Vanilla Boba Milk Tea - Iced or Hot

Quench your thirst with this refreshing vanilla milk tea. Made within 15 minutes using just 5 simple ingredients. Tastes like a hug in a cup!

After seeing SO many remakes of my other milk tea recipes I decided to give this classic flavor a go!

Best of all? It's so tasty and WAY cheaper than buying it in Gong Cha, Chatime, or other bubble tea shops.

Jump to:

• 💌 Why I Love This Recipe
• 🥛 Ingredients
• 🥄 Equipment
• ⏲️ Steps
• 💡 Expert Tips
• ❤ Vanilla
• ❓FAQ
• 🌹 Variations
• 🍹 Serving
• 📦 Storing 
• 🍹More Boba Recipes
• 🍴Recipe

💌 Why I Love This Recipe

• 5 ingredients only
• Use any milk of choice
• REAL vanilla extract
• No powders or fancy ingredients needed
• Serve with or without chewy tapioca pearls
• Low in sugar
• Make it either hot or cold

🥛 Ingredients

You'll need just 5 ingredients for this quick vanilla milk tea.

Ingredient Details

Milk - I used unsweetened almond milk. Soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk work well too.

Vanilla paste - For best results, use real vanilla paste.

Boba / tapioca balls - Find them in your local Asian supermarkets (Amazon has them too but they're way more expensive online).

Brown sugar - Can be replaced with white sugar or other sweeteners (like agave nectar, or maple syrup).

Tea - You can use either tea bags or loose-leaf tea. I think black tea offers the best experience but green tea and herbal tea work too.

Extra tip - you can typically choose between various tapioca pearl flavors. I recommend black sugar flavor, however, feel free to use whatever you like best. Remember that light-coloured boba pearls won't be as visible in the drink.

🥄 Equipment

• A small pan - for boba pearls
• A mug - for making tea
• A spoon or scoop - for scooping out boba pearls
• 2 tall glasses - for serving
• 2 large straws - optional

⏲️ Steps

Hint - This is just a quick overview for visual learners. Find detailed steps & quantities in the recipe card at the bottom!

1. In a large mug, prepare the tea. Steep for 5 minutes & let cool down completely.
2. Add tapioca pearls to a small saucepan with boiling hot water. Simmer for 3-5 minutes. Important - Read the instructions on your boba packaging. Cooking times vary per brand! 
3. Reserve 2 tablespoon of water and drain the rest. Add sugar and the reserved water to the cooked boba pearls. Stir well and set aside.
4. Fill two tall glasses with ice. Add boba pearls. Then add vanilla extract on top.
5. Add cold tea.
6. Lastly, add cold milk on top. Stir well & enjoy!

Remember - milk tea can be enjoyed in many different ways. Perhaps you like it sweeter. Or creamier. Or more vanilla-y. Or with more tea. It's all up to you!

That's why I recommend you always try it and then adjust it to taste.

💡 Expert Tips

• MIX - If you don't mix it well, the vanilla will stay on the bottom. Make sure to give it a good stir!
• HOT - To serve hot, skip the ice cubes and add piping hot tea and milk.
• BITTER - Black tea can have a slightly bitter flavor if you let it steep for too long. Add more sugar to neutralize this.
• BOBA - Follow the package directions that come with your boba pearls. They can vary considerably so make sure to read & follow them.
• TEXTURE - Adjust the consistency of boba pearls to your taste. Cook for a few minutes longer if you prefer a softer texture. Cook for a shorter amount if you prefer chewy balls.

❤ Vanilla

You might be confused about all the different kinds of vanilla out there. I don't blame you!

This is a quick breakdown of the two most common types used in this recipe:

• Vanilla Paste. My go-to choice. A dark brown paste with tiny black spots. Extremely tasty. Very strong & created the wonderful black flecks on top.
• Vanilla Extract. Considerably cheaper. More watery consistency. Way sweeter. It still has a powerful flavor so it's a good budget-friendly option.

You can find both types in the baking section of your local grocery store.

Extra hint - If you REALLY want to go all out & maximize the vanilla flavor, you can mix two kinds of vanilla in your drink. This way you get the best of both!

❓FAQ

🌹 Variations

Want to spice up this iced beverage? You might be eager to add some different flavors to it.

• Rose water goes perfectly well with vanilla & creates a lovely boba flavor.
• Earl grey tea contains bergamot which is a welcome addition and goes well with vanilla.
• Chai tea is great in fall and winter. Use it instead of black/green tea.
• Matcha tea can also be used instead - it's packed with antioxidants and creates a gorgeous pastel green coloured drink.
• English breakfast tea is a type of black tea that pairs very well with milk & sugar.

Are you craving a thicker boba drink?

Non-dairy creamer can be used instead of milk! This will give it a thicker texture and make it a little heavier.

🍹 Serving

This boba is best served in tall glasses.

I like to fill them with ice cubes all the way to the top and then add boba pearls and the remaining ingredients.

Remember to enjoy this drink fresh! It doesn't keep well at room temperature.

If you drink boba tea regularly I recommend investing in some large reusable straws.

To serve hot - simply omit the ice cubes and serve with piping hot milk and tea.

📦 Storing 

While it's best to enjoy this boba fresh, you can also store it for later.

Keep in mind the following:

• Store boba pearls and the rest of the drink separately.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
• Consume within 2-3 days.

Last but not least, the pearls need to be soaked in syrup.

Make the syrup yourself by dissolving a custom amount of sugar in boiling hot water.

🍹More Boba Recipes

I'm a huge lover of all things bubble milk tea. Here are some similar recipes:

• Oolong tea boba
• Chocolate milk tea
• Mango milk tea
• Jasmine milk tea
• Rose milk tea
• Winter melon milk tea

Got questions? Get in touch via the comments section below.

Made this vanilla pearl milk tea? Leave a star-review or comment below. Your comments and reviews are SO helpful and appreciated!

🍴Recipe