How to Make Healthy Homemade Bubble Tea

By
Kimi Harris
Kimi Harris
Writer
Kimi Harris is a food writer who is interested in the intersection of food, family, and frugality.
Learn about our editorial process
Updated June 5, 2017
Photos: Kimi Harris .

Yesterday I shared some different healthier options to use for the bubble in bubble tea. Today I wanted to share some of my homemade bubble tea recipes. I've had so much fun figuring out how to make these! I wanted my homemade versions to be less sweet because I no longer enjoy super-sweet drinks. However, you can easily adapt these recipes to your own taste!

Here's the basic formula for the “classic” bubble tea that most of us are most familiar with:

Tea base

Sweetener

Some type of cream or milk

Fruit juice

Some type of "bubble," such as tapioca balls

However, partly because bubble tea is a newer invention, it has changed rapidly and there is an almost overwhelming variety of bubble teas available – now they also come in thick smoothie forms, in milkshakes, in slushies, and in every other variety imaginable! All of these are fairly easy to make at home.

Here are three recipes to get you started. Each makes one serving.

classic bubble tea

Classic

  • 2 bags of black tea
  • 1 cup of hot water
  • 2 tablespoons sweetener of choice (I used honey)
  • Ice
  • 1⁄4 cup cream, coconut milk, or milk of choice
  • 1⁄4 cup juice of choice (mango, raspberry, apricot, or other very flavorful juice works great)
  • 3-4 tablespoons tapioca balls (or one of these choices)
Green Tea with Fruity Kombucha

This version uses a fruity kombucha instead juice, and stevia for a lower carb version. It’s really delicious!

  • 2 bags of Jasmine green tea
  • 1 cup of hot water
  • Stevia to taste
  • 1⁄4 coconut milk, cream/milk of choice
  • 1⁄2 cup fruity kombucha (I used guava)
  • 3-4 tablespoons tapioca balls (or one of these choices)
Directions for classic and green tea versions:
  • 2 bags of Jasmine green tea
  • 1 cup of hot water
  • Stevia to taste
  • 1⁄4 coconut milk, cream/milk of choice
  • 1⁄2 cup fruity kombucha (I used guava)
  • 3-4 tablespoons tapioca balls (or one of these choices)

2. Fill a glass with ice, and pour over hot tea mixture.

3. Top with juice or kombucha.

4. Add 3-4 tablespoons of bubble tea ingredients of choice (pick from these ones here). Top with whipped cream, if desired.

5. Serve with a bubble tea straw, or a spoon.

Banana Smoothie

This makes a thicker smoothie like drink that is sweet and yummy! I served this version with coconut strips.

  • 1 banana, very ripe
  • 1-2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 cup of coconut milk (or milk of choice)

2. Put in a medium-sized cup and put in desired ingredients (homemade jelly strips, coconut strips, blueberries, etc).

3. Serve with a bubble tea straw, or a spoon.

1. Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender.
2. Put in a medium-sized cup and put in desired ingredients (homemade jelly strips, coconut strips, blueberries, etc).