Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea) - Oh, How Civilized (2024)

Home Bubble Teas

By Jee Choe

on Apr 21, 2022, Updated Oct 17, 2023

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Delicious and perfectly sweet strawberry milk tea with boba is easy to make at home. Get step-by-step instructions and expert tips.

Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea) - Oh, How Civilized (1)

Table of Contents

  • Recipe Highlights
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Recipe Notes
  • Expert Tips
  • Questions You May Have
  • Related
  • Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea) Recipe

Recipe Highlights

  • Strawberry bubble tea (also called strawberry milk tea) is a fruity drink made with green tea, strawberry syrup, milk, ice, and tapioca balls.
  • Store-bought or homemade strawberry syrup can be used. The syrup colors, sweetens, and flavors the drink.
  • Tapioca balls are the “bubble” (or boba) in bubble tea. This recipe uses dry, store-bought tapioca balls that can be cooked in hot water.
  • This recipe is made with a mellow green tea but any kind of tea can be used.
  • My secret to the best bubble tea is to make it with warm tapioca balls. It makes a huge difference.

RELATED: Easy Bubble Tea Recipes

Ingredient Notes

Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea) - Oh, How Civilized (2)
  • Green tea: Loose tea, tea sachets, or tea bags can be used but I prefer using green tea in tea bags for making this drink since it’s easy, mess-free, and I don’t need the highest quality tea. Any kind of green tea can be used.
  • Tapioca balls: They’re sold dry so you just need to boil them in water to soften them up.
  • Strawberry syrup: The syrup what gives this drink its pretty pink color and sweet, strawberry flavor. Use store-bought or homemade strawberry syrup, but if you’re using homemade, make it ahead of time.
  • Milk: Whole milk is used to make the drink creamy, but any kind of milk can be used.
  • Water: Water is used to cook the boba and to make the green tea. Use filtered water, if possible, for the tea.
  • Ice: Use filtered water to make ice for a better tasting drink.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

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My Tapioca Balls Pick

Photo Credit: amazon.com

The tapioca balls I use to make bubble tea at home.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea) - Oh, How Civilized (4)

Step 1: Steep tea in hot water.

Discard tea bags and let tea cool.

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Step 2: Cook tapioca balls. Follow directions on package but all that’s involved is boiling tapioca balls in water for a few minutes.

Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea) - Oh, How Civilized (8)

Step 5: Pour in green tea. The green tea should have cooled down.

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Step 6: Top with milk. Serve immediately. Stir before drinking.

RELATED: Hibiscus Strawberry Bubble Tea

Recipe Notes

If you’re using homemade strawberry syrup, make that first.
The syrup can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator. The syrup will keep for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.

Use very warm tapioca balls.
My secret to making the best bubble tea is to make the tapioca balls, then assemble and serve the drink while the boba are still warm. The warm tapioca balls have the perfectly soft, chewy texture. Just be sure to not use hot tapioca balls since you don’t want to burn your mouth.

Make it extra creamy with half & half.
Instead of milk, half & half will make the drink decadent and delicious.

RELATED: Strawberry Butterfly Pea Flower Latte Bubble Tea

Expert Tips

  • The green tea can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Instead of steeping tea in hot water then cooling it down, make cold brewed green tea. Put tea bags and cold water (same amount in the recipe) in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours then remove tea bags.
  • Boba can’t be made ahead of time since they’ll start to harden after 4 hours. Ideally, boba should be made, cooled down a bit, then served right away in a drink.
  • Bubble tea is served with a wide straw so that you’ll get some tapioca balls each time you take a sip of the drink.

RELATED: Matcha Bubble Tea (Matcha Milk Tea)

Questions You May Have

Does this drink have caffeine?

Yes, since this drink includes green tea, which contains caffeine.

How long do tapioca balls last?

While it’s best to make the tapioca balls and add them to the drink while they’re still warm (which is the best way to drink boba tea), they will last for about 4 hours before they get hard and tough to eat.

