Strawberry Milk Tea (Boba Tea)
Sweet, creamy and refreshing strawberry milk tea made with deliciously chewy boba aka tapioca pearls and hibiscus tea. Vegan and gluten-free.
❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It’s easy to make.
- The boba pearls in milk tea are fun to eat!
- It’s a beautiful, vibrant drink with delicious flavors and the perfect sweetness level.
- It’s caffeine-free and kid approved.
- Naturally vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and nut-free.
For a more classic boba, check out this Brown Sugar Milk Tea. Also see this Strawberry Glaze Smoothie!
🗒️ Ingredient Notes
Sugar: I like to use coconut sugar, but any granulated sugar will work well to make the strawberry simple syrup for this recipe.
Hibiscus tea: Hibiscus tea is decaffeinated tea that works really well with the flavor of strawberries and also makes it a bubble tea suitable for kids. Having said this, you can replace the hibiscus tea with a green tea such as jasmine, which is a more traditional choice for a milk tea or even black tea, if you prefer.
Strawberry powder: I find freeze dried strawberry powder works really well and creates a stronger strawberry flavor than when fresh strawberries are used to make a syrup.
Milk: I love the flavor and creaminess of oat milk, but any conventional dairy milk (if not vegan) or plant-based milk will do. My other favorites include soy milk and almond milk. For an extra fun variation, try vanilla milk.
Tapioca pearls: Tapioca pearls (also known as “boba”) come in a few different varieties. I prefer the large black or brown tapioca pearls (aka brown sugar boba) that are made with brown sugar for this purpose. I also prefer buying the natural tapioca pearls, over the conventional ones made with unnecessary preservatives and such.
♨️ How to Make Strawberry Milk Tea
- You will begin by preparing the tapioca pearls, the strawberry simple syrup, and the hibiscus tea.
- To bring it all together into a strawberry boba tea, you will add ice (preferably nugget ice) to a glass, followed by tapioca pearls, syrup, tea, and milk.
- Give a little stir and enjoy!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Strawberry milk tea tastes very much like strawberries, in a creamy sweet form!
This strawberry bubble tea recipe does not contain caffeine. If you choose to use a caffeinated tea instead of the hibiscus tea, then yes, it will have caffeine.
Yes. You can prepare the components separately ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days before combining them to make bubble tea.
🧋 More Refreshing Beverages You Will Love
Strawberry Milk Tea Recipe
Ingredients
Tapioca Prep
- ½ cup boba aka tapioca pearls cooked according to package directions, rinsed and drained
Strawberry Syrup
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup granulated sugar of choice I like to use coconut sugar
- ⅓ cup strawberry powder
Bubble Tea
- 1 cup water
- 1 hibiscus tea bag
- 1 cup milk of choice I like to use oat milk
- ice for serving optional
Instructions
- Cook the tapioca pearls according to package directions, then rinse, drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium high heat, add the water, sugar and strawberry powder. Bring to a simmer while whisking, then turn the heat to a low simmer and place a lid on. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes, then turn the heat off and allow the syrup to cool.
- Meanwhile, prepare the tea by pouring 1 cup of boiling water over the hibiscus tea bag, allowing it to steep for 5 minutes and then let it cool.
- To make strawberry bubble tea: add ice to a glass if using, followed by 1/4 cup boba pearls, 1/2 cup strawberry syrup, 1/2 cup tea and 1/2 cup milk. Repeat for the second serving.
- Enjoy! Please note: milk tea is more easily enjoyed with a special boba straw.
