Chocolate boba is a rich, creamy, chocolatey bubble tea that is served with chewy tapioca pearls. This chocolate milk tea is an irresistible chocolaty drink that can be easily made at home using a few ingredients. And it tastes better than the store-bought ones.
Boba or Bubble tea is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s. To learn more about various types of boba, refer to the lychee bubble tea. These drinks are varied flavored sweet milk tea served with chewy tapioca balls or pearls. Today we are going to make a chocolate-flavored one.
Why should you try making chocolate boba at home?
- Freshly made and free of any stabilizer etc. Unlike the store-bought boba that is not freshly made. You can whip up this delightful chocolate milk tea for yourself at your home.
- Chocolaty, rich, and creamy. This bubble tea is a chocolate rush that is rich creamy and chewy, altogether.
- Easy to make. It is so easy to make.
- Approachable. The recipe is approachable. All the ingredients are easy to procure and most of them we already have in your pantries. The only thing that you need to buy is tapioca pearls.
- Make it to fit your health or diet needs. You can substitute the ingredients to match your dietary needs. If you are following special diets like vegan, then you can replace the dairy milk and cream with oat milk or any other plant-based milk and cream of your choice.
- Make it to your taste. You can make it more or less chocolaty as per your taste.
- Cost-effective. Homemade chocolate milk boba is way cheaper than the store-bought ones.
What does chocolate boba taste like?
Well, it tastes like chocolate iced tea made with milk and cream. And not to forget the chewy boba pearls. Boba or tapioca pearls give a characteristic boba flavor. They have a dense caramelized sugar flavor that comes from brown sugar syrup.
The tapioca also has a flavor of its own. Though it is a mallow flavor when compared to chocolate. But still, it hangs in there and distinguishes this drink from a chocolate tea.
What is chocolate (boba) milk tea made up of?
1. Boba/ Tapioca pearls
For making this chocolate milk tea I have used black boba, which is actually the tapioca pearls flavored with brown sugar. They become black on cooking, hence the name black boba.
You can use any boba of your choice. Mini boba, clear boba, chocolate-flavored boba, or popping boba. The brown sugar boba is most widely used and easily available. Hence I am sticking to it.
2. Chocolate syrup
I have used chocolate syrup to flavor the chocolate milk tea. It makes the recipe super simple and easy.
Other options that you can use to flavor this bubble tea are:
- Hot chocolate mix: If you are using the hot chocolate mix, use 2 tablespoons or more of mix per glass. You might want to supplement it with some sweetener though. I have not used any other sweetener here as I am using the chocolate syrup, which acts as both, the sweetener and flavoring agent in this boba recipe.
- Sweet ground chocolate powder: Use about 2 tablespoons of sweet ground chocolate powder. I love the Ghirardelli Sweet ground chocolate.
- Cocoa Powder: Cocoa powder is usually unsweetened. Though it gives the best chocolate flavor of all. So, if that is what you have, use a double quantity of sugar to sweeten the drink.
3. Tea
Tea might appear an essential part of the bubble tea but, it is totally optional. The chocolate boba may or may not contain tea. Many Cafes serve it without tea, whereas some add a little bit of tea to give complexity to its flavor.
I have used half a cup of green tea for making 2 cups of chocolate boba. We do not need any strong tea flavor. Black tea has a stronger flavor than green tea. But this is a matter of personal choice, you can use whichever you like or have on hand. And if you happen to have chocolate tea with you, nothing better.
4. Milk
I am using whole milk for making this chocolate milk tea. You can use 2 percent if you want. But do not use skim milk. Whole milk works best. We want it rich and creamy.
Alternately if you want to make it vegan, use your choice of plant-based milk, and vegan cream.
5. Heavy Cream
I have to use whipping cream to give it richness. You can add it as such or whip it to the soft peak stage and use it.
6. Chocolate chip
Who doesn’t love chocolate chips? I have used some mini chocolate chips for topping the chocolate boba. It is totally optional.
