Homemade Vegan Bubble Tea Recipe (Boba)
An easy vegan bubble tea recipe made right at home. Naturally gluten-free, a little better for you, and just as delicious! Chewy tapioca pearls meet plant-based milk and liquid sweetener for a refreshing, delicious beverage treat.
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dry tapioca pearls I used one from nuts.com, but amazon sells many
- 3 cups of water
- 2 tablespoons liquid sweetener of choice I used coconut nectar
- 2 tea bags or 2 servings of tea to make about 1 cup of dark brewed tea total
- 2 cups of vegan milk of choice
- optional
- additional sweetener to taste
- cinnamon
- vanilla
Instructions
- In a saucepan bring 3 cups of water to a boil, add dry tapioca pearls and continue to boil on low heat for about 5-8 min, or according to package directions. Make sure you stir occasionally so the tapioca pearls don't stick together. You'll know when the tapioca is ready when it becomes a translucent black. You can also try one pearl to make sure it's cooked through.
- While this is cooking, set aside an additional 1 cup of hot water and allow your tea of choice to steep. I recommend black tea. Make this quite strong as you'll be adding vegan milk later on. Once your desired tea strength is reached, allow to chill in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
- Once tapioca pearls are cooked through, remove from heat and strain. Transfer to a bowl and cover with just enough water so it doesn't dry out, and add 2 tablespoons of sweetener.
- To assemble, strain and divide the cooked tapioca between 2 cups. Add ice if desired, pour tea into each glass, and finish with non-dairy milk.
- Add additional sweetener as needed, and enjoy! Don't forget to use a re-usable metal straw :-)
Notes
Expert Tips
- If you want to give zero-waste a shot in stores, I always bring a mason jar, and my reusable straw with me. Most shops are really accommodating and will fill your own cup up for you. If you're unsure or nervous about asking, you can always call ahead to ask if they're willing to fill your cup for you too. They also sell eco-friendly cup + straw sets made just for bubble tea!
Storage Tips
- You can store uncooked tapioca pearls in an airtight container at room temperature for up 6 weeks and cook them when ready to use. You can store cooked tapioca pearls in cold water for one day.
- In advance, you can mix together the tea, milk, and sweetener and store them in the refrigerator for later use. Use within 2 days for best results.