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    Caramel Boba Milk Tea

    July 28, 2023 by Lauren Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Caramel Boba Milk Tea is so refreshing, delicious, and easy-to-make at home! You don’t have to run to the bubble tea shop when the craving for one of these gorgeous beverages hits!

    Caramel Boba milk tea hero shot.  Bubbles, milk, and tea in a short clear glass on a silver plate.

    Let’s be honest, boba tea is so fun to drink, but the fancy tea shops are expensive and it’s not exactly economical to go out every time you want one.  They’re easy to make at home, customize to your liking, and they don’t take long to put together at all.  

    You just need a few ingredients that you probably have on hand (minus the boba, we will talk about that below), and you’ll be drinking a fancy boba in no time at all!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions + variations
    • Where to get boba?
    • A note about drinking boba
    • Considerations about this recipe
    • FAQ
    • Bubble tea obsessed? Try these!
    • You will also love:
    • Caramel Boba Milk Tea
    • Let's connect?
    • More recipes you'll love:

    Ingredients

    Labeled Ingredients needed to make caramel milk bubble tea.
    • Boba - starchy tapioca balls that are basically the star of this drink! 
    • Caramel syrup - you can buy caramel syrup here or you can make your own salted caramel syrup (leave out the salt if you want “regular” caramel syrup.  
    • Black tea - any brand will work, I like to use PG tips, or any robust English Breakfast Tea.  
    • Milk - I used whole milk but you can use any milk you like: oat, almond, 2%, or skim. 

    Instructions

    Cooked boba in a white speckled owl with a gold spoon.

    Cook your boba according to package directions and then soak them in caramel syrup while you prepare the rest of your ingredients. Brew your tea, etc.

    Boba pearls in a clear glass.

    When all of your ingredients are measured and prepped, add your boba to a glass.

    Milk being poured over the boba pearls.

    Add the milk.

    Black tea going into the short class with milk and boba.

    Top with brewed tea and ice (discard the tea bag).

    Hand about to spray whipped topping on the caramel boba milk tea.

    Finish it off by topping with whipped cream.

    Whipped cream on boba milk tea.

    Then drizzle with some caramel sauce!

    Caramel drizzled onto boba milk tea.

    Substitutions + variations

    Boba - If you're looking for a substitute for boba pearls in bubble tea or other beverages, there are a few options for you to consider:

    • Sago pearls: Sago pearls are similar to tapioca pearls except they’re made from palm starch.  They’re much smaller, but they’ll give off a similar effect.  
    • Fruit jelly or popping boba: try fruit-flavored jelly cubes or popping boba instead of boba pearls! Popping boba are small, juice-filled (or yogurt filled) balls that burst with flavor when bitten into, and they’re kind of fun.  I will say, they taste better with fruit-flavored boba, but they will definitely work here. 
    • Chia seeds: While chia seeds won't have the same chewy texture as boba pearls, they can add a similar visual element and some texture to your drink. Chia seeds also have the benefit of being high in fiber and nutrients (they’re definitely healthier).

    Caramel syrup - you can use homemade or store bought caramel syrup.  I like to use homemade salted caramel syrup in this recipe because it’s delicious, but regular caramel or even a brown sugar syrup will work here. 

    Black tea - or Earl Grey would be delicious as well.  You can also swap this with green tea or matcha and it’ll taste great. 

    Milk - I used whole milk but you can use any milk you like: oat, almond, 2%, or skim.  
    Caramel sauce and whipped cream - this drink is sweet enough without it, but if you’d like, top your drink with whipped cream and drizzle some caramel sauce on top!

    Where to get boba?

    You can get them at any Asian grocery store, or you can just order them online.  

    You can get boba online, right here.  

    A note about drinking boba

    Boba area meant to be sipped through a thick straw, so definitely pick up a pack of those as well.  I like these straws because they’re reusable.

    Considerations about this recipe

    Bubble tea, while fun and versatile, isn’t a drink for children.  The bubbles/boba can be a choking hazard for young children, additionally this drink does contain caffeine. I don’t think it’s worth it to even attempt giving it to them.  But of course, this is at your discretion as a parent to decide if it’s right for your child (as long as they’re older than 5). 