Do you eat or drink boba?

Since boba is cooked tapioca balls, and the drink is served with a wider straw so that you can sip up the boba with the milk tea, they’re meant to be chewed and not swallowed whole.

What is boba?

Boba are the tapioca balls at the bottom of the cup of any bubble tea. The tapioca is made from the starch of the cassava root.

RELATED: Jasmine Milk Tea (Jasmine Bubble Tea)

Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea) - Oh, How Civilized (10)
  • Strawberry Matcha Latte Bubble Tea
  • Brown Sugar Milk Tea
  • Bubble Tea with Cold Foam
  • Thai Iced Tea with Boba
  • Strawberry Cold Foam
  • Taro Bubble Tea

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5 from 4 votes

Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea)

By: Jee Choe

Delicious and perfectly sweet strawberry milk tea with boba is easy to make at home. Get step-by-step instructions and expert tips.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Yield: 1 serving (16 ounces)

Ingredients

Strawberry Milk Tea

Tapioca Balls

Instructions

MAKE TEA

  • Boil ⅔ cup of water.

    If using an electric kettle with a temperature setting, set the water to 175°F. Use filtered water if possible.

  • Steep tea bags in hot water for 3 minutes.

  • Discard tea sachets and let tea cool.

COOK TAPIOCA BALLS

  • Boil 2 cups of water and add tapioca balls.

    Boil water in a saucepan on the stovetop then add tapioca balls. Cook on medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Tapioca balls should be soft all the way through.

    (Follow directions on your tapioca ball packaging if you're using a different brand than the one I’m using.)

  • Drain tapioca balls.

ASSEMBLE DRINK

  • Put tapioca balls into a cup and add strawberry syrup. Add ice, green tea, and milk.

    Use anextra wide strawto drink. Serve immediately and stir before drinking.

Notes

  • If you’re using homemade strawberry syrup, make this first. It can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator. The syrup will keep for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
  • The green tea can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Loose tea, tea sachets, or tea bags can be used but I prefer using green tea in tea bags for making this drink since it’s easy, mess-free, and I don’t need the highest quality tea. Any kind of green tea can be used.
  • Instead of steeping tea in hot water then cooling it down, make cold brewed green tea. Put tea bags and cold water (same amount in the recipe) in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours then remove tea bags.
  • Whole milk is used to make the drink creamy, but any kind of milk can be used. Half & half will make the drink extra creamy.
  • My secret to making the best bubble tea is to make the tapioca balls, then assemble and serve the drink while the boba are still warm. The warm tapioca balls have the perfectly soft, chewy texture. Just be sure to not use hot tapioca balls since you don’t want to burn your mouth.
  • Boba can’t be made ahead of time since they’ll start to harden after 4 hours. Ideally, boba should be made, cooled down a bit, then served right away in a drink.
  • Bubble tea is served with a wide straw so that you’ll get some tapioca balls each time you take a sip of the drink.

Nutrition

Calories: 185Carbohydrates: 38gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 51mgPotassium: 126mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 132IUCalcium: 119mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @ohhowcivilized or tag #ohhowcivilized!

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Strawberry Bubble Tea (Strawberry Boba Milk Tea) - Oh, How Civilized (2024)

FAQs

Is strawberry milk tea boba good for you? ›

Strawberry Bubble Tea is a refreshing drink rich in flavour and health benefits. Strawberry boba tea can have many health benefits. It is high in vitamins, fibre, phytochemicals, antioxidants, protein, and other nutrients such as folate and potassium, but the spotlight goes to it having very low calories.

Does strawberry boba taste like strawberry milk? ›

My kids love this pink drink, also known as strawberry bubble tea. It tastes like sweet strawberry milk with a light hint of green tea and occasional pops of gummy bear-like chewiness. Think of it like a homemade strawberry milkshake, just a little bit thinner, with slightly sweet chewy treats inside!

