Black Tea & Coconut Milk Boba

Searching for a coconut milk boba recipe that's both delicious and pretty? Look no further. This Black Ta & Coconut Milk Boba is super easy to make, absolutely tasty and looks super pretty too. And, it will only take 10 minutes to make.

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Ingredients for making Black Tea & Coconut Milk Boba

Coconut cream: Coconut cream is much thicker than coconut milk. It's high in calories (over 200 kcal per 100 grams). It's rich in fat and usually contains about 2 grams of sugar and 2 grams of protein per 100 grams. On the other hand, coconut milk is very low in fat, and if unsweetened, contains the same amount of sugar as coconut cream, but slightly less protein. Barista style coconut milk will often have much more sugar.

Milk: In this recipe, coconut cream is mixed with regular milk to get the best texture. For a vegan friendly drink, use a milk alternative.

Black tea: Choosing good quality black tea leaves is a must if you want to get the best tasting boba tea, especially if you want to keep the layers separated. Both colour and flavour will matter. You can use tea bags too, but loose tea will often have a better flavour will less bitterness and no murkiness.

Boba pearls: Black sugar boba pearls go really well with this black tea and coconut milk boba. Other good flavours are original boba or homemade hojicha boba pearls. For the best flavour and chewiness, cook boba pearls before serving.

Sugar: Neither black tea nor coconut cream are sweet, so you will need to use a sweetener. Add sugar only to coconut cream and milk, not to black tea. 1 teaspoon will be enough for a lightly sweetened tea. You can add 1-2 teaspoons more, depending on how sweet you want it to be.

Can I replace coconut cream with coconut milk?

Yes, you can replace coconut cream with regular coconut milk. There are dozens of coconut milks out there, so choose those with a higher sugar content and better texture. If you are using pure coconut milk, just add 100 ml of milk instead of 50 ml of cream and 50 ml of dairy milk. To keep layers apart, you may need to add 1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar more – depending on which coconut milk you are using and how sweet you want it to be. However, if you have coconut cream at home, use it. It will give a much nicer texture and flavour. Coconut milk is usually quite watery, often more than other plant-based milks.

Which black tea is the best for making this boba tea?

To make the best tasting coconut milk boba, always use high quality black teas. Pay attention to the flavour profile and choose teas with malty, chocolaty or sweet notes. Alternatively, you can choose vanilla, cream, Irish cream, chocolate or coconut flavoured tea blends. If you are using flavoured blends, don't add the vanilla extract. We used a standard loose leaf Assam tea with a strong malty flavour.

Steps for making Black Tea & Coconut Milk Boba

Cook boba pearls: Start with cooking boba pearls. Cooking boba pearls will take about 10 minutes, and you can prepare tea and coconut milk while they are cooking.

Make the tea: Bring fresh water to a boil and steep 1 heaped teaspoon of black tea leaves in 120-150 ml of water for 3-5 minutes. Always make tea right before assembling the drink, otherwise it will get murky and potentially bitter. Do not add any sugar to black tea. Strain it after 3-5, add vanilla extract (optional) and set aside.

Mix coconut cream with milk: While the boba pearls are cooking and tea steeping, mix coconut cream and milk in 1:1 ratio and add sugar. Simmer it over low heat while stirring, until sugar dissolves. Turn off the heat.

Assemble the drink: To get a pretty layered look, always follow the correct order when assembling the drink. Add coconut milk first, then add tapioca pearls and lots of ice, and then slowly pour prepared black tea over ice cubes.

Can I add sugar to black tea?

Do not add sugar to black tea if you want a perfectly layered drink. Once you mix your layers (if you want to), this boba tea will be sweet enough even if you don't add additional sugar to black tea. But to truly enjoy the flavour of both layers, do not over brew black tea as it will become bitter. Also, use high quality black tea only, the one you'd typically drink and the one you enjoy.

Do I need to coat boba pearls in honey or simple syrup?

Cooked boba pearls need to be coated in simple syrup or honey or they will stick to each other. If you are using freshly cooked boba pearls, you don't need to coat them. They won't stick in a drink. However, if you are using coated boba pearls that you already cooked a day or two before, you may need to reduce the amount of sugar.