This creamy and refreshing avocado boba with chewy tapioca pearls is a unique and delicious bubble tea drink you can make at home with only a few ingredients.
If you’ve never had avocado boba or avocado bubble tea before, you have to try it! It’s made by adding chewy tapioca boba pearls to a creamy avocado smoothie. Not your typical milk tea boba but just as delicious.
This avocado boba is rich without being overwhelming. You can always add a second avocado for an even creamier smoothie. When paired with condensed milk and ice, it’s so refreshing and light - perfect for a warmer day.
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What is boba?
Boba or bubble tea is a popular drink originating from Taiwan. It’s commonly made with a milk tea base and the key component - the chewy tapioca pearls. You can enjoy it hot or cold but it’s usually served iced with a large straw that allows the pearls to pass through. Besides tea, you can also find a large variety of flavours in smoothie or slushie form.
The term ”boba” can also refer to the tapioca pearls themselves. The word is a direct translation from the Chinese term for the tapioca pearls 波霸 (bōbà). In general, the names boba, bubble tea, boba tea, and pearl milk tea all refer to the drink as a whole. In my personal experience, the drink is more commonly called boba in the US and called bubble tea in Canada.
Where does avocado boba come from?
The flavour of an avocado smoothie with boba is a nod to other more common avocado desserts and drinks such as Filipino avocado with condensed milk and Vietnamese avocado milkshakes. It’s a flavour that is commonly offered at bubble tea shops but sometimes overlooked in favour of more familiar flavours.
Avocados are abundant in warm and tropical Southeast Asia. As a result, avocado is a popular ingredient and flavour. When paired with condensed milk and ice, it makes a sweet and refreshing dessert.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This avocado boba is super refreshing and delicious!
- The avocado makes this drink so creamy.
- It’s a quick and easy recipe. After cooking the tapioca pearls, the drink comes together just by blending the ingredients together.
- The chewy tapioca boba pearls are always a fun addition to any drink.
Ingredients
- Tapioca pearls - You can usually find tapioca pearls for boba in Asian grocery stores. They are typically small dry, brown pearls in a vacuum sealed package.
- Brown sugar - This is what gives the tapioca pearls flavour and sweetness. The tapioca pearls will soak in a brown sugar syrup after being cooked.
- Avocado - You’ll need one ripe medium-large sized avocado.
- Milk - You can use dairy or plant-based milk depending on your preferences.
- Condensed milk - This adds sweetness and the flavour pairs perfectly with avocado.
- Ice - I add just enough to make this drink thick and cold. You can add more ice to your liking for an avocado slush consistency.
How to make avocado boba
Cook tapioca pearls - In a medium pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, pour in tapioca pearls. Immediately give it a stir to prevent clumping at the bottom of the pot. Boil uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for another 15 minutes.
Soak pearls in brown sugar syrup - Drain away the water and transfer cooked tapioca pearls to a small bowl. Add in brown sugar while the pearls are still warm and stir to dissolve sugar into a syrup. Add a spoonful of water if it’s too dry. Set aside.
Make avocado slush - In a blender, add in the flesh of the avocado, milk, condensed milk, and ice. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Assemble drink - In a tall glass, spoon in about 100g of tapioca pearls with brown sugar syrup. Fill the rest of the glass with the avocado smoothie. Stir well before enjoying with a large boba straw.
Storage
This avocado boba is best served immediately and doesn’t store well. The texture of the tapioca pearls changes over time and should be enjoyed on the same day they are made.
Tips & tricks
- Let the tapioca pearls soak in the brown sugar syrup. Cook the tapioca pearls first and give them at least 15 minutes to soak in the brown sugar syrup. Tapioca pearls themselves don’t have any flavour so it’s important to let them soak up the brown sugar flavour.
- Keep cooked tapioca pearls warm and moist. Make sure your cooked tapioca pearls are sitting in enough liquid (ie. brown sugar syrup) to be almost fully submerged and moistened. Partially cover the bowl with a plate or plastic wrap if you’re leaving them out before using so that they maintain the best chewy texture.
- Use a ripe avocado. Ripe avocados are creamy, soft, and sweet. They blend easily for the best texture.
- Add the avocado slush to the pearls right before serving. The texture of the tapioca pearls can become slightly harder when mixed with the ice cold liquid. I would recommend mixing them together right before serving and enjoying right away.
Frequently asked questions
Avocado boba tastes slightly nutty and earthy from the avocado, sweet, and milky. The texture is rich and creamy but not overwhelming. When you get a sip of the boba pearls, they’re soft and chewy with a caramelized brown sugar flavour.
Absolutely! This recipe makes a great, simple avocado smoothie if you just leave out the boba.
More boba recipes to try
- Earl Grey Bubble Tea
- Sweet Potato Bubble Tea
- Taro Milk Bubble Tea
- Boba Milk Tea Popsicles
- Bubble Tea Crème Brûlée
Recipe
Avocado Boba
Ingredients
- 125 g tapioca pearls, uncooked
- 30 g brown sugar
- 1 large avocado
- 400 g milk
- 30 g condensed milk
- 200 g ice
Instructions
- In a medium pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, pour in tapioca pearls. Immediately give it a stir to prevent clumping at the bottom of the pot.
- Boil uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for another 15 minutes.
- Drain away the water and transfer cooked tapioca pearls to a small bowl. Add in brown sugar while the pearls are still warm and stir to dissolve sugar into a syrup. Add a spoonful of water if it’s too dry. Set aside.
- In a blender, add in the flesh of the avocado, milk, condensed milk, and ice. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- In a tall glass, spoon in about 100g of tapioca pearls with brown sugar syrup. Fill the rest of the glass with the avocado smoothie. Stir well before enjoying with a large boba straw.
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