By Candice Walker on March 13, 2017 (Last updated July 24, 2023) This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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You can easily make sweet and tasty matcha boba tea at home! This tea is perfectly creamy, sweetened just right, and packed with chewy boba balls. Boba or bubble tea is a treat I used to only get at my local boba shop until I learned how to make this epic matcha boba at home. And you can too!
🌟 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy tapioca pearl instructions – Not to worry because I’m helping you make them perfectly every time
Great matcha flavor – The irresistible earthy sweetness of matcha comes through, with creamy milk and the little sweet bites of boba making it a perfect drink. If you are obsessed with matcha like me, try this matcha milkshake or match affogato as well.
Plenty of boba – Because you’re making this at home, you can make sure your drink has plenty of boba! It’s the most fun part, and I wouldn’t say I like it when I get one where they were a little stingy on the boba 😉.
This recipe can work with any tea – you can actually make this recipe with ANY tea, and I’m showing you how. This iced chai latte with matcha cold foam is a favorite to add boba to.
You control the sweetness – I find matcha boba tea can sometimes be too sweet for me, so I like being able to control the sweetness level.
Budget-friendly – You can make many delicious green tea bobas for the same price it will cost to buy one at a boba shop!
Tapioca pearls – These are small, chewy balls made from tapioca starch. This starch comes from the cassava root. You can find them in some grocery stores but not all. I get my tapioca pearls online.
Milk – It works with all kinds of milk such as nut milk, oat milk, and rice milk or creamers. I have made this version to use non-dairy milk, but you could substitute it with whole dairy milk, creamer, or half and half if you like.
Sweetener – I like to use brown sugar simple syrup as my sweetener. You could use honey, brown or white sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, or other sweetener of your choice.
Ice cubes – If you like your matcha boba tea ice cold, have some ice cubes ready to drop in.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
👩🍳 How to Make This Recipe
First, you’ll need to make the simple syrup (a combination of sugar and water). I use brown sugar, but you can also use turbinado sugar, and the flavor is fantastic either way. Use the same ratio for both, 1:1 sugar: water.
Add the turbinado sugar and 1/2 a cup of water to a saucepan. Turn to medium heat and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and set the simple syrup aside to cool.
Cook the tapioca pearls
Next, bring 3 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add in your tapioca pearls and stir until they start floating to the surface.
Now turn the heat to medium and cook the tapioca pearls for 12 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover them, and let them sit for another 12 minutes.
Drain the cooled tapioca pearls and add them to a bowl with the sugar syrup, then leave to cool.
Whisk 1 tablespoon of matcha powder with 1/4 cup of water to remove clumps. Then add the rest of the water and whisk to blend well.
You can keep boba in the simple syrup for up to 12 hours, so it’s easy to serve later in the day. Boba does not keep well overnight.
To serve your finished matcha boba tea, add 1/3 cup of tapioca pearls to your chosen glass.
Top the boba pearls with 1 cup of your matcha mixture, then 1 cup of non-dairy milk or creamer, and ice. Stir and enjoy your epic matcha green tea boba!
Drink and enjoy! And be sure to get the right straws for drinking boba. These extra-wide glass straws work perfectly. The wide is not wide enough for the large pearls.
Pro Tip
If making this recipe with matcha powder, wait until just before you’re ready to serve the boba tea before preparing the matcha, so that the matcha leaves do not settle while you wait.
🧋How to Make Boba with Any Tea
If you want to try something other than matcha, this recipe works with any tea flavor. I’ve tried Thai tea boba, brown sugar milk boba, and many others!
By far the most common teas to use are black tea (like earl gray, chai, and breakfast tea), green teas (matcha, jasmine), and oolong teas. If you’re new to boba tea, try a black tea to get you started or this matcha boba recipe.
To make this with another tea, follow the steps up until the step to prepare the matcha. Instead, steep the tea of your choosing in 1 cup of hot water (per serving) until brewed to your preference. Let the tea come down to room temperature before serving so it doesn’t completely melt the ice and dilute the tea.
To serve your finished bubble tea, add 1/3 cup of tapioca pearls to each glass. Top with 1 cup of your chosen tea, then 1 cup of non-dairy milk or creamer.
💚 More Fabulous Matcha Recipes!
When I need some comfort, I turn to these amazing matcha delights.
Simple syrup: Add the turbinado and 1/2 cup water to a sauce pan. Turn to medium heat and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
Tea: Steep your tea and let it come to room temperature. If making matcha, wait until just before serving so the matcha leaves do not settle. Then, whisk or blend 1 tablespoon of matcha with the 2 cups of room temperature, or cold water.
Boba: Bring 3 cups of water to boil over high heat. Add the tapioca pearls and stir until they start floating to the surface. Turn the heat to medium and cook for 12 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 12 minutes.
Drain the boba and add to a bowl with the simple syrup. Let cool. You can keep the boba in the simple syrup for up to 12 hours.
Assemble: Add 1/3 cup of tapioca pearls to each glass. Top with 1 cup of tea, then 1 cup of non-dairy milk or creamer. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
You can also use brown sugar for the simple syrup. Use in the same ratio, 1:1.Let the tea come down to room temperature so the ice doesn’t melt too quickly.You can keep the boba in the simple syrup for up to 12 hours, so it’s easy to serve later in the day. The boba does not keep well overnight.Purchase extra-wide straws. The wide straws are not wide enough for the large boba.
