Taro milk tea, bubble tea, or boba tea? All three names identify the same delicious beverage commonly served in Asian tea houses. Bubble tea combines taro root powder with a tea base, a sweetener such as simple syrup, milk, and typically adds tapioca pearls called boba. If you want the characteristic tapioca bubbles in your taro milk tea, you can find them online or in Asian food markets. Versatile and easily vegan, taro milk tea is very easy to make and adaptable to a variety of flavors. Here’s all you need for a boba tea house experience in your own home.
What You’ll Need
- 1 tea bag (green or black)
- 1 quart of water for boiling
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp sweetener (simple syrup or agave nectar are popular choices)
- 1½ tbsp taro root powder
- ¾ cup ice
- OPTIONAL: tapioca pearls (boba)
- Stovetop
- 1-quart pot
- 16 oz. cup for drinking
1. Boil water for tea and tapioca pearls
Bring a quart of water to boil in the pot. Once the water reaches boiling, pour 8 oz. of water into the cup and lower the tea bag into the cup for steeping. Place the remainder of the water in the pot back on the stovetop and boil the tapioca pearls for about 3-5 minutes.
2. Blend the brewed tea, milk, sweetener, taro powder, and ice
Once the tapioca pearls have cooked, drain the boiling water and rinse the pearls with cold water. Discard the tea bag after steeping for five minutes. Pour the brewed tea, sweetener of choice, milk, taro powder, and ice into the blender. Blend until the mixture is combined and smooth (about 30 seconds).
3. Add the tapioca pearls and enjoy
Pour the drink into the cup and add the cooled tapioca pearls. Your boba tea is ready!
The Boba Tea Experience– What are the Different Types of Taro Milk Tea?
While every taro milk tea contains the same base (tea, some type of milk, some type of sweetener, and taro root powder), there are so many ways to keep this drink interesting. Black or green tea? Simple syrup or agave nectar as a sweetener?
You can easily make a vegan bubble tea by finding dairy-free taro powders online and substituting the milk for a plant-based alternative such as almond or oat milk.
Bubble tea can be made in a variety of flavors, including strawberry, coffee, and chocolate. Making your tea at home means the choices are endless! These flavors are found in the sweetener and sometimes even in the tapioca bubbles. Coffee syrup is an easy way to customize the flavor of homemade bubble tea. Flavor-infused tapioca pearls can be found online. Cold brew coffee is another option for a boba tea latte.
Taro milk tea is typically made with boba (tapioca pearls) — that’s why it’s called bubble tea — but you can make it without them if you prefer. Your taro milk tea will still taste amazing!
Simple Taro Milk Tea Recipe
Equipment
- Stovetop
- 1-quart pot
- 16 oz. cup for drinking
Ingredients
- 1 Tea bag (green or black)
- 1 quart water for boiling
- 1 tbsp Milk
- 1 tbsp Sweetener (simple syrup or agave nectar are popular choices)
- 1 ½ tbsp taro root powder
- ¾ cup Ice
- Tapioca pearls (boba) optional
Instructions
- Boil a quart of water in the pot on the stove. Pour 8 oz. of the boiling water into the drinking cup and brew your tea for 5 minutes. If you want boba in your milk tea, return the pot to the stove and use the remainder of the water to boil the tapioca pearls for 3-5 minutes.
- After five minutes, drain the boiling water in the pot and rinse the pearls with cold water. Discard the tea bag. Pour the brewed tea, sweetener, milk, taro powder, and ice into the blender. Blend until the mixture is combined and smooth (about 30 seconds).
- Pour the drink back into the cup and add the cooled tapioca pearls. Enjoy your boba tea!
Notes
Conclusion
Homemade boba tea is an exotic treat that’s easy to make and makes you feel like you’re traveling to Asia without leaving your kitchen. It’s cheaper than drinks in the cafe and capable of any flavors you like. You just might find your new favorite craving.
Featured Image Credit: Brent Hofacker, Shutterstock
