15 Most Popular Homemade Bubble Tea Flavors You Can Make Easily

There’s nothing better than sipping on your favorite bubble tea flavor. With the rise in popularity of boba tea shops, recreating homemade bubble tea flavors at home has become a delicious hobby for many.

The options for homemade bubble tea flavors are endless when you make it yourself.

In this article, we’ll provide 15 of the most popular and satisfying homemade bubble tea flavors you can easily whip up in your own kitchen.

What is bubble tea?

Bubble tea, often called boba tea, is a dessert beverage containing flavored tea and tapioca balls. These tapioca balls, often referred to as tapioca pearls, can be replaced with any sort of gummy.

Because tea is so versatile, there are thousands of easy bubble tea recipes to try in nearly every flavor you can imagine. The recipes for bubble tea we provide are easy to follow and fun to make. Enjoy!

How bubble tea is made

Bubble tea is easy to make. It consists of a tea base made from any flavor. Milk is often added, along with any fruit or juices.

These are all blended to a thick consistency and tapioca balls, or other gummies are added. These are often referred to as bubbles.

Bubble tea is eaten with a large straw to make it easier to munch on the delicious tapioca pearls. It is a refreshing and sweet treat for any occasion.

History of Bubble Tea 

While both tapioca balls and milk tea were popular treats in early Taiwan, it wasn’t until their introduction to America in the mid-1980s that they were combined. As bubble tea became more popular, fans of the drink began to experiment with flavors.

Fruit juices and unique flavors were added to create the seemingly limitless bubble tea we know and love today.

Where does bubble tea come from?

Bubble tea is popularly thought of to be a Taiwanese drink, but it was created in America. The individual components- that is the milk tea and the tapioca balls, are traditional Taiwanese foods.

Bubble tea often contains shaved ice to give the drink more texture, which originated in America. Bubble tea is a product of both Taiwan and the U.S.A.

What you need to make bubble tea at home

Here is a list of the essential ingredients and equipment you need to make bubble tea at home:

• Tea – This forms the base. Black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and even herbal teas work. You can use either tea bags or loose leaf tea.

• Milk – Dairy milk, soy milk, almond milk, or any plant-based milk can be used. Non-dairy helps create creamy foam.

• Sweetener – Simple syrup, honey, agave, or sugar to sweeten the tea to your taste.

• Tapioca pearls – These are the essential boba “bubbles” in bubble tea. Look for large pearl tapioca specifically formulated for bubble tea.

• Ice – Crushed ice or ice cubes to chill the bubble tea.

• Straws – Get large, fat bubble tea straws to suck up the tapioca pearls.

• Fruit, fruit juices, or syrups (optional) – For flavoring the tea or making fruit-infused simple syrups.

• Condensed milk (optional) – Adds extra creaminess and sweetness.

• Mixer or blender – For blending milk and fruit flavours.

• Pitcher – For mixing all the components together.

• Other toppings (optional) – Jelly cubes, pudding, fruit pops.

The essentials are quality tea, milk, a sweetener, and fresh boba pearls. From there, customize with your favorite fruits, syrups, and toppings!

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Homemade Bubble Tea:

Ingredients:

• Black tea bags or loose leaf tea
• Milk of your choice (dairy, nut, plant-based)
• Sweetener like sugar, honey or simple syrup
• Large tapioca pearls
• Fruit or fruit syrup for flavor (optional)
• Ice
• Wide bubble tea straws

Instructions:

1. Brew strong black tea. Steep tea bags or loose tea in hot water for 5-7 minutes. Remove tea bags or strain out loose tea leaves. Allow tea to cool.
2. Cook large pearl tapioca according to package instructions until translucent. Drain and rinse pearls with cold water. Set aside.
3. Prepare the milk by heating it up until just steaming, do not boil. Sweeten it to taste while heating. Allow to cool.
4. Flavor the milk by blending in fruit purees, extracts or syrups. Condense milk can also be mixed in for extra creaminess.
5. Assemble in a tall glass by adding ice, cooked tapioca pearls, cooled tea and milk. Use a wide bubble tea straw to mix it all together before enjoying!
6. Customize with different tea bases, fruits, sweeteners, milk alternatives and toppings. Play with ratios to get the perfect sweetness and creaminess.