What are strawberry boba balls made of? ›

Ingredients (2 servings)

Transfer strawberry puree to a large mixing bowl. Stir in tapioca starch until a dough forms. Using your hands, shape the dough into little round balls. After all the dough is used up, lightly dust the boba with some tapioca flour.

What tastes good with strawberry popping boba? ›

8. Serve the strawberry popping boba with iced fruit tea or over ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Is it OK to drink boba every day? ›

Boba tea is generally safe to drink, but you'll want to enjoy it in moderation. The beverage is usually high in sugar and calories and contains an additive that might lead to constipation. Drinking too much boba tea may increase your risk of diabetes and obesity.

Is boba actually healthy? ›

Unfortunately, boba itself provides very few health benefits, though its calories and carbohydrates can provide you with a boost in energy. In most cases, boba tea contains high levels of sugar, which is linked to long-term health conditions like diabetes and obesity.

What is the nicest Flavour of boba? ›

Best bubble tea flavours one needs to try as a beginner
  • Original milk tea. One of the most basic and classic tea flavors is original milk tea. ...
  • Mango milk tea. This is meant for people who enjoy fruity flavors and mangoes. ...
  • Passion fruit tea. ...
  • Matcha milk tea. ...
  • Taro milk tea. ...
  • Strawberry milk tea. ...
  • Coffee milk tea. ...
  • Jasmine milk tea.
Feb 29, 2024

Is boba like jelly? ›

Crystal Boba – A soft boba. Unlike traditional tapioca pearls, it is made with konjac plant – a tropical flower found in Southeast Asia. Its texture could be described as jelly-like.

What are boba balls made of? ›

Boba pearls, also known as tapioca pearls, are primarily made from tapioca starch, which is derived from the cassava root. The basic ingredients for making boba pearls include tapioca starch, water, and usually a sweetener like brown sugar, which is added for coloring and a subtle sweetness.

What are the squishy balls in boba? ›

A tapioca pearl, also known as tapioca ball, is an edible translucent sphere produced from tapioca, a starch made from the cassava root. They originated as a cheaper alternative to sago in Southeast Asian cuisine. When used as an ingredient in bubble tea, they are most commonly referred to as pearls or boba.

Does boba have red dye 40? ›

Boba Kit 3 Servings C+T

Upload complete! A: Yes this includes red dye 40. It's listed in the box.

Is popping boba a fruit? ›

‍ Popping bubbles, also referred to as popping bobas, are small balls filled with fruit juice that 'pop' when bitten into. They are made from seaweed extract and come in a variety of flavours such as lychee, apple, strawberry, mango, passion fruit, orange and much more.

Can you chew popping boba? ›

They are filled with juice and are made with an outer casing that is designed to pop in your mouth, hence the name. No matter the type you opt for, popping bubbles add a burst of flavour as you chew, helping to compliment and bring out the flavour of the tea whilst also adding something unique to your drink.

Should boba be chewy or pop? ›

The chewy boba may have remnants of honey that will come out at the end of each sip while you are chewing. Quickly bursting boba will add a fun layer of flavor to flavored drink, and is more exciting especially for kids.

Is popping boba healthy? ›

It's generally safe to take popping boba daily. However, you should take it in moderation as these balls are high in sugar and calories. Fruit-flavored popping boba, for instance, contain fructose and a host of added sweeteners to give it that marked sweetness.

Is strawberry flavored milk healthy? ›

Flavored milk, like chocolate milk and strawberry milk, contain all the same nutrients as a glass of unflavored white milk, but with a flavor kids get excited about.

Is strawberry tea healthy? ›

Enhances brain function, relief from high blood pressure, arthritis, gout, and various cardiovascular diseases. Beneficial for improving the immune system, preventing various types of cancers, and for reducing the signs of premature aging.

What are the benefits of boba milk tea? ›

Heart Health - The green/black tea used in boba contributes to heart health as well. These teas carry many antioxidants that will remove harmful oxidants from the body and lower the chances for cardiovascular disease, improving overall heart health and making boba tea a great choice for healthy drinks in Tucson.

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