Homemade Taro Bubble Tea is cold and creamy with a nutty vanilla flavor, a vibrant purple color, and little pops of chewy boba pearls. It's the perfect cold drink for hot days! The best part? This milk tea shop favorite is a lot easier to make at home than you think!
Taro is a starchy root vegetable common in Southeast Asia. Although the root looks brown and hairy on the outside, the white interior is speckled with little pops of purple. When it cooks down, taro root has a beautiful purple color and a creamy, vanilla-like flavor that reminds me of a vanilla milkshake or horchata. This taro milk tea recipe uses taro powder instead of fresh taro root, which makes it very easy to prepare. Just grab a few basic supplies from your local Asian market and make it any time you want!
Why You'll Love This Taro Bubble Tea
- Easy to make. This homemade bubble tea is made by steeping your favorite dried tea, then mixing it with taro powder, milk, and a little sweetener, then adding the chewy tapioca balls. So easy!
- Ready in one hour. I know that sounds like a long time for a beverage, but that includes the time it takes to rehydrate the boba pearls and chill the tea. Make the most of this time by preparing a double or triple batch and you'll be able to serve homemade boba tea any time!
- Sweet and creamy. Even if you're not familiar with taro root, don't skip this recipe! The powdered root adds a nutty, sweet flavor and creamy texture that is refreshing and comforting. Plus, that purple hue is just so pretty!
- Save some money. If you're a regular at your local bubble tea shop, you know how much those sweet drinks add up! When you prepare your tea at home, you'll save money in the long run. This will also allow you to control the quality of your ingredients, too!
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Taro Bubble Tea, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- tea - use your favorite type of unflavored tea, like black tea or regular green tea.
- taro powder - this powder adds lots of taro flavor quickly and easily.
- water
- milk - or full-fat coconut milk.
- sweetened condensed milk - or honey, to taste.
- ice cubes - optional.
- boba tapioca pearls - these are easy to find in Asian grocery stores or online.
- brown sugar - or honey to sweeten the boba syrup.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a medium mixing bowl, whisk, medium pot with lid, fine mesh sieve, and 2 serving glasses with wide straws.
How to Make the Best Taro Bubble Tea
- Steep tea. In a medium mixing bowl, add teabag and boiling water. Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes.
- Make milk tea. Remove the tea bag and add taro powder, milk and condensed milk. Mix well until smooth and transfer to the fridge to chill completely, about 30 minutes.
- Make tapioca pearls (boba). In the meantime, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over high heat in a pot. Add tapioca pearls and turn the heat down to medium-low. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Rest. Turn off the heat. Cover the lid and let the tapioca pearls rest in the hot water for another 20-25 minutes.
- Drain. Drain the pearls through a fine mesh sieve and return to the saucepan.
- Add sweetener. Add in brown sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of water. Stir well and heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the syrup starts to thicken a bit, about 4-5 minutes. When the pearls are fully cooked through, they should be soft and chewy.
- Assemble the bubble tea. Divide the cooked tapioca pearls into two tall glasses. Add 2 ice cubes and add taro milk tea over top. Give the drinks a quick stir and serve with wide straws.
Recipe Variations
- Play up the purple color. Most taro powders add food coloring to give you a distinct purple color. If you choose one without that, you can always add a few drops of your favorite food dye.
- Make dairy-free taro tea. If you can't tolerate dairy or are vegan, look for non-dairy milk, like coconut milk or almond milk, and use non-dairy sweetened condensed milk.
- Make a taro latte. Ditch the tapioca pearls and the ice, and make a hot taro latte! Infuse the tea in hot water, but then stir in the sweetened condensed milk and taro powder directly in the mug. Steam the milk, stir it in, and pour a little foam on top. Such a lovely way to start the day!
How to Serve
This Taro Bubble Tea is delicious served on its own, or paired with some of my favorite cookies including:
For more recipes, see our 50 Best Cookie Recipes.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Make extra. If you're a fan of bubble teas, you might want to double or triple this recipe! The leftovers store well in the fridge, so you can enjoy a purple bubble tea every day.
- To boba or not. Consider the boba pearls optional. If you don't like them, don't make them! The taro milk tea is delicious without them, too.
- Use fresh boba pearls. If your dried tapioca pearls are old, they may take a long time to plump up. For the best results, use a fresh package and let them cook until they're tender and chewy.
- Check the ingredients. Some store-bought taro powders already contain sugar, so you may not need to add any extra.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Once prepared, your taro tea can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days. The leftover boba can last in a separate container for 2-3 days. When you're ready, simply serve the chilled tea with your homemade boba.
How to Freeze
The pearl milk tea, including the boba pearls, can be frozen in ice cubes or any freezer-safe container for 1-2 months. Allow the mixture to thaw in the fridge, then shake well before serving.
FAQ
Taro root powder itself is naturally caffeine-free, but most taro milk tea is made with either black or green tea bags, which do contain caffeine. If you prefer to avoid caffeine, use decaffeinated tea bags instead.
Taro milk tea is starchy and creamy with a buttery, nutty flavor with hints of vanilla. It tastes a little bit like coconut, and it's especially lovely when sweetened! The boba pearls add a little extra sweetness and a pleasantly chewy texture that makes this drink really fun to eat.
Taro boba is made by infusing iced green or black tea with milk, sweetener, taro starch powder, and chewy tapioca pearls.
More Drink Recipes
- Matcha Milk Tea
- Mango Bubble Tea
- Homemade Peach Iced Tea
- Strawberry Milk Tea
- Blackberry Milkshake
- Iced Mocha
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Recipe
Taro Bubble Tea
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 2 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Homemade Taro Bubble Tea is cold and creamy with a nutty vanilla flavor, a vibrant purple color, and little pops of chewy boba pearls. It's the perfect cold drink for hot days! The best part? This milk tea shop favorite is a lot easier to make at home than you think!
Ingredients
For the taro milk tea:
- 1 tea bag, black tea or green tea
- ½ cup boiling water
- ¼ cup taro powder
- 2 cups milk (or coconut milk)
- 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk or honey (to taste)
- 4 ice cubes (optional)
For the boba pearls with syrup:
- ½ cup dried (boba) tapioca pearls
- 4 cups water
- 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar (or honey)
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, add teabag and boiling water. Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag and add taro powder, milk and condensed milk. Mix well until smooth and transfer to the fridge to chill completely, about 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over high heat in a pot. Add tapioca pearls and turn the heat down to medium-low. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Turn off the heat. Cover the lid and let the tapioca pearls rest in the hot water for another 20-25 minutes.
- Drain the pearls through a fine mesh sieve and return to the saucepan.
- Add in brown sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of water. Stir well and heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the syrup starts to thicken a bit, about 4-5 minutes. When the pearls are fully cooked through, they should be soft and chewy.
- Divide the cooked tapioca pearls into two tall glasses. Add 2 ice cubes and add taro milk tea over top. Give the drinks a quick stir and serve with wide straws.
Notes
How to store: Once prepared, your taro tea can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days. The leftover boba can last in a separate container for 2-3 days. When you're ready, simply serve the chilled tea with your homemade boba.
How to freeze: The pearl milk tea, including the boba pearls, can be frozen in ice cubes or any freezer-safe container for 1-2 months. Allow the mixture to thaw in the fridge, then shake well before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
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