Experiment with flavors and let your creativity run wild! Homemade bubble tea is an easy way to quench your boba craving.

Some Tips for Making Healthier Homemade Bubble Tea

• Use green, white, or oolong tea as the base instead of black tea. They have less caffeine and higher antioxidant levels.

• Choose non-dairy milks like almond, soy, coconut or oat milk. They have less fat and calories than whole dairy milk.

• Sweeten with natural options like stevia, honey, dates, or fresh fruit purees instead of refined white sugar. Avoid high-fructose corn syrup syrups.

• Look for tapioca pearls with no added sugars or fillers. Brown sugar tapioca pearls have a more natural sweetness.

• Skip toppings like fruit pops, chia seeds, or coffee jelly beans which add more sugar. Opt for fresh fruit slices instead.

• Go easy on the tapioca pearls to limit calories from the tapioca starch. Aim for 10-20 pearls per drink.

• Load up on extra ice to make it more of a refreshing chilled drink rather than creamy milkshake.

• Choose unsweetened teas and milk alternatives and adjust sweetness to taste. This allows controlling sugar content.

• Use full fat dairy milk in moderation for its protein content vs. low fat or nonfat versions.

• Buy high quality tea leaves and brew properly to maximize health benefits of tea.

With some substitutions and adjustments, homemade bubble tea can still be tasty and better for you too

What is the most popular boba tea flavor?

• Milk Tea – The classic boba flavor, milk tea is a sweetened black or green tea lightly flavored with vanilla and blended with milk. This creamy tea is often what people first think of with bubble tea.

• Taro – Made from taro root, this flavor has a sweet nutty taste and thick, starchy texture. It’s commonly blended into a purple milk tea with tapioca pearls.

• Honeydew Milk Tea – A refreshing blend of creamy milk tea sweetened with honeydew syrup. The melon flavor pairs perfectly with creamy black tea.

• Mango – Mango flavored black or green teas are a fruity take on classic milk tea. Mango adds a tropical twist.

• Matcha – Smooth, earthy Japanese matcha green tea makes for a delicious, antioxidant-rich boba option. Matcha milk tea is creamy and energizing.

• Brown Sugar – Dark brown sugar syrup sweetens milk tea for a malted, caramel-like flavor. Brown sugar tapioca pearls complement it.

• Strawberry – Strawberry milk tea is a sweet indulgence, made from black tea, milk, strawberry syrup and fresh strawberry puree.

• Lychee – The floral, tropical taste of lychee is lovely in boba drinks. It’s chilled lychee green tea or as a fruit pop topping.

• Chocolate – For dessert-like bubble tea, chocolate milk tea has intense chocolate flavor from cocoa powder or chocolate syrup.

The options are endless, but creamy milk teas and fruit-infused combinations are some of the top choices worldwide.

Best Bubble Tea Flavor Combinations

1. Classic Milk Tea + Boba: A timeless combo of creamy milk tea and chewy tapioca pearls.

2. Taro Milk Tea + Boba: The sweet and nutty flavor of taro pairs perfectly with the creamy milk tea and soft boba.

3. Honeydew Milk Tea + Popping Boba: The refreshing sweetness of honeydew blended with milk tea and bursting fruit-flavored boba.

4. Matcha Green Tea Latte + Red Bean: The earthy matcha balances beautifully with the sweet red bean.

5. Jasmine Green Tea + Lychee Jelly: The delicate jasmine notes complement the juicy lychee jelly.

6. Strawberry Milk Tea + Popping Strawberry Boba: A fruity twist on the classic milk tea with pops of strawberry flavor.

7. Mango Smoothie + Coconut Jelly: Creamy mango blended with chewy coconut jelly for a tropical treat.

8. Brown Sugar Boba Milk + Cream Cheese Foam: The rich brown sugar boba is elevated with a sweet and creamy cheese foam topping.

9. Thai Tea + Tapioca Pearls: The bold, aromatic Thai tea shines with the addition of classic boba.

10. Coffee Jelly + Milk: A unique pairing of coffee-flavored jelly cubes floating in cold milk.

The combinations are endless – feel free to get creative with different tea bases, fruit flavors, and toppings!

Best Recipe for Making Homemade Bubble Tea

1, How to make strawberry bubble tea at home?

