This homemade matcha bubble tea features chewy tapioca balls sweetened with brown sugar, topped with ice, your choice of milk, and whisked matcha. For an extra flair, add mango or strawberry puree! It’s a cost-effective and easy recipe you can make right at home.
What is Bubble Tea?
Originating in Taiwan, bubble tea is traditionally made with black tea. However, its popularity has led to countless variations in teas and flavors. One of my favorites is Japanese matcha, which offers an earthy flavor that pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of brown sugar simple syrup. If you’re a matcha lover like me, this is for you!
Bubble tea and boba tea refer to the same drink, just with different names. These drinks are filled with tapioca pearls, or boba pearls, which have a chewy texture. They are then topped with tea, milk, ice, and flavoring. The creaminess of the drink combined with the chewy pearls makes matcha boba tea both a fun and delicious drink!
What Makes This Matcha Bubble Tea Recipe Great
Bubble tea, also known as boba, has been one of my favorite treats since middle school. I fondly remember going to our favorite boba spot after school to try various flavors of cold drinks and teas, all topped with sweet, chewy tapioca pearls.
However, buying boba drinks can be an expensive habit, with one drink starting at around $6 where I live. Making your own bubble tea at home is not only easy but also much more budget-friendly. Plus, I love having complete control over the sweetness and flavor.
This gluten-free, dairy-free (optional) iced matcha drink will win you over in no time!
For more matcha drinks, try this White Chocolate Matcha Latte or this Keto Dalgona Matcha Latte.
Watch a Short Video of This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
- tapioca pearls: This is the brand I love without artificial ingredients.
- brown sugar: Or up to 6 tbsp for a sweeter flavor. You can choose alternative sweeteners if desired– cane sugar, maple syrup, honey, or monk fruit sweeteners will all work.
- matcha powder: I recommend using ceremonial-grade matcha for best results. Culinary-grade matcha will work, but I prefer the flavor of higher quality matcha.
- hot water
- ice
- milk of your choice: I used almond milk. Feel free to use regular dairy milk or plant-based milk of choice: oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, etc.
- strawberry purée, optional: Strawberries and granulated sugar.
- mango purée, optional: Ripe mango.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Boil a small pot of water over medium-high heat. Add tapioca pearls and cook according to package instructions. They should be soft and chewy. You can taste them to make sure they are done to your liking.
Step 2
Drain then add brown sugar. Stir until the brown sugar dissolves and turns into a sugar syrup. Set aside.
Step 3
If using strawberry or mango purée, place in a high-powered blender and blend until pureed but slightly chunky.
Step 4
Add matcha to a small bowl then add hot water. Whisk until foamy and the clumps are removed.
Step 5
To serve, divide the cooked tapioca pearls into two tall glasses. If using, add strawberry or mango puree. Top each tall glass with ice cubes, then pour milk almost to the top. Lastly, add the matcha mixture over the ice cubes.
Step 6
Stir and enjoy with boba straws!
Expert Tips
- Depending on what brand of tapioca pearls you buy, the cooking time will be different. This is my favorite brand made without artificial ingredients and they are vegan too.
- You’ll need a wide straw to enjoy boba so you can get those chewy tapioca pearls on the bottom while you drink. These are the straws I have.
- You can add pureed fruit if you want to add extra flavor. It’s very easy to do and so delicious but it’s optional.
- If you don’t have a matcha whisk or matcha bowl, you can use a regular whisk and a small bowl. Just be sure to get the mixture smooth and without clumps.
Storage Tips
If you’re not using them right away, you can store cooked tapioca pearls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Submerge them in maple syrup while storing and when ready to use, microwave or heat on the stovetop until warm and soft again.
Recipe FAQs
The caffeine content can vary depending on the amount of matcha used. This recipe calls for two teaspoons of matcha powder, which contains approximately 140 milligrams of caffeine. For a less caffeinated version, use just one teaspoon, which will provide about 70 milligrams of caffeine.
If you make this recipe, please leave me a star rating and comment below! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Follow me on social media Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for even more delicious recipes!
Easy Iced Matcha Bubble Tea Recipe (Boba Tea)
Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup tapioca pearls this is the brand I love without artificial ingredients
- 2 tbsp brown sugar or up to 6 tbsp for sweeter flavor
- 2 tsp matcha powder
- 1/4 cup hot water
- Ice
- 2 cups milk of your choice I used almond milk
OPTIONAL: Strawberry Purée
- 1 cup strawberries stemmed
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
OR OPTIONAL: Mango Purée
- 1 ripe mango peeled and diced
Instructions
- Boil a small pot of water over medium high heat. Add tapioca pearls and cook according to package instructions. They should be soft and chewy. You can taste to make sure they are done to your liking.
- Drain then add brown sugar. Stir until the brown sugar dissolves and turns syrupy. Set aside.
- If using strawberry or mango purée, place in a high powered blender and blend until pureed but slightly chunky.
- Add matcha to a small bowl then add hot water. Whisk until foamy and the clumps are removed.
- To serve, divide the cooked tapioca pearls into two glasses. If using, add strawberry or mango puree. Top the glasses with ice cubes, then pour milk almost to the top. Lastly, add matcha over the ice cubes.
- Stir and enjoy with boba straws!
Notes
Expert Tips
-
- Depending on what brand of tapioca pearls you buy, the cooking time will be different. This is my favorite brand made without artificial ingredients and they are vegan too.
-
- You’ll need a wide straw to enjoy boba so you can get those chewy tapioca pearls on the bottom while you drink. These are the straws I have.
-
- You can add pureed fruit if you want to add extra flavor. It’s very easy to do and so delicious but it’s optional.
-
- If you don’t have a matcha whisk or matcha bowl, you can use a regular whisk and a small bowl. Just be sure to get the mixture smooth and without clumps.
Storage Tips
If you’re not using them right away, you can store cooked tapioca pearls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Submerge them in maple syrup while storing and when ready to use, microwave or heat on the stovetop until warm and soft again.What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.
Leave a Reply