According to history, only men were allowed to work with the plant during the ancient Hawaiian period. But that’s history and today, we’ll show you how to make taro milk tea, what with its beautiful purple color and unique taste that has made it incredibly popular.
Origin.
The taro powder comes from the roots of the taro plant. The fresh root can also be boiled, blended, and used instead of powder. Native Hawaiians discovered and recognized almost 300 types of taro plants but only 60-70 types are known and survive today.
Tasting Notes.
The taro root is a starchy tuber from the yam family, most of which have a nutty flavor. The starch gives the tea a heavy thick, creamy texture and the earthy-nutty flavor is carried on into the tea.
With the addition of the tea and sweetener, the notes are usually on the sweet, nutty side with a subtle hint of creamy vanilla. The edible parts of the taro plant are rich in fiber and other essential nutrients.
Recipe - How to Make Taro Milk Tea
Some recipes include the addition of tapioca bubbles. Others don’t. Herein we focus on the formula that requires the inclusion of the boba. To make one without the boba, omit them during preparation. You’ll still end up with a tasty tea.
Taro Bubble Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 4_5 tablespoons taro powder.
- 1 Jasmine teabag.
- 1_2 tablespoons sugar.
- 2_3 tablespoons tapioca bubbles
- 2 cups water.
- ¼ cup ice.
- ½ cup milk.
Directions.
- Boil the water in a kettle.
- Pour the water over the teabag into a cup. Let it steep for 3 minutes
- Pour in a large transparent cup or tumbler.
- Add tapioca pearls to a pot of boiling water with 1 -2 tablespoons of sugar.
- Let them simmer for 5-7 minutes or until they float to the top, indicating they are done.
- Strain them and add them to the cup with tea in it.
- Put the milk in a blender, add the taro powder and a few ice cubes, and blend until well mixed.
- After mixing well, pour over the tea and boba mixture. Stir well and serve with a straw.
Essential Notes on How to Make Taro Milk Tea.
- Most taro powders contain artificial purple coloring, milk ingredients, and sweeteners. Always check the packaging and product description before buying if you’d prefer to purchase those without.
- Always check the steeping time of the tea. The tea taste should not be too overwhelming when mixed with the taro.
- Raw taro leaves are toxic and can cause itching and irritation if they get into direct contact with the skin. They should be well prepared with gloves on and boiled before consumption.
FAQs on How to Make Taro Milk Tea
Does taro milk tea have caffeine?
The taro, on its own, does not have caffeine. However, the tea that it is combined with does contain caffeine. The quantity of caffeine depends on how much tea is used during preparation. So, this is just a little heads up if you are trying to stay off caffeine.
[Also, see: How Much Caffeine there is in Chai Tea]
Is taro milk tea vegetarian?
Most of the taro powders available are made with the addition of milk-based creamers, which makes them non-vegetarian. Always check the ingredients on the packaging to be sure. Another option would be to use the raw taro root when making the tea.
Now that you know how to make taro milk tea, why not try out the following awesome tea recipes;
