How To Make Mango Bubble Tea (Ice Blended)

This article will teach you how to make mango bubble tea. Mango bubble tea comes in a variety of forms, liquid or frozen. As liquids, you see it as a juice, iced tea, or milk tea. In frozen forms, you see it as a smoothie, icy, or milkshake. What defines it as a bubble tea is that it uses boba as a topping. Mango bubble tea can be prepared with or without caffeine.

Mango is tropical, sweet and refreshing. I like a cold mango bubble tea with a spicy meal, such as spicy Korean-style fried chicken or tom yum noodle soup. The sweetness of the drink helps neutralize the spiciness in certain foods.

Mango bubble tea drinks are made from my homemade mango nectar syrup that is very versatile and can be used to make many different mango drinks.

Why is it called mango bubble tea?

Bubble tea is simply the overall naming of the type of drink. Just because it is called bubble tea does not always mean it contains bubble or tea. For example, we have matcha bubble tea that contains caffeine, or lychee bubble tea without caffeine.

Read more about the interesting subject on why bubble tea does not always contain tea or caffeine.

If you like this recipe, try strawberry milk tea for a step up from your old-school strawberry milk nostalgia.

Varieties of mango bubble tea

• Iced mango nectar juice. A basic recipe made with our homemade mango nectar syrup.
• Iced or hot mango tea (green, black, or oolong). My favorite is the mango green tea.
• Iced or hot mango milk tea (green, black, or oolong). Learn how to make it here.
• Mango smoothie or icy. I add banana for creaminess. Best on a hot summer day. This is the drink that is featured in the pictures.
• Mango milkshake or mango milk tea shake. Made with ice cream.
• Mango lassi. This is an Indian inspired version. It’s often accompanied by a spicy dish to mellow out the spiciness.

Why is this better than teahouse mango boba?

The bubble tea store version usually don’t use fresh mangos. They usually use a shelf-stable syrup that tastes very sugary and sweet and contain very little real mango in it.

Our version is based off my homemade mango nectar syrup recipe.

Making the mango nectar syrup

This mango nectar syrup is the base ingredient for all our mango bubble tea drinks. It’s super easy and takes only 15 minutes.

We will be using real mango and sweetener to make the base syrup.

Pure mango nectar is based off mango, sweetener, and water. We don’t use water in this recipe to create a thicker syrup faster.

You need equal parts mango and white sugar. You can use frozen mango if it’s not in season. I used 1 cup of mango, 1 cup of sugar for this recipe. Add juice from 1/2 a lemon to the mixture before cooking. The acid in the lemon will prevent the syrup from crystalizing.

In a medium saucepan on low heat, add mangos, sugar, and lemon juice. Let sugar melt. Stir for 15 minutes occasionally. Use an immersion blender to puree the ingredients. You can strain out the mango pulp if you prefer a clear-er looking drink. I like the look of mango pulp in my drink, so I do not strain it out of my syrup.

This recipe will make more than you need for 2 cups of mango drinks, so you can store the rest in an airtight container in your refrigerator.

Sweetener

Due to the sugar infused into the mango nectar syrup, I don’t think this recipe needs extra sugar. If you prefer more sweetening, you can add simple syrup.

Brown sugar syrup is a popular addition, especially if it’s been sitting in the cooked boba pearls.

Other options are coconut sugar, honey, and maple syrup. Dissolve in hot milk or tea for easier blending of ingredients.

Brown sugar boba

These tapioca pearls, or boba, have a chewy gummy bear consistency that tastes great with mango drinks.

A quick recipe involves boiling boba for 30 minutes on low-medium heat. Coat with brown sugar to keep the boba tasting sweet.

Making Mango Boba Tea (Ice Blended)

Special equipment

Immersion blender or masher

Ingredients

Homemade mango nectar syrup

• 1 cup frozen or fresh mangos
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 lemon, juice only

Boba

• Ice
• Banana (for smoothie)
• Milk of choice
• Boba

Instructions

Make Mango Nectar Syrup

In a medium saucepan on low heat, add mangos, sugar, and lemon juice. Let sugar melt. Stir for 15 minutes occasionally. Use an immersion blender to puree the ingredients. Option to strain out the mango pulp.

Make boba pearls

In a large pot, with boiling water, add tapioca balls and let it simmer on low for 30 minutes. Rinse and drain.

Here are the 3 most common ways to use your homemade mango nectar syrup to turn it into mango boba drinks.

Make mango boba smoothie

Blend

• 1/2 cup of mango nectar syrup to
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup mangos
• 1 banana
• 1 cup milk

Add boba to a cup, then pour your blended mango drink on top. Enjoy.

What to have with it

• Top it off with chopped bits of fresh ripe mangoes
• A scoop of vanilla, coconut, or mango ice cream
• Popping boba
• Mango popping boba pearls

Storage

Store mango nectar syrup in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Store mango smoothie in airtight container.

Store brewed tea in refrigerator. Make sure you don’t leave tea bags in the drink.