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    Home » Recipes » Drinks & Smoothies

    Published: Jan 6, 2023 · Modified: Feb 9, 2024 by Petra · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Boba Tea Smoothie Recipe (Shake) with Strawberries

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A collage of photos of boba smoothie with text overlay "Strawberry Boba Smoothie". A photo of boba smoothie with text overlay "Strawberry Boba Smoothie".

    This Boba Tea Smoothie combines a creamy strawberry shake with chewy tapioca pearls for a delicious and refreshing bubble tea drink. It's ready in less than 10 minutes and uses 6 simple ingredients only.

    Boba tea smoothie served in a large glass with a boba straw in it.

    If you've ever thought about how to elevate your regular strawberry banana smoothie, adding boba pearls is the answer!

    After making my chocolate boba and Oreo boba recipes, I started thinking about other ways I could enjoy tapioca pearls. Turns out that making boba shakes is way more delicious than I thought.

    For more smoothie recipes, check out my Watermelon Mango Smoothie, Carrot Cake Smoothie, Detox Island Green Tropical Smoothie, and my 3 Avocado Smoothies.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • How to Make Boba Tea Smoothie (Shake)
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • Storage
    • More Boba Tea Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Texture heaven. A creamy and cold smoothie with chewy boba pearls on the bottom. What's not to love?
    • Easy to make. You may think that homemade bubble tea requires some fancy methods to prepare, but actually, it's super easy to make at home. Anyone can make it!
    • Customizable. The best part about making a bubble tea smoothie at home is that you get to control how much boba you want and how sweet it is!
    • Made with 6 simple ingredients. The only "fancy" ingredient you'll need is the brown sugar boba, which you can order online on Amazon or buy from your local Asian grocery store.
    • It's cheaper than buying boba at a bubble tea place.

    Ingredients

    Gathered ingredients for making boba tea smoothie with text overlay on each ingredient.
    • Banana: Make sure to use a ripe banana to make a creamy and sweet smoothie.
    • Frozen strawberries: I like to use frozen fruit in smoothies to make them cold without the need for ice, but you can also use fresh strawberries.
    • Tapioca pearls: Also known as boba pearls or simply boba, they have a chewy texture and are made with tapioca starch. I like to use black tapioca pearls because they're flavored with brown sugar.
    • Coconut milk: You can use any milk you like, but I am using coconut milk from a carton here.
    • Brown sugar syrup: You'll need 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup to coat the tapioca pearls after cooking. This sweetens the boba and prevents the pearls from sticking.
    • Vanilla extract: A little bit goes a long way here.

    See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

    Substitutions

    • Strawberries: You can use any other fresh fruit you like. I like to use dragon fruit to get that same lovely pink color.
    • Banana: If you want to make this smoothie without bananas, you can use frozen or fresh mango.
    • Coconut milk: You can use whole milk, oat milk, or almond milk instead.
    • Brown sugar syrup: If you want to make this recipe refined sugar-free, you can use maple syrup to coat the tapioca pearls.

    How to Make Boba Tea Smoothie (Shake)

    Step 1: Cook the boba

    In a small pot, add water and bring it to a boil. Add the pearls and cook over medium heat following the packaging instructions. Then, drain and add to a small bowl. Coat with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup.

    Hint: Coat the pearls with the syrup immediately after draining them to prevent them from sticking.

    A white bowl filled with cooked tapioca pearls coated in brown sugar syrup.

    Step 2: Make the smoothie

    To a high-speed blender, add coconut milk on the bottom, then add the banana, frozen strawberries, and vanilla extract.

    Blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute until smooth and creamy.

    A blender filled with coconut milk, strawberries, bananas, and vanilla extract.
    Strawberry banana smoothie in a blender.

    Step 3: Assemble

    Add the tapioca balls to the bottom of a large glass, followed by a few ice cubes (if desired).

    Pour smoothie on top and give everything a good stir. Serve immediately!

    A hand pouring tapioca pearls from a small white bowl to a large glass.
    Pouring strawberry smoothie into a glass with boba.

    Expert Tips

    • Cook the tapioca pearls according to packaging instructions. Cooking time can vary depending on the brand you're using, so I can't give you exact instructions. Make sure to follow the packaging notes to avoid overcooking your boba.
    • Serve with freshly cooked tapioca pearls. Don't cook the boba ahead of time! The pearls taste best when they're warm and freshly made, and start to harden after a few hours.
    • Adjust the sweetness to your liking. The best part about making a boba tea smoothie at home is that you get to decide how sweet you want it to be. I recommend starting with a small amount of brown sugar syrup (2 tablespoons), and adding more after you taste it.
    • Use a jumbo boba straw to enjoy this delicious drink. Regular straws won't work in this recipe. If you can't get your hands on a glass boba straw, you can use a spoon.

    FAQs

    What is a boba tea smoothie made of?

    Contrary to bubble milk tea where you'd usually have black tea with a little bit of milk, this boba smoothie doesn't include any tea. Instead, it combines bananas, strawberries, and coconut milk into a delicious and creamy smoothie.

