This fresh taro bubble tea is made with real, cooked and mashed taro root -- not the powdered mix from the store. The result is a creamier, more naturally flavored drink that's lightly sweetened with condensed milk and comes together in just 10 minutes.

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My favorite bubble tea during university was always taro milk tea -- that sweet, nutty, faintly purple drink I'd order without a second thought.
Back then I always got the powdered version. It was good! But it wasn't until I tried making it with real taro root that I realized how much better the genuine article tastes: softer, earthier, creamier, and not overly sweet. I've never gone back.
So here's my go-to recipe for fresh taro bubble tea -- made entirely from real taro, no artificial powder required.
What is taro?
Taro is a starchy root vegetable with rough brown skin, a beige-to-light-purple interior, and a subtly sweet, nutty flavor.
It's widely used across Asian cuisines in both savory and sweet applications -- think taro puffs (wu gok), steamed taro cake (wu tao goh), and desserts like Malaysian-style bubur cha cha or taro coconut sago soup.
You can find taro root at most Asian grocery stores, and increasingly at larger supermarkets.
This recipe uses real taro for a fresher, more delicious result.
If you'd like the vibrant purple color that artificial taro is famous for, you can add a little purple sweet potato powder (more on that below).


Ingredients you'll need
- cooked, mashed taro: just 3 tablespoons (about 50g); cook a larger piece and save the rest for another use
- sweetened condensed milk: for a lightly sweet, creamy base; adjust to taste
- vanilla extract: rounds out the flavor beautifully
- whole milk: almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk or any non-dairy alternative all work well
- cooked boba pearls: homemade or store-bought cooked tapioca pearls
- ice: lots of it!
- purple sweet potato powder (optional): for natural purple color; I use Suncore brand
Note: this recipe is naturally caffeine-free, making it great for kids or anyone avoiding caffeine.
For a tea-version, here's my taro milk tea.
How to make fresh taro bubble tea
Cook and mash the taro:
You only need about 50g (3 tablespoons) of cooked taro for one serving, so cook as much of the root as you like and store the rest in the fridge.
To boil: Peel the taro, cut it into small chunks, and boil in water until fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes.
To microwave: Peel and cube the taro, place in a small bowl with a splash of water, cover, and microwave for 1-2 minutes until fork-tender.
Mash the taro while it's still warm. If it looks dry, add a tiny splash of water to help it along. You want a smooth, lump-free paste -- similar to mashed potato in consistency. You can also use Homemade Taro Paste if you have some already made.
Blend the taro milk:
In a high-powered blender, combine mashed taro, condensed milk, vanilla extract ,milk of your choice
and purple sweet potato powder (if using, for color).
Blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness by adding more condensed milk if needed.
Assemble and serve:
Add cooked boba pearls to a tall drinking glass.
Fill with ice, then pour the blended taro milk over the top.
Serve immediately with a wide boba straw.

How to store & serve
Fresh taro bubble tea is best enjoyed immediately after blending, while the boba pearls are still soft and chewy.
If you need to make it ahead, keep the blended taro milk and boba pearls stored separately in the fridge and assemble just before serving.
The taro milk keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Note that boba pearls tend to harden when cooled and in the fridge -- a quick 30-second microwave zap can help revive them.
How to add purple color naturally
Here's something most people don't realize: taro root is not naturally purple. It's more of a beige/light pink color.
The pale lavender color we associate with taro-flavored drinks comes from added coloring -- usually artificial dyes.
To get a beautiful natural purple at home, I added purple sweet potato powder. It blends right into the drink, adds a lovely color, and has a very subtle flavor that complements the taro well.
You can skip it entirely and your fresh taro bubble tea will have a creamy beige color -- which is completely normal and still delicious.
Variations
Dairy-free/vegan: swap condensed milk for sweetened condensed coconut milk and use oat milk or coconut milk as your base.
With tea: blend in ½ cup black tea or jasmine green tea for a classic taro milk tea.
Brown sugar boba: Sweeten your boba pearls with brown sugar syrup instead of serving them plain for a tiger-stripe effect.
Hot taro latte: skip the ice and boba and serve warm -- try it with full-fat coconut milk for a cozy winter version (thanks to reader Mariet for this idea!)
Extra taro flavor: increase the mashed taro to 4-5 tablespoons for a more pronounced taro taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does taro bubble tea taste like?
Taro has a mild, earthy, slightly nutty flavor -- often described as a cross between sweet potato and vanilla. When made with real taro (like this recipe), the flavor is more subtle and natural than the powdered version you'd find at most boba shops.
Can I make this without a blender?
A high-powered blender gives the smoothest result, but a hand immersion blender also works well. Mash the taro as finely as possible before blending for the best texture.
Where can I buy taro root?
Taro root is widely available at Asian grocery stores and many mainstream supermarkets. Look for it in the produce section near yams and sweet potatoes.
Can I use taro powder instead of real taro?
Yes -- but then it wouldn't be a fresh taro bubble tea! If you're in a pinch and can't find taro root, use about 2 tablespoons of taro powder dissolved in the milk and skip the blending step.
Other taro recipes you may like
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know if you try out this recipe -- I love seeing your creations! Tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer and be sure to leave me a comment/rating below!