Strawberry bubble tea is a delicious fruity concoction that is perfect for welcoming spring.

This berry tea is full of flavors that everyone will love. The strawberry flavor is added to your choice of black or green tea and mixed throughout the drink for a fruity surprise.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of strong green or black tea
• 4 cups of strawberry milk
• ¾ cup tapioca balls
• 3 tablespoons sweetening syrup
• Fresh strawberry slices

Instructions

• In a large pitcher, combine the tea and the strawberry milk, mixing thoroughly.
• Add syrup and mix until well distributed.
• Incorporate the tapioca balls and serve with a large straw and fresh strawberry slices.

2, How To Make Brown Sugar Bubble Tea at Home?

Brown sugar makes for an easy bubble tea recipe. This deliciously sweet flavor tastes warm and inviting. Brown sugar is a common ingredient found in the kitchen, so it is easy to make this homemade boba tea.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 ½ cups tapioca pearls
• 1 cup black tea
• 1 cup milk

Instructions

• Combine the brown sugar and the water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
• Simmer the brown sugar and water until it becomes syrupy. Remove them from the heat.
• In a large cup, combine the brown sugar syrup, tea, and milk.
• Add the tapioca pearls and stir until well combined.

3, How to make homemade bubble tea without tapioca pearls?

Bubble tea is easy to make and even easier to make without tapioca pearls. Any easy homemade bubble tea recipe can be modified to exclude tapioca pearls.

Tapioca pearls are what gives bubble tea its “bubble”, but it can be delicious without them, too.

Many people don’t like the taste of tapioca pearls but like the chewy texture they bring to homemade bubble tea. There are many tapioca pearl substitutes including aloe vera gummies and jelly boba.

Ingredients

• 1 cup green tea
• 1 cup milk
• ¾ cup tapioca pearl substitute

Instructions

• In a large cup, combine the green tea and milk. Add ice to chill the drink
• Mix in your tapioca pearl substitute of choice and enjoy!

4, How to make bubble tea smoothie at home?

Nothing beats easy homemade bubble tea and what better way to make it than with fresh fruit? Fruit bubble tea is delightfully citrusy and flavorful. The tapioca pearls are not the only surprises you will find in this bubble tea.

Fruit bubble tea is like a smoothie because it blends many delicious fruits such as strawberries, mangos, and pineapple into a delicious mixture of flavors you are sure to love.

Ingredients

• ½ cup strawberries
• 1 mango
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• ½ cup green tea
• ½ cup milk
• ¾ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• In a blender, combine the strawberries, mango, and pineapple juice.
• Add the blended fruit to the green tea and milk in a large cup.
• Stir in the tapioca pearls and top with fresh fruit slices.

5, How to make taro bubble tea from scratch?

Taro may be an unusual drink to American bubble tea lovers, but it is an incredibly popular flavor around the world. Taro is a root that tastes sweet and nutty. It makes bubble tea take on a soft purple color and has many health benefits.

Taro root is good for your digestive system because it is rich in fiber. It is full of vitamins and lowers blood sugar. Not only is it a sweet treat, but homemade bubble tea recipes that include it are good for you, too!

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 4 tablespoons ground taro root
• 1 cup green tea
• ½ cup milk
• 5 tablespoons honey
• ½ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine the water and ground taro root.
• Add the green tea and stir in the milk.
• Pour the ingredients from the small bowl into a large cup and add the honey. Stir until well combined.
• Add the tapioca pearls and enjoy.

6, How to make fruity boba tea at home?

Fruity bubble tea is a fan favorite due to its rich and sweet flavors. Each fruity boba tea can have a unique flavor depending on the fruits you use. Boba tea is the perfect drink to experiment with.

Ingredients

• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup pitted cherries
• ¼ cup sliced strawberries
• ½ cup green tea
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup boba pearls

Instructions

• In a blender, combine the orange juice, cherries, and strawberries until well combined.
• Pour the blended fruit into a large cup and add the green tea and the milk.
• Mix in the boba pearls and add any remaining strawberries or cherries for garnish.

7, How to make mango bubble tea at home?

Mango can make a refreshingly easy bubble tea recipe. This homemade bubble tea recipe will be sure to impress your friends and is equal parts delicious and beautiful. The sweet and creamy mango pairs perfectly with green tea’s sharp taste, creating quite an addicting drink.

