Taro Milk Tea

Taro milk tea is one of the most popular bubble tea drinks I usually see on menus. While of course you don’t have to add boba pearls to taro milk tea, it’s more fun if you do. 🙂 This drink is a vibrant purple lavender color and made with taro root, brewed tea, and milk.

What is taro? Taro is a starchy root vegetable most often grown in Southeast Asia. It’s kind of like a sweet potato or yam, but has a different flavor profile. While you can use raw taro root to make taro milk tea, I almost always use taro powder as it makes the process much easier and I think is just as good.

Ingredients

• Taro powder
• Tea – jasmine, black or green
• Milk – dairy or a milk alternative like soy or oat
• Boba pearls
• Sweetener, optional – simple syrup is a great option

Some taro powders already container a sweetener, so just check the label or taste your taro milk tea before adding more.

Ingredients

• Taro powder
• Tea – jasmine, black or green
• Milk – dairy or a milk alternative like soy or oat
• Boba pearls
• Sweetener, optional – simple syrup is a great option

Some taro powders already container a sweetener, so just check the label or taste your taro milk tea before adding more.

Directions

Prepare your boba pearls and allow to cool before using in any iced drink recipe.

Brew the tea and allow to cool. I tend to brew very strong tea as I don’t use much in this recipe.

In a large cup or mug, whisk together the milk and taro powder. I will often use a frothing wand to incorporate the powder quickly and well. But you can do this by hand with a small whisk or if your cup has a lid you can shake it well to dissolve the powder.

In a cup, add the boba pearls and then ice. Pour in your tea. Then pour in the taro milk. Taste and stir in more sweetener if you feel it needs it.

Tips for Success

• I will often brew the tea hot and simply allow it to cool before adding to this iced drink. But you could also learn how to cold brew tea if you want to make a larger batch.
• You will want to serve any bubble tea drink with a large straw, so the boba pearls will fit through the straw as you drink. A standard size straw will be too small.
• You can brew the tea as well as milk the taro milk ahead of time and simply store in an airtight container in the refrigerator at least 3 days ahead before use.