    *Also, this recipe (as written) makes one drink.  If you’re making this drink for two, or more, please adjust the measurements in the recipe card. 

    FAQ

    What is boba?

    Boba (also known as tapioca) pearls, or simply “boba”, are small, chewy balls made from tapioca starch.  They’re mainly used in bubble teas, mostly notably created in Taiwan and since then they’ve become famous worldwide. 

    What are the origins of boba tea?

    Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. The drink was created by mixing sweetened milk tea with small, chewy tapioca pearls, resembling bubbles, and shaking them together to form the characteristic froth. The concept quickly gained popularity and spread internationally, evolving into the diverse range of flavors and variations because boba baristas are super creative!

    Are there any health benefits to drinking boba tea?

    While boba tea is a tasty drink - be aware that it’s not exactly healthy, and the benefits are limited.  It is a good source of hydration and antioxidants (from the tea). 

    Does boba tea contain caffeine?

    This recipe does, however you can make boba tea without tea - just leave it out and replace it with extra milk for a caffeine-free tea.  OR use caffeine free tea.

    Bubble tea obsessed? Try these!

    You'll love these bubble tea recipes:

    • Butterfly Pea Milk tea sitting in a short glass with Boba pearls and milk.
      Butterfly Pea Boba Milk Tea
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    • TIger milk tea hero shot.
      Tiger Milk Boba Tea
    • pumpkin spice boba milk tea with a straw.
      Pumpkin Spice Boba

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    hero image of caramel milk boba tea - tea is going into a clear class with milk and boba. The glass is on a silver plate.

    Caramel Boba Milk Tea

    Caramel Boba Milk Tea is so refreshing, delicious, and easy-to-make at home! You don’t have to run to the bubble tea shop when the craving for one of these gorgeous beverages hits!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Beverage
    Cuisine Asian-Inspired, Thai-Inspired
    Servings 1 person
    Calories 160 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup boba cooked according to package directions
    • 2 tbsp caramel syrup homemade or store bought, see recipe notes*
    • ¼ cup brewed black tea
    • ½ cup milk
    • whipped cream and caramel sauce optional for topping

    Instructions
     

    • Cook your boba according to the package directions, then drain and rinse under cold water.
    • Toss your boba pearls with the caramel syrup and set them aside to soak up some of the flavor.
    • While your boba is soaking in the caramel sauce, brew your black tea and let it cool off a little bit (it shouldn’t be so hot it’s going to break your glass when you pour it in).
    • Add the boba pearls and caramel syrup to a glass.
    • Fill the glass with ice.
    • Add your brewed black tea (discard the tea bag), then top with milk.
    • Top with whipped cream and caramel sauce, if desired.

    Notes

    *Making boba ahead of time isn’t really recommended, it can be made 4 hours in advance, but because boba pearls are starchy, they will get stiff and hard. It’s best to make this drink fresh and consume it immediately.
    *This recipe isn’t kid friendly, the boba pearls can be a choking hazard.
    MAKE YOUR OWN SALTED CARAMEL SYRUP:
    INGREDIENTS
    1 cup water
    1 cup white sugar
    1 tsp vanilla extract
    ½ tsp sea salt
    INSTRUCTIONS
    Put the water and white sugar into a small saucepan and whisk it together over medium heat.
    Whisking continuously, bring it to a simmer for 2 minutes, it should change color slightly.
    Immediately remove it from the heat. (Don’t continue to cook it further because then you risk burning the sugars, and the mixture will become gritty).
    Whisk in the vanilla extract and sea salt.
    Let it cool and store it in an airtight container.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 183mg | Potassium: 209mg | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 234IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 170mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Pinterest pin for caramel boba milk tea.  Contains a hero shot, text overlay, and the caramel boba milk tea in a glass on a silver plate.

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    About Lauren

    Lauren is the freelance writer, photographer, and recipe developer behind Shutter + Mint. Thanks for stopping by!

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    Hi, I'm Lauren! Shutter + Mint is a food blog I created to help you create easy, practical recipes at home. Thanks for stopping by!

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