Taro Smoothie with Fresh Boba & Milk

This taro smoothie is a velvety concoction packed with a nutty flavor and sweet notes of vanilla & soft brown sugar. Lovingly served with chewy tapioca (boba) pearls. Impossible to resist, it's like sipping on a cloud of whipped purple delight! 

Jump to:

• 💌 Why I Love This Recipe
• 🥛 Ingredients
• 🥄 Equipment
• ⏲️ Steps
• 💡 Pro Tips
• ❓FAQ
• 🍵 Serving
• Boba Tips
• 🍹 More Boba Recipes
• 🍴Recipe

If you've ever visited bubble tea shops you will know taro is a hugely popular flavor. This recipe is a quick, light, AND cheap take on taro smoothies you can buy in places like Gong Cha, Chatime, etc.

💌 Why I Love This Recipe

• Strong & refreshing taro flavor

• Super quick - No fresh taro root is needed

• The perfect mix between a smoothie & a milkshake!

• Easy & affordable

Did you know? This is a caffeine-free take on my super popular taro boba tea recipe which is made using jasmine or black tea.

🥛 Ingredients

These are the simple ingredients you'll need to make your fresh taro smoothie.

Ingredient Details

Milk - As this is a vegan blog I used non-dairy milk. Oat milk, soy milk, and almond milk all work. Coconut milk will change the flavor of the smoothie as it's quite overpowering. Feel free to substitute for whatever milk you like best.

Tapioca (boba) balls - These are sold in local Asian supermarkets or online on Amazon or other big retailers. Make sure you choose quick-cook tapioca pearls. Those only take a few minutes to cook. They come in various flavors like black sugar, green tea, lychee, etc. 

Taro root powder - Similarly to boba pearls, you can buy the powder online or in Asian supermarkets. More often than not, it comes pre-sweetened which gives this smoothie some sweetness. Check the ingredients list to see if yours comes with sweetener and make sure to add sugar if it doesn't.

Soft brown sugar - Using light brown instead of white sugar lends this recipe a caramel-like flavor note. But don't worry if you don't have it on hand, simply use white sugar instead. Coconut and dark brown sugar are also good options. In fact, most types of sugar work in this recipe (apart from powdered sugar).

Vanilla extract - Adds a warm, marshmallow-like flavor note.  

Optional ingredients: 

Fresh mint - this optional topping gives it extra freshness and adds visual interest.

Condensened coconut milk - if you prefer a thicker version.

Tip - Taro powder varies in color from brand to brand. Don't worry if yours looks different from the one in the photo. 

🥄 Equipment

• 1 small saucepan - for cooking boba pearls
• Sieve/strainer - for straining boba pearls
• Blender (or immersion blender) - for blending all the ingredients
• Tall glasses - for serving
• Wide straws - optional

⏲️ Steps

Wondering how to make your own taro smoothie? It absolutely couldn't get any easier! 

Tip - Find the full recipe details at the bottom of this post.

1 - Add tapioca pearls to a small pan full of boiling water. Let the pearls simmer on medium heat for a few minutes.* 

2 - Reserve about 3 tablespoon of the hot water & then pour the rest through a sieve. Place the pearls back in the pan.

3 - Immediately add sugar straight to the pan along with the reserved water.

4 - Mix well to prevent clumps and set aside.

5 - All that's left to do now is to add the rest of the ingredients to a blender and blend well.

6 - To serve, fill a glass with ice cubes.

7 & 8 - Add boba pearls & the smoothie mixture.

Serve the smoothie immediately. It doesn't taste good if you let it stand at room temperature for too long.

* Keep in mind that the cooking time depends on the brand you are using. I recommend following the package instructions. 

💡 Pro Tips

• Gradually add more sugar or liquid sweeteners (maple, agave) to taste.
• Serve it extra cold! It doesn't have the same effect when served lukewarm.
• Thicken it with condensed coconut milk or coffee creamer if desired.
• Customize it with additional flavors. 
• For example, you could add in some tropical fruit (mango, banana, pineapple)
• Or you could add flavor essences (orange, almond, vanilla, etc).
• If desired, power it up with protein-rich chia seeds or flaxseed. 

Did you know? You can turn this drink into a dessert by serving it with ice cream, whipped coconut cream, chocolate or caramel sauce, coconut flakes, and some shaved chocolate on top. It's the perfect summer refreshment! 

🍵 Serving

Hint - you might be tempted to store this smoothie for later, however, I would advise against it. It's by far the best when enjoyed fresh.

If you have any leftovers, first remove the boba pearls and refrigerate the rest in an airtight container.

Make sure to use the smoothie within 24 hours. Keep in mind that the smoothie might separate or change the texture slightly. 

Serve with ice cubes and stir well.

Boba Tips

First time cooking boba pearls? Don't be scared. It's the easiest thing to make! 

• First, make sure the water is boiling BEFORE adding the pearls.

• Once you've added them, give them a really good stir. This prevents them from sticking together.

• Follow the package instructions for how long to cook them. This varies from anywhere between 1 to 10 minutes.

• Test for doneness- while they're cooking, scoop out a pearl and check if it's reached your desired consistency (same as you would check pasta).

• Adjust to taste - you might prefer chewier or softer pearls. Make sure to cook them accordingly.

• Soak in the water/sugar mixture right away as described in the recipe instructions.

If you'd like to store them for later, make sure they are completely soaked in sugar syrup. This will prevent them from drying out and sticking together.

🍹 More Boba Recipes

If you enjoyed this taro smoothie, don't forget to check out my taro milk bubble tea. 

I invite you to check out my enormous collection of bubble tea recipes.

• Lychee Bubble Tea
• Strawberry Bubble Tea
• Chocolate Bubble Tea
• Jasmine Bubble Tea

Or more delicious recipes here.