Green Apple Matcha Bubble Tea (Boba)

I got a wild hair one day and went down a rabbit hole researching popular drinks from the 1980’s and found out bubble tea (boba tea) was invented in the 80’s in Taiwan. I know a few years back it was all the craze here in the US and even some new bubble tea shops have popped up in my area lately. I definitely didn’t want to pay the expensive tea shop price to try one, however I was very curious, so I decided to gather my own ingredients and find out what this unique tea was all about.

What is bubble tea?

Basically, it’s sweetened tea and milk along with cooked tapioca pearls that have been soaked in a sugar, syrup or honey. (Also called pearl milk tea, milk tea, boba tea or tapioca milk.) I modified a basic recipe and for the fraction of the price, so I can create several cups of bubble tea at home. Flavor syrups are the best way to easily add a fun flavor twist. I had a few flavor syrups in my fridge to choose from and decided to use my Nature’s Flavors Green Apple Organic Flavor Syrup and Yum Matcha ceremonial grade powder to create a delicious Green Apple Matcha Bubble Tea. My recipe makes one 14oz serving, so adjust recipe if more servings are needed.

Nature’s Flavors Green Apple Organic Flavor Syrup has an amazing green apple flavor and blends well with the Yum Matcha for a delicious flavor combo.

Let’s begin!

Ingredients:

For Tapioca Pearls:

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup tapioca pearls

For the Beverage:

• 1/4 cup + 1 tsp Nature’s Flavors Green Apple Organic Flavor Syrup
• 1/2 packet (22 grams) Yum Matcha (Original or any flavor you desire; I used Strawberry Basil)
• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (cold)
• 1/2 cup ice (roughly)

Optional Garnish:

• Granny Smith apple slices

Instructions:

How to make homemade bubble tea:

Add water to a pot and bring to a boil. Gently add tapioca pearls and stir lightly. When tapioca pearls float to the surface, cover with lid, reduce heat to low and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Next, turn heat off and leave on burner for another 2-3 minutes.Next, strain out water and add tapioca pearls to a bowl with cold water and let sit for 20 seconds.

Strain tapioca pearls again and add them to a bowl with the green apple flavor syrup and let soak for at least 20 minutes, but up to 5 hours.

Measure out your milk, then add matcha and stir briskly to mix to mix well. Add the one teaspoon green apple flavor syrup and stir.

To assembly drink:Add tapioca pearls in bottom of serving glass, then add ice.

Fill the rest of glass with matcha milk mixture and garnish with apple slices, if desired.Enjoy!

My take on bubble tea: This green apple matcha flavor is such a delicious and refreshing sip. This drink is meant to be sipped with a wide straw, large enough to suck up the tapioca pearls. However, if you don’t have one, do like I did and enjoy them afterwards with a spoon. The tapioca pearls are a chewy sweet bite of flavor to enjoy, like a light dessert. The matcha gave me a clean energy boost, I would highly recommend this homemade version for a healthier bubble tea.

What to try another unique bubble tea recipe?Check out my Fuzzy Dragon Bubble Tea Smoothie HERE, made with peaches, pink dragon fruit, ginger peach tea, turmeric and honey. It’s the ultimate energy boost before a workout.