How to Make Strawberry Milk Tea: Strawberry Boba Milk Tea Recipe

Strawberry milk tea is a creamy, fruity bubble tea that happens to be a whole lot tastier than just plain old tea. This easy strawberry milk tea is perfect for anyone after a simple yet super refreshing summer drink that feels light and refreshing.

There's a magic about strawberry milk tea - the sweetness of the fresh strawberries, the smoothness of the milk and the tea all work together in perfect harmony to create a drink that tastes like a treat, but isn’t overly rich or heavy.

As part of drinks cuisine, its roots in the drinks world come from the same Asian bubble tea traditions that gave us popular drinks like bubble tea, and this recipe gives you the chance to make a version of it at home, which is perfect for those who love the taste of bubble tea but want to avoid the artificial stuff.

Boba tea goes by another name, bubble tea - and it's a drink that combines brewed tea with milk or fruit flavors, a bit of sweetness and some chewy tapioca pearls. Tapioca pearls are made from starch and they go all squishy once you've cooked them. 

Boba tea has its roots in Taiwan and has since developed into loads of variations, like milk tea, fruit tea, and those dessert-style drinks that are so popular. When it comes to strawberry bubble tea, milk makes it a milk tea, so it's going to have a creamy texture - but leave out the milk and it's just strawberry fruit tea instead.

Strawberry milk tea has a lovely creamy vibe to it, with just a hint of sweetness that's balanced out by the fruity taste of strawberries and a whisper of tea in the background. The strawberry flavor comes on like it's straight from the farm, not like some artificial aftertaste - and the milk helps soften the tartness of the strawberries. Tapioca pearls add just the right amount of chewy texture, without overpowering the whole drink.

• Tapioca pearls: You'll need about ½ cup of these - either quick-cooking or the traditional kind will do.
• Sliced up strawberries (fresh or frozen strawberries are fine) - 1 cup of these for making the syrup.
• Sugar: A quarter cup will do (for the syrup), just adjust to suit your sweet tooth.
• Brewed Tea: black tea, green tea, jasmine tea, oolong tea, or decaf tea. 1 cup of the brewed stuff will do.
• Cold water: You'll need about ¾ cup for your strawberry syrup.
• Your choice of milk: Almond milk, dairy milk, or dairy-free milk - ½ cup will be fine.
• Ice Cubes: add as many as you like.

• Tapioca pearls can be quick cooking boba or traditional boba pearls. Quick cooking boba reduces prep time and works well for home recipes.
• Fresh strawberries create the best strawberry milk tea taste. Frozen strawberries also work and should be cooked directly from frozen.
• Granulated sugar sweetens the strawberry simple syrup. Brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup may be used, but they will slightly change color and flavor.
• Green tea offers a light base, while black tea gives a stronger taste. Jasmine tea adds floral notes. Decaffeinated tea works for a caffeine free option.
• Almond milk creates a mild, creamy tea. Oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or whole milk all work, depending on preference.
• Whipped cream can be added on top for an extra strawberry kick and creamy indulgent touch.

• Saucepan
• Fine mesh strainer
• Measuring cups
• Tall glass
• Boba straw
• Small pot for cooking boba

Start by heating up one cup of water to just below boiling ( ~180°F / 82°C). You can do this on the stovetop over medium heat. Now toss in your tea bag and let it steep for about 5 minutes (longer if you like a stronger tea). Once it's done, pull out the tea bag and let the tea cool down to room temperature - about 10-15 minutes or you can pop it in the fridge to speed things up a bit.

In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of sliced strawberries, ¼ cup of granulated sugar, and ¾ cup of cold water. Now bring that to a simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until the strawberries have broken down and released their juices. While you're waiting, use a spoon or a potato masher to gently mash them up and help get that flavor out.

After you've cooked the strawberries, use a fine mesh sieve to press the solids through and get the syrup out. Make sure you get all the strawberry pieces and solids out of the strained syrup to avoid any texture issues.

Now, get a pot of boiling water and add ½ cup of tapioca pearls to it. Let them cook for about 5-6 minutes if you're using quick cooking pearls, or 20-30 minutes if you're using the traditional kind. Getting them just right will make all the difference in the world between a chewy boba pearl and a hard or gummy center.

Once your tapioca pearls are cooked, pour them into a bowl and while they're still warm, stir in two tablespoons of the strawberry syrup. This will keep your pearls soft and lightly sweet as they cool.