Now that we have all the ingredients ready, let us chocolate milk tea boba.
How do you make chocolate boba?
Step 1 Brewing the tea
You can use whichever tea you like. I placed a teabag in a cup. Then, to brew the tea, I boiled ½ cup of water. When the water started to boil, I turned off the heat and poured the water into the cup.
Consider lifting the tea bag 2-3 times in the cup to allow movement of tea leaves to ensure maximum tea flavor extraction. Then cover the cup with a plate and steep the tea bag in the boiling water for 3 minutes of total time. Uncover the teacup and remove the teabag.
You want to do this in advance so that you have enough time to chill the tea. After brewing the tea, refrigerate it for at least 2-3 hours or until chilled. We do not need a very strong and prominent tea flavor, so I am using just half a cup of tea for 2 glasses.
Step 2 Cooking boba
Bring about 4 cups of water to a boil. Then add the brown sugar boba to the boiling water. Let them cook at high to medium heat until they all start to float at the top.
All types of boba will take different times to cook. I have used quick cooking boba. Mine started to float after 5 minutes of cooking. Then reduce the heat and let them cook until they become soft and chewy. I cooked mine for 10 minutes. You can cook for a few minutes more or less depending on the kind of texture you like on your boba.
Turn off the heat and keep them in the boiling water for 5-7 more minutes, before draining. Transfer them into a bowl and add some chocolate syrup to dunk them. Set the bowl aside and let boba come to room temperature.
Step 3 Making chocolate milk
In a large jar combine chocolate syrup and milk. Also, add the chilled tea. Mix everything together. If you are making for a large crowd, you can make the chocolate milk ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to assemble the chocolate milk tea.
Step 4 Whipping the cream
Add sugar to the cream and start whipping on low speed using a hand mixer. Whip for about 2 minutes and then increase the speed. Whip until soft peaks are formed and set aside.
Step 5 Assembling the chocolate boba
To assemble the chocolate milk tea start by pouring in the chocolate syrup dunked boba into the glasses. Add more or less boba depending on how much you want in your tea.
Then add 9-10 ice cubes to each glass. Then pour in the chocolate milk. Then add the whipped cream. Sprinkle some mini chocolate chips and put in a boba straw. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe variations for chocolate boba
- Use a tablespoon of Nutella or hazelnut chocolate mix to add to the chocolate mix to give more depth of flavor.
- Use chocolate sprinkles or Jimmies instead of the mini chocolate chips.
- You can add brown sugar syrup or caramel to the cooked boba to add another layer of flavor.
Storage
I would suggest you make it fresh and enjoy it fresh. Especially the boba pearls, taste best when made freshly. Though you can make chocolate milk and tea a day before and have it chilling in the fridge.
Recipe notes
- You can use hot chocolate instead of chocolate syrup. Also, you can use unsweetened cocoa powder. Just add a double quantity of sugar.
- Adding tea is optional.
- The ideal water temperature to brew the tea is 212 Degree F or 100 Degree C. which is just the boiling point of water. So just as the water starts to boil, you know that you reached the right temperature to steep the tea.
- Make the tea in advance and chill it in the fridge.
- Cook the tapioca pearls or boba right before assembling the chocolate milk tea. They taste best when made fresh.
- The exact time needed to cook boba will vary with the type of boba you use. But look for them to come to the top. It is better to use quick cooking boba.
- To make vegan chocolate bubble tea, just substitute the whole milk with plant-based milk that you like. Also, use vegan sugar instead of cane sugar. Follow the rest of the recipe as such to make the vegan strawberry milk tea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Well since both, chocolate and tea naturally contain some amount of caffeine, this bubble tea is certain to elevate your mood. I have green tea in this recipe, which has less caffeine than black tea. Milk loads of ice and cream further dilute the bubble tea. Hence there is going to be some amount of caffeine in the chocolate bubble tea.
Choose the plant-based milk of your choice to substitute the whole milk. Also, you can use coconut whipped cream to top the vegan chocolate milk tea or boba.