Ingredients

• 1 mango
• ½ cup green tea
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup
• ¾ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• Pour the green tea into a large cup with a lid.
• Cut the mango into small slices and submerge in the green tea.
• Shake the large cup until the mango and the green tea are well combined. This could take up to 2 minutes.
• Add the milk and simple syrup, stirring until it has dissolved.
• Add the tapioca pearls and top with more mango slices.

8, How to make green tea bubble tea at home?

Green bubble tea is a classic flavor that is well known not only for its taste but for its health benefits as well.

Homemade bubble tea is easy with this green tea recipe. It can be expanded upon by using flavored green teas such as jasmine or lavender. There is no limit when it comes to your delicious homemade green bubble tea.

Ingredients

• ⅛ cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup strong green tea
• ½ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• Combine the sugar and the green tea until the sugar has dissolved completely.
• In a large cup, combine the sweet green tea with the milk and stir.
• Add the tapioca pearls and enjoy!

9, How to make coconut bubble tea at home?

You will really impress your friends with this delicious and easy bubble tea recipe. Although coconut is not a common boba tea flavor, this recipe creates a creamy and sweet drink that is sure to be a winner!

Ingredients

• 3 oz coconut cream
• 1 cup black tea
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup

Instructions

• In a large cup, combine the black tea and the simple syrup.
• Add the coconut cream and milk, making sure to mix thoroughly to avoid any clumps.
• Add the tapioca pearls and garnish with coconut shavings.

10, How to make vanilla bubble tea at home?

Vanilla is a sweet and tasty flavor that works with just about anything! This aromatic bubble tea will be sure to make your tastebuds sing and looks Instagram-worthy, too.

Ingredients

• 1 cup black tea
• 1 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ½ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• In a large cup, combine the black tea, sugar, and vanilla extract.
• Add the milk and tapioca pearls and enjoy!

11, How to make honeydew bubble tea at home?

Honeydew melon is the perfect summer treat, so it just makes sense to combine it with bubble tea. This homemade bubble tea recipe is perfect to cool you down during those hot summer days.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup fresh honeydew melon, cubed
• ½ cup green tea
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• Place the fresh honeydew melon into a blender and blend until it achieves an even consistency.
• Combine the green tea and the sugar in a large cup.
• Add the blended honeydew melon and the milk to the large cup and stir until well combined.
• Top the milk tea with tapioca pearls.

12, How to make chocolate bubble tea at home?

It seems weird to combine chocolate and tea, but this combination tasted truly luxurious. Not only is it incredibly tasty, but it is simple and easy to make, too!

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons hot chocolate
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup black tea
• 1/2 cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine the hot chocolate powder and the milk. Whisk until blended.
• In a large cup, add the black tea, and the tapioca pearls.
• Slowly add in the hot chocolate and milk and stir until well combined.

13, How to make matcha bubble tea at home?

Matcha is well known for its incredible health benefits. It can boost your metabolism and your immune system. On top of this, matcha is the perfect flavor for bubble tea. Try this easy bubble tea recipe on days when you need a caffeinated pick me up!

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 teaspoons matcha powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine the matcha powder and milk. Whisk until they are well combined.
• Pour the match and milk into a large cup and add the vanilla extract.
• Combine with the tapioca pearls and stir until well combined.

14, How to make bubble tea with instant powder?

Bubble tea is easy to make with instant powder. Whenever you need a quick sip of bubble tea, try out this instant boba tea recipe at home!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 8 tablespoons instant milk tea
• ½ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• In a large cup, combine the water and the instant milk tea powder. Stir with a whisk
• Add the tapioca pearls and enjoy!

15, How do you make bubble milk tea?

Making bubble milk tea is both easy and delicious. This homemade bubble tea is the perfect treat for any occasion. Share it with your friends or add your own flavors!

Ingredients

• 1 cup green or black tea
• 1 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• ½ cup tapioca pearls

Instructions

• In a large cup, combine the tea and the milk, stirring until combined.
• Add the sugar and the tapioca pearls before enjoying.

Conclusion

Bubble tea is a sweet treat that can make any activity a cherished memory. With so many flavors to choose from, there is no limit to the bubble tea you can make at home! Try all our easy bubble tea recipes to discover your favorite or create your own.

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