Fresh Taro Milk Bubble Tea
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon cooked mashed taro
- 2-3 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk or to taste
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ - ½ C whole milk or non-dairy alternative of your choice
- 1 tablespoon purple sweet potato powder for colour, optional
- ice cubes
- 1 batch cooked boba pearls
Instructions
- In a high-powered blender, add the cooked, mashed taro, condensed milk, vanilla extract and milk (of your choice), along with the purple sweet potato powder (if using).
- Blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness by adding more condensed milk if needed.
- Add boba pearls to a drinking glass, fill with ice, and pour the blended taro milk over top.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.










David @ Spiced
Interesting! I didn't realize that taro doesn't have a natural purple color - I've never looked into it enough to know! Now I'm intrigued. Laura loves (!!) bubble tea, and I think it would be fun to make this recipe for her using real taro. The look is stunning!
Michelle
Thank you David -- it's funny how so many commercial products tout taro to have this "lilac/purple" colour!
D. Lin
This was delicious. I did increase the taro about 15g more since I like a strong taro taste.
Michelle
Thanks for your feedback! Glad you liked it! 🙂
Gail Montero Raines
I love bubble tea especially one made with taro so I'm happy to find this tasty recipe to try! YAY!
Michelle
Awesome, hope you love it Gail 🙂
Biana
I like bubble tea, and this one looks amazing! Looking forward to making it soon.
Chenée
This is such a treat! Love that I can make my own with real taro! Can't wait to try this!
Kim Guzman
It looks incredible! Thanks for the tip on adding the purple sweet potato flour. I had never heard of it and it seems like a fun ingredient.
whitney
Love sweet potato flour!! This recipe is a great use for it. I would like to know, do you eat the boba pearls after and do they have nutritional value?
Michelle
Yes, the boba pearls are edible -- unfortunately, they do not have much nutritional value as it's primarily starch. But they're fun to eat since the texture is chewy. 🙂
Beth Sachs
We just LOVED the colour of this taro milk bubble tea. It's a new favourite of my 14-year-old daughter.
Bintu | Budget Delicious
This sounds like such a delicious bubble tea and I love the colour of it too - so vibrant!
Kim at Three Olives Branch
So yummy, and just love how pretty the purple is! So fun to drink.
Toni
This is so delish!! I really love taro flavor!!
Alicia O'Brien
This is absolutely delicious but where is the 'tea'?
Michelle
This particular version doesn't contain tea. You can certainly add cooled green tea and blend it together with the taro if you like.
Wanda
Love that you make your own boba! Can't wait to try this recipe, we love bubble tea!
Momo
Hi, which brand do you use for sweet purple powder? Thanks!
Michelle
Hi Momo, I use Suncore's purple sweet potato powder.
Linsey
Beautiful taro milk bubble tea! I added extra taro as I like stronger taro taste too. Delicious!!
Mariet
So happy to find your recipe for homemade taro milk! I use it for making my favorite wintertime drink: HOT coco/taro boba tea 🙂
Add full fat coconutmilk instead of almondmilk. So far I did not use the purple powder, will try that asap as I love the color.