• Prepare the boba. Start by cooking the dried tapioca pearls according to your package directions. Usually, you have to drop the pearls into boiling water and cook for about 20-30 minutes. Then, remove from heat, cover, and let sit for another 30 minutes. At this point, the pearls from some brands will be ready while for other ones you will have to repeat the cycle (cook 30 minutes, then let rest for 30 minutes). There also exist instant tapioca pearls that are ready faster.
• Tapioca pearls are usually tasteless so we need to prepare a syrup for them. The syrup also helps to avoid the pearls sticking to each other. Combine the brown sugar and water in a saucepan and heat for a couple of minutes over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Don't simmer. Drain the boba and soak them in the syrup for 1hour.

Fresh taro boba tea.

• (Optional) If using, prepare the tea by brewing it in 1/2 cup of hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, remove the tea bag, and set aside.
• Combine the taro paste, condensed milk, milk, green tea (if using), and purple sweet potato powder (if using) in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Add the soaked tapioca pearls to a glass, top with some ice, and pour in the blended taro milk.

Powdered taro boba tea.

• Prepare the tea by brewing it in 1/2 cup of hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, remove the tea bag, and set aside. Let it cool.
• In a blender, combine the taro powder, condensed milk, milk, and tea and blend until smooth.
• Add the soaked tapioca pearls to a glass, top with ice, and pour in the blended taro milk.

NOTES

• The amount of condensed milk depends on the sweetness of your taro paste and taro powder. My version of taro paste is quite sweet so I used less condensed milk.
• Tea is not always added to the taro milk tea(even though it’s called “tea”) so I left it as optional. For example if doing this drink for kids, the version without tea would probably suit them better.