Description
Creamy, refreshing homemade Taro Milk Bubble Tea with chewy tapioca pearls. Customizable and delicious!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup cooked taro, peeled and cubed
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy, your preference!)
- 2 tablespoons sweetener (sugar, honey, maple syrup, or your favorite alternative)
- 1/4 teaspoon taro flavoring (optional, but enhances the taro taste)
- 1 cup strong brewed black tea, cooled
- Ice cubes
- 1/2 cup dried tapioca pearls (black or clear)
- 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (for the syrup)
- 2 tablespoons water (for the syrup)
- Whipped cream
- Taro powder for dusting
- Extra taro cubes
Instructions
- Boil the Water: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil.
- Add the Tapioca Pearls: Once the water is boiling, gently pour in the dried tapioca pearls.
- Cook the Boba: Immediately reduce the heat to medium and stir gently to prevent the pearls from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cook for the time specified on the package instructions (usually around 15-20 minutes). The pearls should become translucent with a small white center.
- Turn off the Heat and Let Steep: After the initial cooking time, turn off the heat, cover the saucepan, and let the boba steep in the hot water for another 15-20 minutes.
- Prepare an Ice Bath: While the boba is steeping, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl.
- Drain and Rinse: After steeping, drain the boba through a fine-mesh sieve. Rinse them thoroughly under cold running water to remove any excess starch.
- Transfer to Ice Bath: Immediately transfer the rinsed boba to the ice bath. Let them sit for about 5 minutes to firm up.
- Make the Brown Sugar Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture thickens slightly into a syrup (about 3-5 minutes).
- Soak the Boba in Syrup: Drain the boba from the ice bath and transfer them to a clean bowl. Pour the warm brown sugar syrup over the boba and stir gently to coat them evenly. Let the boba soak in the syrup for at least 15 minutes before using.
- Cook the Taro: Peel and cube the taro root. Boil until tender (about 15-20 minutes) or steam it (about 20-25 minutes).
- Blend the Taro: In a blender or food processor, combine the cooked taro, 2 cups of water, milk, sweetener, and taro flavoring (if using). Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more water if needed. Taste and adjust the sweetness.
- Strain (Optional): For an extra smooth texture, strain the taro mixture through a fine-mesh sieve.
- Prepare Your Glasses: Grab your favorite bubble tea glasses or cups.
- Add the Boba: Spoon a generous amount of the brown sugar-soaked boba into the bottom of each glass (about 1/4 to 1/3 cup per glass).
- Add Ice: Fill the glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour in the Taro Milk Tea: Gently pour the taro milk tea mixture over the ice. Leave a little space at the top for toppings.
- Add Toppings (Optional): If desired, top with whipped cream and a dusting of taro powder. You can also add a few extra taro cubes.
- Serve and Enjoy: Insert a wide boba straw into each glass and serve immediately. Stir well before drinking.
Notes
- Taro Powder: Can be used as a substitute for fresh taro.
- Sweetness Level: Adjust the amount of sweetener to your liking.
- Milk Options: Use any type of milk you prefer (dairy, almond, soy, oat).
- Tea Options: Black tea is common, but green tea, oolong tea, or herbal tea can also be used.
- Iced or Hot: Can be served hot by heating the taro milk tea mixture.
- Taro Paste: For a richer flavor, use taro paste instead of fresh taro.
- DIY Boba: Make your own boba from scratch for a fun project.
- Storage: Leftover taro milk tea can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Boba is best consumed immediately.
- Experiment with Flavors: Add vanilla extract, cinnamon, or chocolate syrup.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes