Strawberry Matcha Boba Drink (Printer-Friendly)

A vibrant layered drink combining strawberries, creamy matcha milk, and chewy tapioca pearls for a refreshing treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

→ Tapioca Pearls

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

→ Assembly

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

# Method:

01 - Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add tapioca pearls, stir gently, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or according to package instructions until chewy. Drain thoroughly and toss with brown sugar. Set aside.
02 - Combine hulled strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice in a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust sugar level if necessary.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk matcha powder with hot water using a bamboo whisk or small frother until frothy and fully dissolved with no lumps. Stir in honey or simple syrup. Gently mix in milk.
04 - Divide cooked tapioca pearls evenly between two glasses. Pour strawberry purée over the pearls. Add ice cubes. Slowly pour matcha milk mixture over the strawberry layer to achieve distinct layers. Top with additional milk if desired.
05 - Serve immediately with wide boba straws. Stir thoroughly before consuming for optimal flavor integration.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like something from a café but costs a fraction of the price, and honestly tastes fresher because you made it five minutes ago.
  • You don't need fancy equipment or matcha expertise—just a whisk and patience, which means even your non-tea-drinking friends will ask for seconds.
02 -
  • Boba pearls have a window of perfection that's maybe thirty seconds long—slightly before and they're tough, slightly after and they're falling apart, so set a timer and check them often.
  • The strawberry layer will naturally want to mix with the matcha milk when you pour, but if you pour slowly and rest your pitcher just above the surface, you'll get those beautiful distinct layers that make people take pictures before drinking.
03 -
  • Prep your boba while you're blending the strawberries so everything finishes around the same time—there's nothing worse than cold boba sitting in a bowl while you're still working on other components.
  • If you're making these for guests, you can cook the boba and prepare the strawberry purée earlier in the day, then do the matcha whisking and assembly fresh when you're ready to serve, which takes maybe three minutes total.
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