Did you try this recipe?I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a Review to let us know how it came out, if you have a successful substitution or variation, or anything else.
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35 Comments
I was very confused about the difference between normal tea and ‘milk tea’.. this recipe helped explain a lot! Can’t wait to try it out once I have everything I need 🙂 Thank you!
I love this recipe! Do you know how to make it do it tastes like the coconut/mango/other fruit ones that you can get at the cafe? I can’t find a recipe for it 😋
Hi there, Allyson… for the coconut milk tea, just mix together 1/4 cup coconut cream with 1/2 cup of milk or milk. Pour over the cooked boba, sweeten with the syrup, and add ice.
For the fruity ones, you can use any smoothie recipe you like, and make it with fresh or thawed fruit instead of frozen.
I hope this helps!
Oh my, it’s been ages since I had my last bubble tea. And with the current situation, making it at home is the best route to go. Thanks for sharing this recipe. 🙂
We have been spending a lot more time in the kitchen, cooking as a family lately. It has been fun to involve the kids with recipe research and cooking! We found your recipe and we made it today! It was a success and a hit with everybody! I have heard of boba tea but haven’t tried it before now! Its fun to try new things!
I’m so happy to hear you have been spending time in the kitchen as a family, Cindy.. that is the sweetest! And glad you all enjoyed the bubble tea. Such a fun, new thing to try. Take care!
It was a lot of fun making my own Boba tea. I’ve loved getting these at the cafe for so long now, but I hadn’t ever made my own before now. It was a lot easier than I expected.
Hi Keira,
I use unsweetened culinary grade matcha. That way, I can sweeten it to my own preference with the simple syrup.
You can use sweetened matcha powder, too. But only do so if you have found one that you love. Otherwise, they can be very inconsistent.
Let me know how it goes!
I was very confused about the difference between normal tea and ‘milk tea’.. this recipe helped explain a lot! Can’t wait to try it out once I have everything I need 🙂 Thank you!
I’m so happy I was able to help, Pramiti. Can’t wait to hear what you think when you give it a try!
Looks great! Love the glass you are using. Where did you get them from?
Hi Julie! Here are the links to the straws and the glasses.
Where are the glasses and straws you used from? They’re so pretty!
Thanks, Catarina! Here are the links to the straws and the glasses.
I love this recipe! Do you know how to make it do it tastes like the coconut/mango/other fruit ones that you can get at the cafe? I can’t find a recipe for it 😋
Hi there, Allyson… for the coconut milk tea, just mix together 1/4 cup coconut cream with 1/2 cup of milk or milk. Pour over the cooked boba, sweeten with the syrup, and add ice.
For the fruity ones, you can use any smoothie recipe you like, and make it with fresh or thawed fruit instead of frozen.
I hope this helps!
Can’t wait to see and hear how it goes!
Yeah
Oh my, it’s been ages since I had my last bubble tea. And with the current situation, making it at home is the best route to go. Thanks for sharing this recipe. 🙂
Glad to hear it sparked some joy for you, Anita!
I love bubble tea, and I’m so glad to have found a recipe to make it at home! So good!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jessica!
We have been spending a lot more time in the kitchen, cooking as a family lately. It has been fun to involve the kids with recipe research and cooking! We found your recipe and we made it today! It was a success and a hit with everybody! I have heard of boba tea but haven’t tried it before now! Its fun to try new things!
I’m so happy to hear you have been spending time in the kitchen as a family, Cindy.. that is the sweetest! And glad you all enjoyed the bubble tea. Such a fun, new thing to try. Take care!
These we’re so good – so happy I came across this recipe, thank you!
Happy to hear you liked it, Tawnie! I’m due to make them again… so good!
This bubble tea recipe makes me ask myself why I waited so long to try making this drink at home! So simple and satisfying every time.
I am so happy to hear you like it, Salima. And that you will now be making it at home… yay!
So cool! I’ve only ever been able to find bubble tea in China Town. Can’t wait to make it at home!
Can’t wait to hear what you think, Michelle!
It was a lot of fun making my own Boba tea. I’ve loved getting these at the cafe for so long now, but I hadn’t ever made my own before now. It was a lot easier than I expected.
I’m so happy to hear it was a success for you, Jennifer! If you’re like me, you’ll end up making these all too often… such a treat!
I tried it with normal tea but I want to try it with matcha. Do I use unsweetened matcha or sweetened matcha?
Hi Keira,
I use unsweetened culinary grade matcha. That way, I can sweeten it to my own preference with the simple syrup.
You can use sweetened matcha powder, too. But only do so if you have found one that you love. Otherwise, they can be very inconsistent.
Let me know how it goes!
I have never heard of this before, but it looks so refreshing and relaxing! Looking forward to making this tomorrow!
Can’t wait to hear what you think, Sara!
This is so interesting! I have never had bubble tea before and I definitely wanted to try it. Was refreshing and so fun.
Love to hear it, Mirlene… thanks for sharing!
I love bubble tea and this is a great recipe.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Krissy!