This pretty hibiscus strawberry bubble tea is sweet, tart, and fruity! Get step-by-step instructions and tips for making the best bubble tea at home.
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Homeade Hibiscus Strawberry Bubble Tea
A combination of hibiscus tea and strawberry syrup gives this bubble tea its vibrant color and flavor.
Hibiscus has a tart, floral aroma that pairs nicely with strawberries. It’s naturally caffeine-free since the tea is made from the dried plant and not actual tea leaves.
The addition of tapioca pearls (or boba) makes this drink a bubble tea.
Dried tapioca balls can be purchased online or at some Asian grocery stores. To get them nice and bouncy, all you need is to cook them in hot water.
RELATED: 10+ Easy Bubble Tea Recipes
Recipe Highlights
- Hibiscus strawberry bubble tea is an iced drink made with dried hibiscus, strawberry syrup, tapioca balls, oat milk, ice, and water.
- This drink is caffeine-free because hibiscus is an herbal tea, but is still known as a bubble tea since it contains boba.
- No additional sugar is needed since the strawberry syrup is already sweetened.
- The recipe makes a 16 ounce (2 cup) drink.
RELATED: Strawberry Matcha Latte Bubble Tea
Ingredient Notes
- Hibiscus tea – Loose hibiscus tea is higher quality but hibiscus tea bags also work well for this recipe.
- Tapioca balls – Store-bought tapioca balls are the easiest way to make bubble tea at home. They get soft and bouncy once boiled in water.
- Strawberry syrup – Store-bought or homemade strawberry syrup can be used.
- Oat milk – Oat milk tastes the best but you can use any milk you prefer.
- Water – For the best tasting drink, use filtered water.
- Ice – Use filtered water for the ice if possible.
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Step-by-Step Instructions
For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to see the recipe.
- Steep dried hibiscus in hot water.
Strain out hibiscus leaves and let cool. - Cook tapioca balls.
Follow the package directions to make the tapioca balls.
- Put tapioca balls and strawberry syrup into a cup.
- Add ice.
- Pour in oat milk.
- Top with hibiscus tea.
Serve immediately. Stir before drinking and use an extra wide straw.
How to Drink Bubble Tea
Bubble tea is always served with a wide straw so you can get some of the tea and tapioca pearls with each sip. Be sure to chew the boba and not swallow it whole.
Recipe Notes
Only use food-grade dried hibiscus.
Dried hibiscus at plant shops may be treated with pesticides and aren’t edible.
Make sure to buy hibiscus that’s meant for eating and drinking. It will be labeled as food-grade or sold as hibiscus tea.
Serve tapioca balls while they’re still warm.
For the best texture, use boba that is still quite warm, almost hot. Allow them to cool down just a bit before eating so they don’t burn your mouth.
Make the tapioca right before you prepare the drink.
Boba starts to harden as it cools so don’t make them ahead of time. The texture won’t be as good as fresh tapioca balls.
RELATED: Strawberry Bubble Tea
Expert Tips
- Hibiscus tea can be steeped in advanced and stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Add the strawberry syrup, milk, and tapioca pearls when ready to serve.
- Strawberry syrup can also be made ahead of time and is good for up to 2 weeks if refrigerated in an airtight bottle.
- In addition to this bubble tea, you can use strawberry syrup to sweeten iced tea and lemonade.
- Dried hibiscus can also be used in a variety of ways like in a simple syrup or cold foam.
- Always drink bubble tea with a wide straw so you get a few tapioca balls with each sip.
RELATED: Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
Questions You May Have
Hibiscus tea has a tart, floral flavor that’s similar to cranberry.
Yes! While you can drink hibiscus tea on its own, it also pairs nicely with something sweet and milk. The sweetness balances out the flower’s tart notes.
Both bubble tea and boba tea are names for the same drink. They can be used interchangeably.
Related
- Rose Bubble Tea
- Purple Sweet Potato Bubble Tea
- Butterfly Pea Flower Bubble Tea
- Matcha Bubble Tea
- Taro Bubble Tea
Hibiscus Strawberry Bubble Tea
INGREDIENTS
Hibiscus Strawberry Milk Tea
- 2 teaspoons hibiscus tea
- ¼ cup water
- ⅓ cup strawberry syrup
- 1 cup ice
- ⅔ cup oat milk
Tapioca Balls
- ¼ cup tapioca balls
- ¾ cup water
INSTRUCTIONS
MAKE TEA
- Put hibiscus tea and ¼ cup of hot water into a teapot.Boil water on the stovetop or use an electric kettle with a temperature setting. Set water temperature to 195°F.
- Cover and steep for 5 minutes. Strain tea and let cool.Herbal teas like hibiscus can be steeped for longer without getting bitter.
COOK TAPIOCA BALLS
- Boil water and in a saucepan. Add tapioca balls.Bring ¾ cup of water to a boil in a saucepan. Once you see big bubbles (2-4 minutes), add tapioca balls. Keep boiling for 8 more minutes on medium-high heat. Cool slightly, until tapioca balls aren't too hot to eat. They should still be very warm.
ASSEMBLE DRINK
- Put the warm tapioca balls and strawberry syrup in a cup.
- Add the ice, follow by the oat milk.
- Pour the tea on top.Serve immediately. Use an extra wide straw to drink.
NOTES
- Loose hibiscus tea is higher quality but hibiscus tea bags also work for this recipe.
- Store-bought tapioca balls are the easiest way to make bubble tea at home. They get soft and bouncy once boiled in water.
- Store-bought or homemade strawberry syrup can be used.
- Oat milk tastes the best but you can use any milk you prefer.
- For the best tasting drink, use filtered water for steeping the tea and making the ice.
- Dried hibiscus at plant shops may be treated with pesticides and aren’t edible. Make sure to buy hibiscus that’s meant for eating and drinking. It will be labeled as food-grade or sold as hibiscus tea.
- For the best texture, use boba that is still quite warm, almost hot. Allow them to cool down just a bit before eating so they don’t burn your mouth.
- Boba starts to harden as it cools so don’t make them ahead of time. The texture won’t be as good as fresh tapioca balls.
- Hibiscus tea can be steeped in advanced and stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Add the strawberry syrup, milk, and tapioca pearls when ready to serve.
- Strawberry syrup can also be made ahead of time and is good for up to 2 weeks if refrigerated in an airtight bottle.
- Always drink bubble tea with a wide straw so you get a few tapioca balls with each sip.