This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.
Strawberry milk tea is sweet, refreshing, and simple to make at home! Homemade strawberry syrup, earthy green tea, and almond milk top chewy tapioca pearls in this pink summer drink. Vegan & gluten-free!
It's hard to resist strawberries during the summer! They're plump, juicy, affordable, and a vibrant shade of red. I like to stock up on them and throw them into smoothies, muffins, and this easy strawberry bubble tea recipe!
Strawberry boba tea is easy to make at home. It's more cost effective than boba shops like Chatime and Gong Cha. One bag of boba pearls can make up to six boba tea drinks! Which means I get to enjoy this strawberry milk bubble tea ALL summer long, and you can too! (And honestly, you can enjoy this in the winter too using frozen strawberries and serving it hot instead of iced!)
Latest Recipe Video!
It tastes like a treat, but it's full of cancer-fighting antioxidants and plant compounds. Green tea is a nutrient powerhouse I love to incorporate into my daily routine. And strawberry milk boba tea is my favorite way to do it!
👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Made with fresh strawberries, no artificial flavors or strawberry powder here!
- Easy to customize
- Sweet strawberry flavor
- Fruity drink with a creamy texture
- Light pink color
- Way tastier than what you'll find at most bubble tea shops!
🥘 Strawberry Milk Tea Ingredients
This easy strawberry milk tea recipe requires only 5 simple ingredients plus chewy boba pearls!
- Tapioca Pearls: Boba pearls are tapioca balls made from tapioca starch. They have a chewy gummy bear consistency and mild flavor. They are typically soaked in a sugar syrup to make them lightly sweet. You can buy quick-cooking boba online or at most Asian markets.
- Strawberries: Skip the pre-made strawberry tea powder! Strawberry syrup from real strawberries is SO much better. Their sweet flavor intensifies as they cook down into a syrup.
- Sugar: To sweeten the strawberry syrup!
- Green Tea: I like to use tea bags, but loose leaf works great too. Just use a tea diffuser or strain the tea through a sieve to remove the tea leaves.
- Ice Cubes: Strawberry boba milk tea tastes best chilled! Feel free to add as much ice as you want.
- Almond Milk: Almond milk has a mild flavor and creamy texture. I used unsweetened, but if you want a sweeter iced tea drink, use sweetened.
📖 Variations
- Tea: Feel free to use any type of tea you like! Black tea, oolong tea, white tea, fruit tea, or green tea are great options.
- Milk: Any kind of creamy milk tastes delicious. Dairy milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and whole milk are just a few options. You could even add fresh strawberry milk!
- Sweetener: This boba drink is lightly sweetened. Add more sweetener if you like! Simple syrup and maple syrup are great options because they dissolve right into the drink. You can also use cane sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar, but it's best to add it directly to the hot tea so it dissolves.
- Strawberry Matcha Milk Tea: Stir a teaspoon of matcha powder into the brewed tea.
🔪 Instructions
This strawberry milk boba recipe is super easy! Just follow these simple steps.
Brew Tea: In a small saucepan, bring one cup of water to a simmer over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat, add tea bags to the boiling water, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and set aside to cool to room temperature.
Cook Strawberries: In a medium saucepan, add the diced strawberries, sugar, and 3/4 cup of cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the strawberries break down. You can use a potato masher to help them.
Strain Strawberry Mixture: Pour the strawberry syrup into a sieve placed over a bowl. Use a spoon to press into the mixture to get as much strawberry juice as possible. Set aside to cool.
Cook Tapioca Pearls: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the black tapioca pearls, reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes.
Strain Pearls: Strain the boba tapioca pearls and transfer to a small bowl. Add half of the strawberry syrup and stir. Let mixture cool.
Assemble: Evenly divide the chewy tapioca pearls and syrup between two tall glasses and top with ice.
Add Tea & Milk: Divide the cooled tea, milk, and remaining syrup between the two glasses. Enjoy immediately!
❓ Recipe FAQs
What does strawberry boba milk tea taste like?
It tastes like a milky tea drink with fresh strawberries. It's served ice cold with boba pearls on the bottom. The chewy boba pearls absorb the flavor and sweetness of the drink.
Is sweet strawberry milk tea good?
Yes! This strawberry boba tea recipe is lightly sweet, refreshing, and full of strawberry flavor! It tastes like a homemade strawberry milkshake!
How many calories in strawberry boba tea?
There's only 257 calories in one huge glass of this strawberry boba tea. Boba tea from a bubble tea shop can contain up to 700 calories! When you make it at home, you get to control the amount of sugar and calories in your drink.
Can I make strawberry bubble tea ahead of time?
Bubble tea is best enjoyed fresh, however you can make the tea and strawberry syrup ahead of time. Strawberry syrup and steeped tea can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days before use.
💭 Expert Tips
- This strawberry latte may start to separate slightly if you let it sit, just give it a mix before drinking and it will taste perfect!
- For a stronger green tea flavor, steep the tea for longer.
- Let the tea cool before you assemble, or it will melt the ice and dilute the drink.
- It's best to cook the tapioca pearls right before you plan to use them. If you make them ahead of time, they may stick together.
- Use a wide straw (like the traditional fat straw used for boba) to suck up the boba pearls while you drink the tea.
