Strawberry Milk Tea (With Boba)

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My strawberry milk tea recipe is a sweet, refreshing treat that’s simple to make at home! Made with homemade strawberry syrup, earthy green tea, and almond milk combined with chewy tapioca pearls, this pink boba summer drink is perfect for warm weather and easy to prepare ahead of time. And since it’s naturally vegan and gluten-free, it’s great for anyone who loves tasty drinks!

I can’t resist strawberries when they’re in season during the summer! They’re plump, juicy, affordable, and a gorgeous shade of red. I love to stock up on them and throw them into smoothie and smoothie bowls (like this strawberry smoothie bowl recipe), muffins, and this strawberry milk tea recipe!

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!

The best part for me is that it’s easy to make at home and also a lot more cost-effective than going to boba shops (like Gong cha) and lower in sugar, too. One bag of boba pearls can make up to six boba tea drinks! This means my family gets to enjoy this sweet and creamy bubble tea ALL summer long!

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🥘 Ingredients

My easy strawberry milk tea recipe requires only 5 simple ingredients plus chewy boba pearls! Scroll down to the recipe card for the exact measurements and nutritional information.

Tapioca Pearls: Boba pearls, made from tapioca starch, have a chewy gummy-like texture and mild flavor. They are typically soaked in a sugar syrup to make them lightly sweet. Both light or black quick-cooking tapioca pearls can be used for my strawberry boba tea. They are sold in most Asian markets or online. 

Fresh Strawberries: No pre-made strawberry milk powder is needed! I use a strawberry simple syrup made from real strawberries that is SO much better. Frozen strawberries can also be used. Cook the berries from frozen (not thawed) and follow the recipe directions as listed.

Sugar: I add a bit of sugar to sweeten the strawberry syrup! Raw sugar, coconut sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar, agave, honey, or maple syrup can all be used in place of granulated sugar. Keep in mind that brown sugar and coconut sugar will change the color of this strawberry flavor milk tea, and using honey will make this recipe vegetarian, but not vegan.

Green Tea: Classic green tea or jasmine green tea are both great picks. 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. You can also make my recipe with black tea, white tea, oolong tea, or any caffeine-free tea.

Ice Cubes: Homemade strawberry milk tea tastes best chilled! You can add as much ice as desired.

Almond Milk: Almond milk has a mild flavor and creamy texture that blends well with the strawberry syrup. I used unsweetened, but for a sweeter iced tea drink, you can also use sweetened. Alternatively, other dairy-free milks would great substitutions like oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and cashew milk. If you don’t need this to be vegan, you can use dairy milk (whole milk for a richer taste, low-fat or nonfat for a lighter drink)

🔪 How To Make Strawberry Milk Tea

Learning how to make strawberry milk tea at home is really easy. All you have to do is follow my simple instructions and it will come out perfectly! Watch my video below to see the step-by-step process.

Brew Tea: To begin, I bring one cup of water to a simmer over medium heat in a small saucepan. Then I remove the pan from the heat, add the jasmine tea bags to the hot water, and let them steep for 5 minutes. When ready, I remove the tea bags and set the tea aside to cool to room temperature.

Pro-tip: Chill the tea in the refrigerator to bring it to room temperature faster!

Cook Strawberries: While the tea is cooling off, I add the diced strawberries, sugar, and ¾ cup of cold water to a medium saucepan. Then I bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and let it simmer until the strawberries break down. You can use a potato masher to help them break down faster.

Strain Strawberry Mixture: Once cooked, I pour the strawberry syrup into a fine mesh sieve placed over a bowl and use a spoon to press into the mixture to get as much strawberry juice as possible. Then I set it aside to cool.

Cook Tapioca Pearls: First, I bring a small pot of water to a boil. Then I add the black tapioca pearls, reduce the heat, and let them simmer for 5 to 6 minutes.

Strain Pearls: After cooked, I strain the boba tapioca pearls and transfer them to a small bowl. Next, I add half of the strawberry syrup and stir. Then I let the mixture cool.

Assemble: When ready to serve, I evenly divide the chewy tapioca pearls and syrup between two tall glasses and top with ice.

Add Tea & Milk: To finish the drink, I then divide the cooled tea, milk, and remaining syrup between the two glasses. Then I serve the fresh strawberry milk tea immediately and enjoy!

📖 Variations

My strawberry milk boba recipe is delicious as it is, but it can easily be customized. These are just a few of my favorite variations:

Strawberry Basil Milk Tea: Steep a few leaves of sliced fresh basil in the green tea to make a flavorful herbal variation. Steeping dried lavender buds is also another option.

Strawberry Matcha Milk Tea: For extra green tea flavor, I’ll stir a teaspoon of matcha powder into the brewed tea to make a delicious strawberry green milk tea!

Mixed Berry Milk Tea: Any mix of berries actually works for my recipe! It’s easy to swap out the strawberries for raspberries, blueberries, or a combination of mixed berries for a different flavor profile.

Strawberry Coconut Milk Tea: Use coconut milk instead of almond milk for a tropical twist.

Sweetened Condensed Milk: For a richer, creamier drink, I’ll add a splash of sweetened condensed milk to the mixture.

Milk Tea Without Boba: If you want to know how to make strawberry milk tea without boba, just omit it altogether! Simply blend the strawberry syrup, green tea, and milk for a smooth, refreshing drink. This version kind of reminds me of a milkshake!

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Pink boba tea is wonderful when served cool with plenty of ice and a boba straw! I love enjoying it as a mid-morning pick-me-up or for an afternoon or poolside snack. It’s also great anytime you simply want to treat yourself or your family with a sweet, but healthier treat. Sometimes I’ll pair it with snacks or turn it into a dessert too!

With Snacks: Pair your boba tea with light snacks like these vegan breakfast cookies, rice cakes, my homemade high protein granola, or a handful of mixed nuts. I like how these snacks add a yummy crunch that complements the creamy texture of the tea.

As Dessert: I love serving this drink alongside other sweet treats like these strawberry donuts, macarons, or a slice of sugar free angel food cake. These light and airy desserts perfectly complement the sweet and creamy tea.

With Toppings: Enhance your strawberry boba tea with toppings like fresh strawberry slices, a dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of chia seeds, or a scoop of my lychee ice cream.

🧊 Storage Directions

I strongly recommend serving my vegan strawberry milk tea on the day it’s made for the optimal taste and texture. If you serve it but it sits out for an hour or so, you’ll want to stir it before drinking. However, if necessary, you can store the components. 

When I need to store this drink, I’ll store the homemade strawberry syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze it in ice cube trays for longer storage. I’ll keep the brewed green tea separately in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days. But I always serve the cooked tapioca pearls fresh if I can (when I’m in a bind, I will store them in sugar syrup in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours).

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