other milk of your choice
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- ice cubes
Instructions
- In a large mug, prepare the tea by adding tea leaves (or bags) to hot water. Set aside to cool.3 teaspoon jasmine (or black/green/oolong) tea, 1 cup boiled water
- In the meantime, add tapioca pearls to a pot (saucepan) full of boiling water.½ cup quick-cooking tapioca pearls
- Let it simmer on medium heat for a few minutes (it might need a few minutes less or more depending on the brand you're using*).
- Reserve about 3 tablespoons of water & drain the rest.
- Add sugar straight to the pot & mix well. This will prevent the pearls from sticking together.2 tablespoon light brown sugar
- Add taro powder, milk & vanilla to a blender. Blend until completely smooth.4 tablespoon taro root powder, 1 cup oat milk, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Fill the glasses with ice cubes, then add boba pearls, tea & taro milk mixture. Enjoy!ice cubes
- Serve it immediately. It doesn't taste good if you let it stand at room temperature for too long.
Notes
- Use extra sugar or liquid sweeteners if you prefer a sweeter taste.
- Every taro powder is slightly different so keep in mind your final drink might not look exactly the same as mine! For example, it could be lighter, darker, etc.
- Undercooked or overcooked pearls can ruin the texture of this drink. Follow the instructions on the package carefully and adjust the cooking time if needed.
- The drink might separate slightly. Don't worry, simply stir it again.
- If your taro powder is unsweetened, you will need to add a few extra teaspoons of sugar (to taste).
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information above is calculated automatically. The author of this post cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of this data.
Got questions about making this recipe? My comments section is ALWAYS open to any questions.
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