Matcha Milk Tea with Boba
Whip up this refreshing matcha boba tea / bubble tea recipe with matcha powder, water, milk of choice, and some sweetener! Made all the more delicious served over chewy boba pearls. Add some ice to make this an iced green tea boba, and this drink is a guaranteed summer favorite! Learn how to make matcha milk tea with boba tapioca pearls, all in under 30 minutes.
If you love a matcha latte or matcha lemonade, you’ve got to give this matcha bubble tea recipe a try. The earthy, nutty, subtly savory flavor of high quality matcha powder, sweetened with a dash of honey or maple syrup. Plus, fun bursts of boba in every sip! A surprisingly simple recipe that makes matcha green tea boba easy enough to prepare in your own kitchen, whenever you want it.
All you need to do is blend the matcha milk tea recipe, boil the boba pearls, then serve in a glass with a thick boba straw. Seriously, it’s that easy! Delicious enjoyed chilled or over ice. Easy to make dairy free or vegan using any nondairy milk. I’ll show you how to make matcha boba tea at home – perfect for cooling off on a hot day, or served as a summer party treat!
What is matcha milk tea?
Matcha milk tea is a cool, refreshing drink with a vibrant green color, made with matcha green tea powder. It’s called a “milk tea” because it combines matcha powder with milk, as well as a sweetener to balance the earthy flavor of matcha. Typically, people enjoy matcha milk tea with boba tapioca pearls to make matcha bubble tea!
What does matcha milk tea taste like?
This matcha milk tea has an earthy, savory, subtly grassy flavor with a hint of sweet nuttiness. Add some honey or maple syrup, and that sweetness really shines! Matcha tea and other matcha drinks have a reputation for tasting bitter—typically because they’re made with low quality matcha powder. For the tastiest and least-bitter flavor, splurge on a high-quality ceremonial-grade matcha!
What is matcha milk tea made of?
This matcha milk tea recipe consists of ceremonial-grade matcha powder mixed with hot water, milk of choice, and honey or maple syrup. For the complete matcha boba tea experience, pour the milk tea over some cooked black tapioca pearls with a boba straw for sipping! Refreshingly earthy and sweet, with a chewy boba surprise in every sip. Delicious served chilled or over ice.
Matcha Boba Tea Ingredients
- Matcha Green Tea Powder. This is the key ingredient for a tasty matcha milk tea recipe, and the type of matcha powder that you use matters. Lower quality matcha will be cheaper, but more bitter in flavor and duller in color. Instead, splurge for a high-quality ceremonial grade matcha—it’s subtly sweet, vibrant green in color, and contains more antioxidants!
- Warm Water. Rather than adding matcha powder straight into a blender, it’s important to whisk it into warm water first. The water should be warm (~175°F or 80°C), but not boiling—otherwise you might scorch the matcha.
- Milk of Choice. Use whatever variety of dairy milk or nondairy milk you’d like in this matcha bubble tea recipe. I used plain almond milk and it was delicious!
- Sweetener. Personally, I enjoy honey paired with matcha, but you can use any sweetener you like. Try maple syrup for a vegan option, granulated sugar, or even stevia or erythritol for a lower carb option.
- Boba Tapioca Pearls. Of course, this matcha boba tea won’t be complete without some tapioca pearls! I recommend buying a package of black tapioca pearls which are subtly sweet and only need a few minutes to boil.
- Boba Cup & Straw. Complete your DIY bubble tea experience by serving this drink in a boba cup with a boba straw! You can find disposable cups and straws online, or get a set of glass boba cups with reusable boba straws.
Is green tea boba the same as matcha boba tea?
Technically, no—a green tea boba drink is not the same as matcha boba tea. “Green tea” is made from unoxidized tea leaves, which are then steeped in hot water. “Matcha” is made from specially grown green tea leaves ground into a powder, which is then whisked into hot water. Matcha powder is higher quality, with more antioxidants and a more potent earthy flavor. Whereas green tea has a mellower, sweeter flavor.
Does matcha milk tea have caffeine?
