Dairy-Free & Plant-Based Vegan Boba Recipe

This vegan boba recipe is creamy, sweet, and packed full with delicious little balls of boba. Learn how to make your own plant-based bubble tea at home.

Also known as bubble tea, boba is originally from Taiwan. It’s a refreshing, sweet, and creamy drink based on a milky black tea with added tapioca pearls (aka boba or bubbles!). 

This popular drink is traditionally made using evaporated or sweetened condensed milk, meaning it isn’t suitable for vegans. However, vegan alternatives such as sweetened soy or oat creamers make great substitutes here, meaning vegans can also enjoy this delightful, bubbly treat. Here’s how to make vegan boba it at home.

Vegan Boba Recipe

Tea Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Ceylon black tea
• 2 cups boiling water

Boba Ingredients:

• ½ cup tapioca pearls 
• 1 tbsp sugar 
• 2 tbsp water

To Serve:

• 2 cups ice
• 3-4 tbsp vegan sweetened creamer

Instructions:

1. For the tea, brew the tea leaves by placing them directly into the boiling water, and later straining through a coffee filter to get the strongest tea flavor. Let your tea cool completely by placing it in the refrigerator.
2. To prepare the tapioca pearls, you firstly need to heat a small pot over medium heat, and bring about one inch of water to the boil. Add the tapioca pearls once the water has come to a rolling boil. Cook the pearls until softened to the very center. Depending on the tapioca pearls you have bought, this could take anywhere from three to ten minutes, so it is best to taste-test to see when they are cooked through. Gently stir so the pearls don’t stick to the bottom.
3. Once fully cooked, strain the pearls before returning them back to the pot with the sugar and water. Cook the pearls in the sweet solution until all the sugar has dissolved. Transfer both the boba and the sugar syrup to two drinking glasses. 
4. To serve, fill each glass with ice and add one cup of tea. Stir to chill the tea, then add the vegan creamer. Stir once more and enjoy!

Read more:

• How to Make Thai Iced Tea From Scratch (Vegan)
• Best Vegan Substitutes for Evaporated Milk & How to Use Them 
• How to Make Cashew Milk in 2 Step (Without Straining)

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Tags: Beverages Food Guide Recipes Vegan