How To Make Fruit Tea Boba (Easy Pre-Made Or Fresh Syrup)

In this post, I’ll share with you how to make fruit tea boba at home. We’ll cover everything from selecting the best tea and fruit combo, to preparing the fruit flavoring and tapioca pearls. We will show you how to make your own syrup from fresh fruit. By the end of this post, you’ll have all the tools you need to make your own bubble tea.

Choosing The Tea

When it comes to making fruit tea boba, the first thing you need to decide is the type of tea you want to use as your base. There are several options to choose from, including black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and fruit tea. 

If you prefer a stronger tea flavor, you can brew the tea for a longer time or use more tea bags. Keep in mind that the tea will be diluted with ice and sweeteners, so you want to make sure it’s strong enough to stand out.

Here’s a chart for tea base and fruit pairings for boba fruit tea drinks:

Tea Base	Fruit Pairing Ideas
Green Tea	Mango, Pineapple, Passionfruit, Kiwi, Honeydew
Black Tea	Strawberry, Raspberry, Peach, Blackberry, Cherry
Oolong Tea	Peach, Apricot, Apple, Grape, Pear
Jasmine Tea	Orange, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Pomegranate

Note: This chart is just a guide and you can experiment with different fruit combinations to find your favorite flavor. 

To Prepare The Tea

1. To make the tea, start by boiling 1 cup of water on high heat. Once the water is boiling, add the tea bags and let it steep for 3-5 minutes. 
2. Remove the tea bags and let the tea cool to room temperature. 
3. Add fresh fruit slices to the tea while it’s cooling to infuse the flavor.

Making Real Fruit Syrup For Fruit Tea Boba

To get a more intense burst of fruit flavor, make fruit syrup from scratch.

Ingredients for Real Fruit Syrup

• 1 cup of fresh fruit (such as strawberries, blueberries, or peaches)
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/4 cup of white sugar
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Instructions for Real Fruit Syrup

1. Wash and chop the fresh fruit into small pieces.
2. In a small saucepan, combine the fruit, water, sugar, and lemon juice.
3. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the fruit has broken down and the syrup has thickened.
5. Remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature.
6. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a container, pressing the fruit to extract as much liquid as possible.
7. Store the syrup in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

To use the real fruit syrup in fruit tea boba, add 1-2 tablespoons (depending on desired sweetness) to the tea mixture before adding the boba and ice. 

Ready-Made Fruit Syrup Options for Fruit Tea Boba

The easiest way to make this drink is using fruit syrup. With the preservatives, a bottle of syrup will last you a long time. Here are our favorite fruit syrups.

• Strawberry syrup
• Lychee syrup
• Peach syrup

Note: You can adjust the sweetness level by adding more or less ready-made fruit syrup. You can also experiment with different flavors of ready-made fruit syrup to create your own unique blend of fruit tea boba. You can also mix ready-made syrup with fresh fruit you have on hand for a fun twist.

Making the Milk Tea

If you prefer a creamier and more indulgent version of fruit tea boba, try making milk tea. To make milk tea, simply add your choice of milk to the tea and sweeteners.

The kind of milk you use is up to you. Dairy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and oat milk are all great options. You can also use whole milk for a richer taste.

To make milk tea, start by adding cooked tapioca pearls to a tall glass. Add ice cubes and pour the tea over the pearls and ice. Save about 1/4th of the cup height to add your choice of milk and sweeteners, and stir well to combine.

If you prefer a hot version of milk tea, you can heat the milk before adding it to the tea. Heat the milk on medium heat until it’s warm but not boiling. Make sure you save 1/4th of the cup height for milk. Add the warm milk to the tea and sweeteners and stir well.

Making the Tapioca Pearls

The chewy tapioca balls, or pearls, are the main ingredient that sets bubble tea apart from other drinks. While you can buy pre-made tapioca pearls at many grocery stores or Asian markets, making your own pearls can be a fun and rewarding experience.

I use premade, uncooked tapioca pearls. In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil on medium heat. Add the tapioca balls to the water and let them cook for about 10-15 minutes or until they float to the surface. Remove the tapioca balls from the water and transfer them to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process.

At this point, the tapioca balls should be soft and chewy. You can add them to the tea or store them in simple syrup to prevent them from sticking together.

Bubble tea is typically served with wide straws, which allow you to enjoy the chewy tapioca pearls along with the tea. You can find wide straws at most grocery stores or online. If you don’t have wide straws, a regular straw will do, but you may not be able to enjoy the pearls as much.

Putting It All Together

To prepare your drink, put a scoop of cooked boba in a glass, add fruit or fruit syrup, then top with ice and cooled tea. You really can do this in any order. I put the boba last in the picture because it’s fun. Save room for milk and sweetener if you like.

Experiment with different fruit flavors, milk options, and sweeteners to find your perfect drink. Making your own bubble tea is also a great way to customize the level of sweetness and choose healthier ingredients, like fresh fruit and dairy-free milk.

By following the steps outlined in this post, you’ll be able to make your own delicious fruit tea boba in no time. Enjoy!

Ingredients For Fruit Tea Boba with Syrup

• 1 cup of brewed tea (green, black, oolong, or jasmine)
• 1/4 cup of cooked black tapioca pearls
• 1/4 cup of ready-made or fresh fruit syrup (such as passion fruit, mango, or strawberry)
• Ice cubes
• Wide straws

Instructions

1. Brew 1 cup of your preferred tea according to package instructions. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature or chill in the refrigerator for a cold drink.
2. In a tall glass, add 1/4 cup of cooked black tapioca pearls.
3. Pour the pre-made or fresh fruit syrup over the tapioca pearls.
4. Add the cooled or chilled tea to the glass.
5. Add ice cubes to the glass until it’s almost full.
6. Use a wide straw to stir the ingredients together and enjoy!