If you want to enjoy bubble tea you should take a break from calorie watching. As this drink is calorie and richness packed.
This bubble tea recipe will yield you 2 medium-sized glasses of bubble tea with 306 calories per glass. To cut down calories, you can reduce the amount of syrup and tapioca. Also, skip the cream.
A chocolate bubble tea that is made without tea and using the hot chocolate mix is called hot chocolate boba. It is just another version .
Other bubble tea recipes that you might want to try are:
- Lychee tea: Sweet fruit-scented tea recipe
- Strawberry Milk Tea: Boba Tea with fresh Strawberries!
- Lychee bubble tea: An easy lychee boba tea recipe
If you like this strawberry boba tea recipe, please leave a rating and a comment. It helps me create more recipes like this one.
Make it delicious!
Chocolate Boba Recipe card
Chocolate boba: Homemade chocolate milk tea
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup chocolate syrup
- ½ cup brewed tea 1 teabag
- 1 ½ cup milk whole milk
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar for whipping cream
- ½ cup black boba uncooked
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
Instructions
Step 1 Brewing the tea
- Place a teabag in a cup. Then, to brew the tea, boil ½ cup of water. When the water boils, turn off the heat and poured the water into the cup.
- Consider lifting the tea bag 2-3 times in the cup to allow movement of tea leaves to ensure maximum tea flavor extraction. Then cover the cup with a plate and steep the teabag in the boiling water for 3 minutes. Uncover the teacup and remove the teabag.
- Refrigerate the tea for at least 2-3 hours or until chilled.
Step 2 Cooking boba
- Bring about 4 cups of water to a boil. Then add the brown sugar boba to the boiling water.
- Let them cook at high to medium heat until they all start to float at the top. Mine started to float after 5 minutes of cooking. Then reduce the heat and let them cook for 10 more minutes at medium heat or until they become soft.
- Turn off the heat and keep them in the boiling water for 5-7 more minutes.
- Drain and transfer them into a bowl with 2 teaspoon of chocolate syrup.
- Set the bowl aside and let boba come to room temperature.
Step 3 Making chocolate milk
- In a large jar combine chocolate syrup and milk. Also, add the chilled tea. Mix everything together. ( You can blend them in a blender with some ice cubes if you want.)
Step 4 Whipping the cream
- Add sugar to the cream and start whipping on low speed using a hand mixer. Whip for about 2 minutes and then increase the speed.
- Whip until soft peaks are formed and set aside.
Step 5 Assembling the chocolate milk tea
- To assemble the chocolate bubble tea, start by adding the chocolate syrup dunked boba into the glasses.
- Then add 9-10 ice cubes to each glass. Then pour in the chocolate milk.
- Now add the whipped cream and sprinkle some mini chocolate chips.
- Put in a boba straw. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use hot chocolate instead of chocolate syrup. Also, you can use unsweetened cocoa powder. Just add a double quantity of sugar.
- Adding tea is optional.
- The ideal water temperature to brew the tea is 212 Degree F or 100 Degree C. which is just the boiling point of water. So just as the water starts to boil, you know that you reached the right temperature to steep the tea.
- If you are making for a large crowd, you can make the chocolate milk ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to assemble the chocolate milk tea.
- Cook the tapioca pearls or boba right before assembling the chocolate milk tea. They taste best when made fresh.
- The exact time needed to cook boba will vary with the type of boba you use. But look for them to come to the top. It is better to use quick cooking boba.
- To make vegan chocolate bubble tea, just substitute the whole milk with plant-based milk that you like. Also, use vegan sugar instead of cane sugar. Follow the rest of the recipe as such to make the vegan strawberry milk tea.
Sunidhi Dholakiya
Hey there! Wonderful recipe. I added some chocolate popping pearls. Kids are so in love with this chocolate boba.
Delnaaz J
It was such an indulging drink! I am for all things chocolate and boba is my newfound love. I am so loving this chocolate boba.