Return to top
featured in… The Huffington Post CookingLight Reader's Digest Women's Health BuzzFeed Glamour Whole Foods Oprah Winfrey Network CNN Food Network Healthline Shape

Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Strawberry Milk Tea

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!

Strawberry milk tea with boba in a glass.

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!

Ingredients for strawberry milk tea recipe.
  • 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.

Tea steeping for strawberry bubble tea recipe.

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.

Cooked strawberries in a large pot.

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.

Strawberries strained through a strainer.

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.

Boiling water in a pot.

Strain Pearls: Strain the boba tapioca pearls and transfer to a small bowl. Add half of the strawberry syrup and stir. Let mixture cool.

Boba pearls mixed with strawberry puree in a bowl.

Assemble: Evenly divide the chewy tapioca pearls and syrup between two tall glasses and top with ice.

Boba pearls, ice, and strawberry puree in a glass.

Add Tea & Milk: Divide the cooled tea, milk, and remaining syrup between the two glasses. Enjoy immediately!

Milk poured into glasses for strawberry milk tea with boba.

❓ 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.
Strawberry milk tea in a glass

🧋 More Bubble Tea Recipes!

LOVE THIS RECIPE? Please leave a 5-star rating 🌟 in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page!

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food, and if you have any questions, I’m here to help!

📋 Recipe Card

🎥 Watch How to Make It

https://youtu.be/RLANhkj7GEc
Strawberry milk tea with boba in a glass.
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Strawberry Milk Tea

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!
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time13 mins
Cooling Time30 mins
Total Time58 mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Asian
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 2 glasses
Calories: 257kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

  • ½ cup tapioca pearls
  • cups fresh diced strawberries
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 green tea tea bags
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Instructions

  • Bring 1 cup of water to a simmer, remove from the heat, add the tea bags and steep for 5 minutes. Remove the teabags and set aside to cool completely.
  • In a small pot add the diced strawberries, sugar and ¾ cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the strawberries are very soft and mushy.
  • Remove from the heat and pour the strawberry syrup through a sieve, pressing with a spoon to get as much juice out of the strawberries as possible.
  • Set the strawberry syrup aside to cool completely.
  • Bring a small pot of water to a boil, add the tapioca pearls, reduce heat and simmer for 5-6 minutes.
  • Strain the tapioca pearls. Add the cooked, hot pearls to a small bowl and stir through ½ of the strawberry syrup. Allow to cool completely.
  • To serve: Evenly divide the soaked tapioca pearls and syrup between two tall glasses and top with ice.
  • Divide the tea, milk and remaining strawberry syrup between the two glasses.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Strawberry syrup and steeped tea can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days before use.
  • Cook and soak the tapioca pearls when needed.
  • Adding ice to the drink makes it lovely and chilled.
  • Any sugar can be used however if using coconut or brown sugar it may slightly change the color of the drink.
  • The drink may start to separate slightly, just give it a mix before drinking and it will be just perfect!
  • Frozen strawberries can be used, do not defrost before use.
  • Adjust the sweetness to taste by adding a little more sugar to the strawberry syrup if needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1glass | Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 22g

Posted In…

Plant Based Breakfast Recipes ·

These healthy, plant based breakfast recipes are delicious, filling, and so easy to make!

Whether you want a quick smoothie or a more indulgent breakfast spread, we’ve got you covered.

Try some of our favorites like this blueberry pineapple smoothie, these vegan protein waffles, our silken tofu scramble, this avocado toast with honey, or our lightened up oat milk pancakes!

8 responses to “Strawberry Milk Tea”

  1. This is perfect! It tastes like a treat! It’s Vegan and Gluten-free! Wow, amazing! Thanks, Anjali for sharing this!!

  2. Well, I never enjoyed my tea like this before! I made it with oolong tea that I love, and it was perfect, thanks!5 stars

  3. This recipe seems like it was made for me! I can’t wait to try this. I absolutely love strawberry milk and bubble tea. Yum!5 stars

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




Subscribe to newsletter

Copyright 2023 The Picky Eater®, LLC. All rights reserved.