Homemade Taro Bubble Tea with Tapioca Pearls Recipe
Taro Bubble Tea is a vibrant purple, creamy, and sweet drink made with taro powder, milk, and chewy tapioca pearls. This iconic boba tea flavor combines the nutty and vanilla notes of taro with the satisfying texture of boba pearls for a nostalgic and refreshing treat you can easily make at home. Perfect for those craving a dessert-like tea without the mall price tag.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Taiwanese
Ingredients
Scale
Tapioca Pearls
- ½ cup uncooked tapioca pearls (boba)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (for coating the pearls)
Taro Mixture
- 3 tablespoons taro powder (high-quality brand recommended)
- ½ cup hot water (to dissolve the taro powder)
Drink
- ½ cup milk (whole milk preferred, oat milk as alternative)
- 1–2 teaspoons sweetener (condensed milk or simple syrup, optional)
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Cook the Pearls Correctly: Boil a pot of water. Once boiling, add the ½ cup of tapioca pearls. Wait for them to float to the surface, then cover and simmer for 5–7 minutes or according to the package instructions, ensuring they are perfectly cooked – chewy but not mushy.
- The Sugar Bath: Drain the cooked pearls, keeping a small amount of water. Stir in 1 tablespoon of brown sugar while the pearls are still hot to prevent sticking and infuse a caramel flavor. Let them sit for a few minutes to absorb the sugar.
- Mix the Taro Base: In a shaker or glass, combine 3 tablespoons of taro powder with ½ cup of hot water. Stir or shake vigorously until the mixture is smooth with no lumps to avoid unpleasant clumps in the drink.
- Assemble the Drink: Place the warm sugary pearls into the bottom of a serving glass. Fill the glass with 1 cup of ice, then pour in ½ cup of milk, whole or oat milk.
- The Pour: Slowly pour the purple taro mixture over the milk and ice. Watch as the beautiful purple swirls blend with the white milk, creating a visually satisfying effect.
- Stir and Sip: Use a wide boba straw to stir the drink gently, ensuring flavor distribution. Sip and enjoy the creamy, sweet, nutty taro bubble tea experience.
Notes
- Do not add uncooked tapioca pearls directly to cold water as they dissolve and ruin the texture.
- Tapioca pearls are best consumed fresh; avoid cooking extra to store as they harden and lose chewiness after 4 hours.
- Use plenty of ice to balance the sweetness and avoid a cloying taste.
- To lower calories, reduce the amount of pearls or substitute whole milk with almond milk.
- Fresh taro can be used as an alternative base by steaming, mashing, and mixing with milk and sugar but results in a less vibrant color and thicker texture.
- Store tapioca pearls in an airtight container in a cool, dark place; avoid refrigerating uncooked pearls to prevent moisture damage.
Keywords: Taro Bubble Tea, Boba Tea, Taro Drink, Tapioca Pearls, Taiwanese Tea, Homemade Bubble Tea, Sweet Milk Tea, Taro Powder Drink
