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This Strawberry Bubble Tea is so refreshing and easy to make at home. You can make it with green or black tea and all you need is about 30 minutes and a few simple ingredients! We make a delicious strawberry syrup that you can use for other tasty treats.

strawberry bubble tea in a mason jar with a straw and mint

Strawberry Bubble Tea is the perfect way to welcome spring and summer. As the weather warms up, I know I’ll be reaching for this sweet strawberry milk tea again and again when I don’t feel like making a trip to the local boba shop. It’s so refreshing, super easy to make, and even more fun when you add some chewy tapioca pearls! I love making it with both black and green tea; it’s hard to pick a favorite. And the strawberry syrup is easy to make and use in this tea, in a latte, or even drizzled over ice cream and other desserts. So, two recipes for the price of one today!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase any of the items linked in this post, I should earn a small commission. This creates no additional cost to you and helps support the work that goes into running The Fig Jar. Thank you! -Becky

Ingredients in strawberry bubble tea

ingredients for strawberry bubble tea on a gray countertop

Black or green tea
Fresh strawberries
Sugar
Cold water
Tapioca balls/Boba tapioca pearls
Ice cubes
Milk, optional (I like it though!)

How do you make strawberry bubble tea?

What equipment do I need to make bubble tea?

Luckily, making bubble tea at home is not only really simple, it doesn’t require any fancy equipment to make. But a few particular (and inexpensive) kitchen tools will make the process a total breeze. Here’s a short list of what you’ll need:

Small mesh strainer – you’ll use this for straining your boba as well as the strawberry syrup. Not to mention lots of other kitchen tasks! I use this when making fresh juice in my blender.
Small saucepan – a standard-sized pot is all you need here. This will be used to cook the strawberry syrup.
Large measuring cup – I like to strain the syrup into one of these so it’s easy to pour into a bottle for storage. You can also strain the syrup into a spouted bowl. The key is straining it into something with a spout so it’s easy to transfer to a storage jar. I also like to steep my tea in a measuring cup like this when I will be steeping in a vessel that is not my drinking glass. Again, it’s easy to pour when I mix up my finished drink!
Optional, but more fun – a fancy reusable boba straw!

And that’s all you need to make a killer glass of bubble tea at home.

Strawberry simple syrup

First off, let me just say that strawberries are my favorite and are therefore nearly always in my refrigerator regardless of the season (though for best results, sweet, ripe strawberries are ideal for this recipe). Thus, I can’t help but find all the yummy uses for them. A few of my favorite recipes that I’ve shared on this site are my Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk Scones, this highly refreshing Strawberry Basil Lemonade, and these crowd-pleasing Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats (dipped in chocolate or otherwise).

Ok, let’s get to this recipe. You’ll start by making homemade strawberry syrup. I’m sharing my standard recipe for this syrup which is more than enough to make a few glasses of bubble tea so you can save the extra for other delicious uses, like pancakes, waffles, lattes, and ice cream.

Combine strawberries, sugar and water in a pot over medium heat. Cook until bubbling and the strawberries begin to break down. Use a fork or potato masher to smash the strawberries as they cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Then remove from heat and allow the liquid to cool to room temperature.

Strain the syrup through a mesh sieve into a bowl or large measuring cup with a spout.

strawberry syrup being strained through a mesh sieve

Then transfer the syrup to a clean jar.

How to store the strawberry syrup

Store the syrup in a clean, airtight container (a mason jar works well for this) in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

How to make the bubble tea

Steep black or green tea bags in hot water for 5 minutes.

black tea bags steeping in a jar with boiling water

While the tea steeps, add the tapioca pearls and water to a small pot and turn the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil and cook until the boba pearls float. Then strain.

Add pearls to your drinking glass. Add syrup and milk to taste (if using milk). Then add ice.

Swaps and Substitutions

I prefer different types of milk in different types of drinks. It just depends on the recipe. In recipes with coffee, I tend to like the taste of oat milk, like in this iced oat milk latte. And in recipes involving tea, like this Earl Grey latte, I tend to prefer dairy milk. It’s totally up to your preference! Any type of milk will do. In the way of plant-based milk, coconut milk, almond milk, and soy milk could work as well. But whole milk is my favorite for a richer drink! Looking for a bit of an easier, yet equally delicious sweetener for your boba? Try this brown sugar syrup and make a brown sugar milk tea instead! You can also swap out the green tea and black tea with oolong tea. I have not tried white tea with this recipe but if you do try it, please share your thoughts below in the comments section (and leave a review!).