Fill a tall glass with ice, then add your cooked tapioca pearls, the cooled tea, half a cup of milk, and the remaining strawberry syrup to taste. Now stir it all up gently before serving and enjoy your strawberry syrup-infused milk tea.

Brew your tea as normal and then give it a swirl with a spoonful of matcha powder, just a teaspoon will do. Now add in some strawberry syrup and milk for a smooth, creamy drink that's got a real depth of flavor thanks to the earthy bitterness of matcha. It's a top choice for any matcha fan who's looking for something a little bit different.

Swap the regular milk or almond milk and go for coconut milk instead. Not only does it give your strawberry milk tea a lovely creamy texture, but the tropical flavor of the coconut complements the strawberries really well. And let's not forget the extra pop of coconut aroma you get with coconut milk - it's like a little taste of the beach in a cup.

If you're not a fan of boba, then this is the version for you. Just brew your tea, mix in some strawberry syrup and milk and you're good to go. It's a lovely, smooth drink that tastes more like iced tea than anything else, so if you're not a fan of the chewy texture or want something quick and simple, then this is a great choice.

For a lighter and fresher version why not try using less milk and putting the focus firmly on the green tea? The green tea gets to shine alongside the sweetness of the strawberry syrup and the freshly brewed boba's got a lovely bit of texture to it. It's a top choice if you like a lighter drink with a bit less creaminess and a lot more tea flavor.

To help you make the perfect strawberry milk tea every time, here are some expert tips that can elevate your drink and ensure the best flavor and texture.

• Let everything cool down a bit before you start mixing it together - you don't want it to be all watered down by the time it reaches your cup.
• Crumple up those strawberries a bit when you're cooking them, that way you get even more of that natural sweetness coming through.
• Adjust how much sugar is added based on the strawberry's ripeness
• If you want a stronger tea flavor, then skip the tea bags and go for loose leaf.
• Serve it right away, that way you'll get the best boba texture - it's a little trick that makes all the difference.

When making homemade strawberry milk tea, take care to avoid these common pitfalls that can ruin the whole thing

• Adding too much sugar. It's easy to overpower those delicate strawberry and tea flavors with a spoonful too much.
• Cooking tapioca pearls the wrong way - if they're undercooked they're like eating hard marbles, while overcooking makes the boba lose its signature chew.
• Using low-quality tea bags or not steeping the tea long enough ends up with a weak tea that gets lost once you add milk and strawberry syrup.
• Putting the drink together before the tea has cooled down, and then you get a drink that's all watered down from the ice melting too fast.
• Using subpar strawberries. Always go for fresh ones or good-quality frozen ones if you can't get the real deal.
• If you want a more robust tea flavor, don't bother with tea bags. Go for loose leaf tea instead.
• Adding too much milk and you end up with a drink that's all watery and creamy, masking out the fresh strawberry taste altogether.

Strawberry boba milk tea is best enjoyed cold, with plenty of ice to keep it from getting warm and losing its refreshing zing. It goes really well with light snacks like vegan breakfast cookies, rice cakes or just a handful of nuts.

It also gets along great with sweet treats like strawberry donuts, macarons or even an angel food cake - but if you want to be extra fancy go for a sugar-free one.

Whether you're grabbing it as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, a sweet treat at the end of the day or a party drink, the soft pink color of this drink adds a touch of class and charm to any gathering

You can make that homemade strawberry syrup a week in advance and keep it in the fridge in an airtight container. That way you've always got a batch ready to go whenever you feel like making this delicious drink. Brewed tea stays fresh for up to three days when sealed properly in the fridge.

Tapioca pearls are best enjoyed on the same day you cook them, or they end up hard and lose that chewy texture. If you want the best taste and texture, put your strawberry milk tea together just before serving time.

This delicious strawberry boba tea recipe makes a cracking good bubble tea that's creamy, refreshing, and just made with real and fresh strawberries and simple ingredients. Plus it's super easy to customize, so even if you're a total beginner, you'll be making your own boba tea at home in no time. It's truly a beginner-friendly strawberry bubble tea recipe.

If you're feeling adventurous and want to make a great strawberry milk tea using fresh strawberries, the key is choosing a smooth, high-quality tea as your base. We recommend using a classic black tea or green tea that lets the real strawberry flavor shine. Simply brew your tea, then combine it with fresh strawberries and milk to create a balanced, refreshing strawberry milk tea.