Strawberry Matcha Boba Drink (Printer View)

A vibrant drink combining sweet strawberries, creamy milk, matcha, and chewy tapioca pearls.

# Components:

→ Strawberry Layer

01 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ Matcha Layer

04 - 2 teaspoons high-quality matcha powder
05 - 3 tablespoons hot water, approximately 175°F
06 - 3/4 cup milk, dairy or plant-based
07 - 1 to 2 teaspoons honey or simple syrup

→ Boba

08 - 1/2 cup black tapioca pearls
09 - 2 cups water for cooking boba
10 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar

→ Assembly

11 - 1/2 cup ice cubes
12 - Additional milk as needed

# Method:

01 - Bring 2 cups water to a rolling boil in a small saucepan. Add black tapioca pearls and stir continuously. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or according to package instructions until pearls reach a chewy consistency. Drain thoroughly and toss with brown sugar. Set aside to cool slightly.
02 - Combine hulled strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice in a blender. Process until completely smooth. Taste the mixture and adjust sugar content if necessary. Transfer to a container.
03 - Add matcha powder to a small bowl with 3 tablespoons of hot water. Using a bamboo whisk or milk frother, whisk vigorously until the mixture becomes frothy and completely dissolved with no lumps. Stir in honey or simple syrup to taste.
04 - Pour 3/4 cup milk into the matcha mixture and stir gently to combine. Mix until fully incorporated.
05 - Divide cooked tapioca pearls equally between two glasses. Pour strawberry purée over the boba layer. Add ice cubes to each glass. Slowly pour matcha milk over the strawberry layer to create distinct flavor layers. Top with additional milk if desired.
06 - Serve immediately with wide boba straws. Stir thoroughly before drinking to combine all layers and achieve optimal flavor balance.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's Instagram-worthy but tastes even better than it looks, with real fruit flavor that doesn't feel artificial.
  • You don't need any special tea equipment or skills—just a blender and a whisk, so anyone can nail it.
  • The whole thing comes together in 25 minutes, making it perfect for when you want something fancy but can't be bothered with fuss.
02 -
  • Matcha that's too hot will curdle or separate from the milk, so check that your water is around 80°C (175°F)—hot enough to steam your hand but not so hot you can't hold the bowl.
  • The brown sugar coating on boba is essential because it adds a caramel undertone that just sweetened boba will never deliver, making each pearl taste like a tiny treasure.
03 -
  • A bamboo matcha whisk is inexpensive and actually does create better froth than a regular whisk, but honestly, a small milk frother from any coffee shop supply store works just as well.
  • Add a pinch of sea salt to the strawberry layer—it sounds odd, but it makes the fruit flavor pop without making anything taste salty.
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