Sweet, creamy, purple perfection in a cup 💜
Hey there!
If you’re a fan of bubble tea, you’re going to love this Ube Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls.
It’s smooth, lightly sweet, and has that beautiful earthy vanilla flavor that ube is known for—all swirled together with chewy black tapioca pearls.
It’s not just a drink—it’s a whole vibe. I make this when I want something a little extra special at home without the $6 boba shop price tag.
The color alone makes me smile every time.
🍶 What You’ll Need
- 2 tbsp ube halaya (purple yam jam)
- 1 ½ cups whole milk (or oat milk for dairy-free)
- 1 black tea bag (or 1 tsp loose-leaf black tea)
- ¾ cup water (for tea)
- ¼ cup dry black tapioca pearls (quick cook kind)
- 1–2 tbsp brown sugar (for sweetening pearls)
- Ice cubes
- Optional: condensed milk or simple syrup to sweeten the milk tea
🧠 Why This Recipe Works (Quick Science)
- Ube halaya blends perfectly into milk, giving you a smooth, velvety texture and that signature sweet-vanilla flavor.
- Black tea adds balance with its slight bitterness, making this drink complex and not overly sweet.
- Tapioca pearls give that chewy contrast we all love in bubble tea—thanks to the starch that forms their bouncy texture when boiled.
❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
- It tastes just like the ones from the fancy boba shops.
- It’s super customizable—sweeten it however you like!
- You can prep parts ahead of time and have bubble tea anytime.
- That purple color? Insta-worthy and mood-boosting.
- Making it at home feels like a treat-yourself moment.
👨👩👧👦 Makes 1 large serving
⏱ Total time: 20 minutes
🍴 Tools You’ll Need
- Small saucepan
- Tall glass or tumbler
- Spoon
- Strainer or mesh sieve
- Wide boba straw
- Measuring cups and spoons
🍵 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Brew the black tea
Bring ¾ cup water to a boil. Add your black tea bag and let it steep for 5–7 minutes. Remove tea bag and let it cool.
2. Cook the tapioca pearls
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add ¼ cup tapioca pearls and cook for 5–6 minutes (or follow the instructions on the package). Stir occasionally.
3. Sweeten the pearls
Drain the pearls and immediately stir in 1–2 tbsp brown sugar. Let sit for a few minutes so they soak up the sweetness.
4. Blend the milk and ube
In a glass or shaker, mix together 1 ½ cups cold milk and 2 tbsp ube halaya until smooth. (Use a whisk or shake well in a mason jar.)
5. Assemble the drink
Add the sweetened pearls to the bottom of your glass. Pour in the brewed (and cooled) tea. Then pour in the ube milk mixture. Add ice cubes. Taste and adjust sweetness with condensed milk or syrup if needed.
💡 Pro Tips
- Use quick-cook pearls to save time (check the label for “5-minute boba”).
- Strain your tea if using loose leaves to avoid bits in your drink.
- Shake your ube milk in a mason jar for the smoothest blend.
- Make it ahead: Brew the tea and prep the pearls a few hours early and refrigerate.
- Add more ube halaya if you want stronger purple flavor and color.
🔄 Substitutions and Variations
- Use oat milk or almond milk for a dairy-free version.
- Skip the tea if you prefer just a creamy ube milk boba.
- Sweeten with honey or maple syrup instead of brown sugar or condensed milk.
- Try green tea for a lighter flavor profile.
🧊 Make-Ahead Tips
- Brew the tea and store in the fridge up to 2 days.
- Cook pearls ahead and keep them in brown sugar syrup for up to 4 hours.
- Mix the ube milk in advance and chill it until ready to use.
🧊 Leftovers & Storage
- Drink is best fresh, but you can refrigerate leftovers (without the ice) for up to 1 day.
- Tapioca pearls get hard in the fridge, so only prep what you’ll drink soon.
- Store extra ube milk and tea separately in jars for later assembly.
🧂 Common Mistakes
- Overcooking the pearls makes them mushy. Stick to the package timing.
- Forgetting to sweeten the pearls—they need that sugar soak to taste right.
- Not cooling the tea before assembling. It’ll melt your ice and water down the drink.
- Lumpy ube—make sure it’s fully mixed into the milk for the best texture.
🥪 What to Serve With
- Matcha or ube mochi
- Fresh fruit or fruit salad
- Japanese milk bread toast with jam
- Light snacks like sesame crackers or egg tarts
🗓 Meal Plan Ideas
- Afternoon treat: Ube milk tea + rice crackers or mochi
- Brunch pairing: This boba drink + fruit salad + egg sandwich
- Light dessert: Enjoy after a simple stir fry or noodle dish
❓ FAQ
Can I use ube extract instead of halaya?
Yes! Use ½ tsp ube extract and 1–2 tsp sweetener to replace the jam.
Can I make this without tea?
Absolutely. You’ll have a delicious ube milk boba.
Can I use frozen ube?
Yes, just thaw and blend with milk before using.
Is ube the same as taro?
Nope! Ube is purple yam, taro is a starchy root—different taste and color.
🌟 Wrap-Up
Now you’ve got everything you need to make your own café-style Ube Milk Tea with Boba right at home. It’s colorful, creamy, and totally satisfying. Try it out, snap a pic, and let me know how it turns out in the comments! Got a question? Drop it below—I’m happy to help.
Cheers to purple drinks and good vibes! 💜