    Are boba smoothies healthy?

    One serving of this recipe provides you with fiber, Vitamin C, vitamin A, and Iron. However, it should be consumed in moderation since it can be high in sugar.
    If you're looking for healthier alternatives, check out my NutriBullet smoothies with over 20 options!

    Are you supposed to chew boba?

    Yes, the tapioca pearls are the best part of any bubble tea drink. It's important to chew them well to avoid any digestive problems.

    Can you make it in advance?

    No, I highly recommend serving it fresh, which means right after you cook the tapioca pearls. They start to harden after a few hours.

    Is this recipe vegan? Gluten-free?

    Yes, this recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free. Just make sure to use non-dairy milk!

    A large glass filled with our boba shake , placed next to a halved strawberry.

    Storage

    I highly recommend serving this boba tea smoothie fresh, right after you cook the tapioca pearls. They tend to get firm and become hard to chew after a few hours.

    The only thing you can make in advance is the strawberry smoothie (it will last for 24 hours in the fridge).

    More Boba Tea Recipes

    • Boba tea smoothie served in a large glass with a boba straw in it.
      Boba Tea Smoothie Recipe (Shake) with Strawberries
    • Two glasses of chocolate boba with glass straws on a white marbled board.
      Chocolate Boba Milk Tea (Bubble Tea)
    • Oreo bubble milk tea served in a large glass with a boba straw in it. Four Oreo cookies placed next to the glass.
      Oreo Bubble Milk Tea (Cookies and Cream Boba)
    • Hot boba tea served in a large glass jar.
      Hot Bubble Milk Tea (Boba)

    📖 Recipe

    Boba tea smoothie served in a large glass with a boba straw in it.

    Boba Tea Smoothie Recipe (Shake)

    This Boba Tea Smoothie combines a creamy strawberry shake with chewy tapioca pearls for a delicious and refreshing bubble tea drink. It's ready in less than 10 minutes and uses 6 simple ingredients only.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Taiwanese-Inspired
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
    Author: Petra
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • High-speed blender
    • Boba straws

    Ingredients

    • ½ heaping cup quick-cooking tapioca pearls
    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar syrup or maple syrup
    • 2 cups coconut milk from a carton
    • 1 cups frozen strawberries
    • 2 medium-small ripe bananas, peeled
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Small pinch of salt
    Step-by-step imagesScroll back to find detailed recipe photos!

    Instructions

    • In a small pot, add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the pearls and cook over medium heat following the packaging instructions. Then, drain and add to a small bowl. Coat with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup.
      ½ heaping cup quick-cooking tapioca pearls, 2 tablespoon brown sugar syrup
    • To a high-speed blender, add coconut milk on the bottom, then add the banana, frozen strawberries, vanilla extract, and a small pinch of salt. Blend for 30 seconds to 1 minute until smooth and creamy.
      2 cups coconut milk from a carton, 1 cups frozen strawberries, 2 medium-small ripe bananas, peeled, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, Small pinch of salt
    • Add the tapioca balls to the bottom of a large glass, followed by a few ice cubes (if desired). Pour smoothie on top and give everything a good stir. Serve immediately!

    Notes

    • Cook the tapioca pearls according to packaging instructions. Cooking time can vary depending on the brand you're using, so I can't give you exact instructions. Make sure to follow the packaging notes to avoid overcooking your boba.
    • Serve with freshly cooked tapioca pearls. Don't cook the boba ahead of time! The pearls taste best when they're warm and freshly made, and start to harden after a few hours.
    • Adjust the sweetness to your liking. The best part about making a boba tea smoothie at home is that you get to decide how sweet you want it to be. I recommend starting with a small amount of brown sugar syrup (2 tablespoons), and adding more after you taste it.
    • Use a jumbo boba straw to enjoy this delicious drink. Regular straws won't work in this recipe. If you can't get your hands on a glass boba straw, you can use a spoon.
     
    Storage
    I highly recommend serving this boba tea smoothie fresh, right after you cook the tapioca pearls. They tend to get firm and become hard to chew after a few hours.
    The only thing you can make in advance is the strawberry smoothie (it will last for 24 hours in the fridge).

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 80.5g | Protein: 2.3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 4.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 21.2mg | Potassium: 667.2mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 153.6IU | Vitamin C: 56.2mg | Calcium: 138.7mg | Iron: 2.5mg

    Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.

    Tried this recipe?Leave me a rating and a comment telling me how it went. Or tag me at @sunglowkichen and hashtag #sunglowkitchen on Instagram!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Paula says

      April 08, 2023 at 6:05 am

      So excited to try this delicious looking Boba Tea shake/smoothie recipe

      Reply
      • Petranka says

        April 15, 2023 at 6:59 am

        Let me know if you like the recipe, Paula!

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Petra!

    I'm a professional chef and a certified nutritionist! Sunglow Kitchen is all about easy vegan and vegetarian recipes that anyone can make at home, even if you're a beginner. Learn more about me here!

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