Fun and fruity bubble tea smoothies are perfect as an easy breakfast or midday snack. Adding tapioca pearls to the mix makes this treat nice and filling (and of course, extra delicious)!
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
No need to buy boba, you can make it right in the comfort of your own home! Homemade drinks are more affordable and you can control the amount of sugar added for a healthier beverage.
In the mood for a cold, sweet treat? I also highly recommend this Strawberry Banana & Chocolate Protein Smoothie. It doesn't have boba, but you can certainly add some if you want!
Jump to:
Why you'll love this recipe:
It's for everyone: this recipe is gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan so you can share it will all of your friends and family.
Quick & easy: make your smoothie in just 10-15 minutes. Super convenient when need a fast breakfast, snack or even lunch!
Customizable: feel free to get creative and try different fruit combinations or mix-ins. Sometimes I'll throw in some banana, blueberries or even matcha powder. Smoothies are great for using up extra produce you might have laying around from another recipe.
Filling: smoothies don't tend to keep you full for long, but with the addition of boba, this beverage really does keep hunger at bay.
Simple: you'll only need 7 ingredients to whip up this sweet, tart treat!
Ingredients and substitutions:
- Fresh mango: select an extra ripe (soft) mango so it's super sweet! If you can't find any ripe mangos you can buy one and let it sit on the countertop for a few days. Don't want to wait? Look for a bag of diced mango in the frozen foods section.
- Frozen strawberries: I like to buy my strawberries fresh and then freeze in Ziploc baggies. You can certainly buy them frozen from the store.
- Coconut milk: or milk of choice.
- Vanilla extract: pure is best, but imitation will work!
- Salt: it might seem weird but a little salt adds nice depth and flavor to this smoothie. Sometimes I like to get fancy and use sea salt.
- Black tapioca pearls: I purchase WuFuYuan Brand Tapioca Pearls on Amazon, they are excellent! If you happen to be located near an Asian Market, they're likely to carry some good options as well. You can also make your own pearls.
- Agave: sub maple syrup or honey (if you're not making your smoothie vegan).
How To Make Boba Smoothies
Keep scrolling for the full recipe card and measurements. We'll start here with a quick overview!
- First, cook your boba according to instructions on packaging. Drizzle cooked boba in a bit of agave, maple syrup or honey (if desired). I actually prefer mine unsweetened!
- Dice fresh mango and transfer pieces to blender.
- Add frozen strawberries, vanilla, salt, a dash of agave and coconut milk to blender.
- Puree for 30-60 seconds, until smooth. Add a few more strawberries or ice cubes if you want a thicker smoothie.
- Add a quarter cup of cooked boba to the bottom of your glass. Cover with smoothie mixture.
- Add a jumbo straw, and enjoy!
Step By Step Photos
Special Equipment:
The most important thing you'll need to enjoy this smoothie is a jumbo boba straw. Sure you can eat this treat without a one, but it really adds to the fun. I use these paper straws! They hold up really well, do not disintegrate and have a slanted side which makes it easy to get boba pearls from the bottom of your glass. Plus, they're biodegradable and that's always a win.
How To Store Leftover Cooked Boba
Completely immerse leftover, cooked boba pearls in simple syrup (one part water, one part sugar) and refrigerate for up to 72 hours. When you're ready to eat, test to see if boba is still chewy. If pearls have begun to harden, there are a couple of ways to soften them back up.
Method one: boil a small pot of water on the stovetop and add pearls. Let them simmer briefly (1-2 minutes) and remove once they've become chewy again.
Method two: drain pearls from simple syrup and place them in a small bowl. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave for 10 seconds at a time until softened.
Boba is always best fresh, so whenever possible, I recommend cooking just the amount needed rather than making extras for later. This will ensure you always get that delicious, chewy texture!
Variations:
Boba: there are many different flavors of boba you can buy. This 4-pack from WuFuYuan features black, multi color, green tea and taro pearls. You might also experiment with popping boba which are essentially little juice pockets.
Omit boba: if you want a refreshing beverage without boba pearls, you can leave them out! This smoothie is delicious either way.
Mix-ins: add banana slices, honeydew or perhaps some orange juice. I'd also recommend trying matcha or taro root powder! I recently made this smoothie with date syrup instead of agave and it was really yummy.
Toppings: swirl on some whipped cream or cool whip and drizzle with extra agave!
Sweetened condensed milk: this is very common and popular ingredient in many boba tea recipes. I left it out for a dairy free option, but it is very delicious.
Frequently asked questions:
Boba are small balls (or pearls) made from tapioca starch. This starch comes from the roots of the cassava plants. When cooked, tapioca pearls become chewy and take on a texture similar to gummy candy! Boba is somewhat similar to sago, but sago is smaller and made from the pith of tropical palm trees.
Boba actually doesn't have much taste on it's own, but is often sweetened with honey or sugar. It can also be sweetened with agave or maple syrup. Personally, I like mine plain and mixed into a fruity or sweet beverage!
Boba pearls can be purchased online (I get mine on Amazon). You might also be able to find them at an Asian market if you're located near one.
According to Wikipedia, Boba milk tea originated in Taiwan, a country in Asia.
More Asian Inspired Recipes:
- Matcha Green Tea Mug Cake
- Sweet & Spicy Chicken Stir Fry
- Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls
- Salmon Poke Sushi Bowls
- Homemade Ham Fried Rice
Pin it for later!
Strawberry Mango Boba Smoothie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large mango *diced *see note below
- 15 medium size frozen strawberries *see note below
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar *see note below
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk *or milk of choice
- ½ cup cooked boba pearls
Recipe notes:
Mango: use a super ripe (soft) mango for extra sweetness! Can't find a soft mango? Simply buy a tougher one and let it sit on the countertop for a few days to ripen. If you don't want to wait, check the frozen food section for a bag of diced mango. Frozen strawberries: add a few more for a thicker smoothie. You can also add a few ice cubes to thicken. Agave: or sub maple syrup. Honey will also work (if not making vegan).Instructions
- Cook tapioca pearls according to instructions on packaging. Drizzle cooked boba in a bit of agave, maple syrup or honey (if desired). I actually prefer mine unsweetened!
- Dice fresh mango and transfer pieces to blender.
- Add frozen strawberries, vanilla, salt, a dash of agave and coconut milk to blender.
- Puree for 30-60 seconds, until smooth. (*Tip: add a few more strawberries or ice cubes if you want a thicker smoothie).
- Add a quarter cup of cooked boba to the bottom of your glass and cover with smoothie mixture.
- Add a jumbo straw and enjoy!
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?!
Wahoo! Thank you so much for trying it out – would you leave a rating?! Simply click on the stars in the recipe card above.
Chuck says
These are soooo good!
Garlic Salt & Lime says
I agree and I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Brooke Thompson says
So amazing and delicious!
Garlic Salt & Lime says
Thank you, Brooke! So glad you enjoyed this recipe!