This Strawberry Milk Tea with homemade strawberry milkshake and fresh strawberry syrup combines flavours of black tea and strawberry for a delicious refreshing drink!
If you have ripe ugly-looking strawberries and you're looking for ideas to use them up, then this Strawberry Milk Tea recipe is one to try! Combining flavours of black tea with homemade strawberry milkshake and sweet strawberry syrup will become your next favourite drink.
Sweet, refreshing and made with real strawberries and strawberry milk with no artificial powders or flavourings.
You can also make this tea with boba or tapioca pearls as strawberry boba tea! This Strawberry Milk Tea recipe is also vegan-friendly when made with plant-based milk.
Ingredients and Variations
Strawberries - If in season and available, use fresh strawberries for this recipe. It's fine if they're ripe and ugly-looking, they will be blended and made into syrup.
If you can't get hold of fresh strawberries, use frozen strawberries straight from the freezer (do not thaw).
Sugar - You will need this for the strawberry syrup. Use granulated or brown sugar.
Milk - You can choose your preferred type of milk (dairy milk or plant-based milk). If you're going for the plant-based option, I would recommend neutral-flavoured milks such as oat milk, rice milk, or soya milk.
Black Tea - Use your preferred black tea leaves or teabags. For this recipe, I used English breakfast tea. You can adjust the strength to your liking.
Sweetener - Use a sweetener of choice for sweetening the tea.
Boba / Tapioca Pearls - To make this into strawberry boba tea, add some boba or tapioca pearls - the quick-cooking type!
How to Make Strawberry Milk Tea
Step 1: Strawberry Syrup
To make strawberry syrup, wash, hull, and dice strawberries.
Place in a small saucepan with sugar and a splash of water and bring to a simmer.
Simmer for 4-5 minutes until strawberries start to release syrup. Mash them lightly with a fork or potato masher to release more syrup.
Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and reserve strawberry bits. Set syrup aside.
Step 2: Strawberry Milk
Place cooked strawberry bits and milk in a blender and pulse until smooth.
You can also add a few more strawberries for added taste and thicker consistency.
Step 3: Tea
Steep teabag or tea leaves for 4-5 minutes in half a cup of hot water.
Strain and discard teabags and stir in sweetener of your choice.
Step 4 (Optional): Boba/Tapioca Pearls
If using, cook tapioca pearls according to package instructions.
Boil 2 cups of water in a medium sized saucepan and to a boil and carefully add tapioca pearls.
Once boba pearls float to the top (around 30 seconds), decrease heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes (covered).
Drain cooked tapioca pearls and transfer to a bowl with cold water. Let sit for 30 seconds, drain, and transfer tapioca to a glass bowl. Stir in 2-3 teaspoons of sugar and set aside.
Step 5: Assembly
Assemble Strawberry Milk Tea in two large serving glasses as follows:
Place boba pearls at the bottom.
Add ice for cold tea.
Add half of the strawberry syrup to each glass.
Divide strawberry milk mixture between the two glasses.
Top up with black tea.
Stir and serve!
Making Ahead and Storing
I don't recommend making this Strawberry Milk Tea ahead and it is best served immediately.
FAQs
Yes. For vegan-friendly strawberry milk tea, use neutral-flavoured plant based milk such as oat milk, soy milk, or rice milk. The rest of the ingredients included in this recipe are vegan-friendly. Tapioca pearls are typically plant-based, but always double-check with the label before purchasing.
Yes, this tea does include a small amount of caffeine, which is coming from black tea. This tea is best enjoyed in the mornings or early afternoon.
Other Recipes using Ripe Strawberries
Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
Puff Pastry Strawberry Turnovers
Strawberry Milk Tea
Ingredients
Tapioca/Boba Pearls (Optional)
- 40-80 g quick-cooking tapioca/boba pearls (¼ to ½ cup)
- 500 mL water (2 cups)
- 120 mL cold water (½ cup)
- 2 tsp. granulated sugar
Strawberry Syrup
- 250 g fresh strawberries diced + extra as needed for strawberry milk (see notes)
- 4 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2-3 tbsp. water
Strawberry Milk
- 375 mL milk semi-skimmed, whole, or plant-based (1½ cup)
- reserved strawberries from compote + 2-4 fresh strawberries
Black Tea
- 125 mL boiled water (½ cup)
- 1-2 black tea teabags
- sweetener of choice
- ice cubes optional
Instructions
- Tapioca Pearls (if using): Boil 2 cups of water in a medium sized saucepan and carefully add tapioca pearls. Once pearls float to the top (around 30 seconds), decrease heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes (covered). Drain cooked tapioca pearls and transfer to a bowl with cold water. Let sit for 30 seconds, drain, and transfer tapioca to a glass bowl. Stir in 2-3 teaspoons of sugar and set aside.
- Strawberry Syrup: Wash, hull and dice strawberries. Place strawberries in a small saucepan on medium heat. Add sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of water and simmer for 5-6 minutes until syrup is released. Use a fork or potato masher to mash strawberries to release more juice. Remove from heat and pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a glass bowl. Set syrup aside. Do not discard remaining strawberry pieces.
- Strawberry Milk: Place reserved cooked strawberries and milk in blender. If desired, add 2-4 fresh strawberries and blend until smooth.
- Black Tea: Steep teabags in ½ cup freshly boiled water for 4-5 minutes. Strain and discard teabags. Stir in sweetener of choice.
- Assembly: Divide tapioca pearls between two large serving glasses. Add ice, if using. Top each glass with half of the strawberry syrup, followed by ¾ cup strawberry milk. Top each glass with ¼ cup of tea, stir and serve!
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