Yes, since matcha green tea powder contains caffeine, this matcha milk tea has caffeine. A standard cup of matcha tea (made with 1 tsp matcha powder) has around 70mg caffeine. That’s more than an average cup of green tea (28mg caffeine), but still less than a cup coffee (95-200mg caffeine). Mae with only ½ tsp matcha powder, this matcha milk tea recipe contains around 35mg caffeine.
Is matcha bubble tea healthy?
With any food or drink, what’s “healthy” is subjective. High quality matcha powder is rich in antioxidants, as well as some vitamins and minerals. Boba pearls are made from tapioca starch, which comes from cassava root. Although typical bubble teas use sugary syrups, you control the type and amount of sweetener in this matcha bubble tea recipe. Only you can decide: Does matcha boba fit into your lifestyle? (More importantly: Does it bring you joy?)
How to Make Matcha Milk Tea
- In a kettle or saucepan, heat water until it’s warm but not boiling. (Around 175°F or 80°C.)
- Pour 3 Tbsp of warm water into a glass, then add high-quality matcha powder, whisking well until it’s frothy.
- Once integrated, transfer the matcha tea mixture to a blender. Add milk of choice, an additional ¼ cup warm water, and honey or the sweetener of your choosing, blending until smooth.
- Before serving, chill homemade matcha milk tea in the fridge.
What is the best way to prepare matcha tea?
It’s best to prepare matcha tea in warm water—ideally around 175°F or 80°C. Boiling water is so hot that it can actually scorch the matcha powder and make it taste bitter. You can either bring water to a boil (212°F or 100°C) and then add a bit of cold water, or pour boiling water into a cup to let it cool a bit before whisking in matcha. Finally, it’s important to whisk the matcha well, until a thick, frothy layer forms with tiny bubbles in it.
How to Make Matcha Boba Tea
With your matcha milk tea prepared, all that’s left to do is cook the boba pearls and assemble the drink. Boil your tapioca pearls according to package directions (mine take 3-5 minutes), cooking ¼ cup per serving of boba tea. Then, add cooked pearls into a boba cup, pour chilled green milk tea on top, and serve with a thick boba straw. Easy as that, homemade matcha bubble tea is ready to enjoy!
See how to make matcha milk tea with boba in my Boba Milk Tea 4 Ways video!
Other boba milk tea & summer drink recipes to try:
- Brown Sugar Boba Tea
- Taro Milk Tea with Boba
- Strawberry Boba Tea
- How to Make Bubble Tea 5 Ways
- Homemade Lemonade with Simple Syrup
- Homemade Matcha Lemonade
Matcha Milk Tea with Boba
Ingredients
Matcha Milk Tea
- ½ cup warm water, (ideally 175°F or 80°C)
- ½ tsp ceremonial grade matcha powder
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1-2 Tbsp honey, (or sweetener of choice)
Matcha Bubble Tea
- 1½ cups matcha milk tea, (above)
- ¼ cup boba tapioca pearls
- 1 boba tea cup + straw
- ice for serving, if desired
Instructions
Matcha Milk Tea
- Heat water in a kettle or saucepan until warm but not boiling. (The ideal temperature for matcha is 175°F or 80°C.)
- Add 3 Tbsp warm water to a glass. Add matcha powder and whisk well, until frothy.
- Transfer matcha mixture to a blender with milk of choice, ¼ cup warm water, and honey or sweetener of choice. Blend until smooth.
- If desired, chill matcha milk tea in the fridge for 10-20 minutes before serving.
Matcha Boba
- Boil boba tapioca pearls for 3-5 minutes, according to package directions. (See my process below).
- To assemble drink, add ¼ cup cooked boba pearls into boba tea cup. Pour matcha milk tea over boba, adding ice if desired.
- Serve with a boba straw and enjoy!
- Yields 1 matcha boba tea drink.
Boba Tapioca Pearls
- Fill a deep pot halfway with water and bring to a boil. Add black tapioca pearls and stir lightly. (Cook ¼ cup boba for a single serving, or as many servings as you plan to enjoy within the next few hours.)
- When tapioca pearls float to surface, turn down heat to medium. Cover pot and cook 3-5 minutes, until desired consistency is reached.
- Use a slotted spoon to scoop and transfer boba to a bowl o fcold water until ready to serve. (This will prevent them from sticking together.)
