Honeydew milk tea is a delicious variation of classic Taiwanese boba tea. Honeydew is a green melon that has a sweet, juicy taste. This honeydew milk tea recipe is gluten-free and vegan, perfect for a refreshing afternoon treat.
This honeydew milk tea recipe is highly versatile. The base recipe includes green tea and fresh honeydew, but you can choose from varying tea flavors to change this recipe. Use the type of tea and milk you prefer, and indulge in this honeydew bubble tea recipe.
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Honeydew Milk Tea
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
This refreshingly light and fruity milk tea is always a crowd-pleaser. It is easily adjusted for caffeine or lactose intolerances.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 bags green tea (or 2 tsp loose-leaf green tea in a tea ball)
- 1/2 cubed honeydew melon
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1/2 cup homemade or quick-cooking tapioca pearls
- 1 tbsp sweetener (white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey)
- 2 handfuls ice
Instructions
- Prepare the honeydew melon (as suggested below).
- Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once the water is boiling, add the sweetener and stir to dissolve.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the tea. Let steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove tea bags from the saucepan and let the brewed tea cool.
- Prepare the tapioca pearls according to the package directions. Once cooked, strain the pearls and rinse them under cool water. Set aside.
- Combine the cubed honeydew melon and milk in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Serve immediately; add the cooked tapioca pearls to the bottom of your glasses, top with a handful or two of ice, then add the honeydew mixture. Finally, pour the tea over the top. Stir to combine.
Notes
Prepare the honeydew melon: Slice the melon in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds (the same way you would prepare a cantaloupe). Cut the honeydew into slices and separate the fruit from the rind. Cube the fruit.
Choose your preferred milk: Whole milk, oat milk, condensed milk, or soy milk make great choices. Note that condensed milk is often sweetened and will increase the sweetness of the honeydew milk tea.
Recipe variations:
- Swap out the green tea for your favorite herbal or fruit tea for a different flavor. You can also try the recipe with matcha or black tea.
- Strain the honeydew mixture through a strainer if you prefer a smoother, pulp-free texture.
- Blend the ice cubes into the honeydew melon and milk mixture. This creates a slushy honeydew boba tea, perfect for hot summer days.
- Soak the tapioca pearls in honeydew syrup instead of sprinkling them with sugar.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
What Does Honeydew Milk Tea Taste Like?
Honeydew milk tea tastes like a mix of honeydew melon juice and green tea. It’s light, fruity, and refreshing. Honeydew melon tastes similar to a cucumber but much sweeter. It is a beautiful addition to green tea boba.
Can Honeydew Milk Tea Be Made Without Tea?
You can leave the tea out of the recipe entirely. You can replace the tea by adding half of a cup of additional milk or water when blending the honeydew melon.
If you are sensitive to caffeine but enjoy the flavor of tea, you can try a caffeine-free version of your favorite tea. Alternatively, all herbal teas and most fruit teas are naturally caffeine-free.
Is Honeydew Bubble Tea Healthy?
Honeydew bubble tea can be healthy. Bubble tea from a boba cafe often contains sugars, whole milk, or creamer. These ingredients increase the beverage’s calories, leading to weight gain. By making homemade honeydew bubble tea, you can make a healthier version of what you’d find in a bubble tea shop.
Honeydew melon itself has excellent health benefits. According to WebMD, honeydew melon is high in Vitamin C and fiber. It also contains:
- Calcium
- Iron
- Folate
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin K
The nutritional information for half of a cup of honeydew melon is as follows:
| Nutrition | Amount |
| Calories | 31 |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sodium | 15 mg |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
Honeydew melon is high on the glycemic index, meaning it can cause blood sugar levels to spike. Individuals on a low-glycemic or low-carb diet may want to limit their intake of honeydew melon.
Should You Make Honeydew Boba With Fresh or Frozen Honeydew Melon?
You can make honeydew boba with either fresh or frozen honeydew melon. Use whichever is easier to obtain. If using frozen honeydew melon, let the melon defrost before starting to make the tea and pour off the excess water. Or, if you prefer, blend it frozen and turn your honeydew melon bubble tea into a slushy boba drink.
You can also use honeydew powder instead of melon. If you decide to use powder, blend it with the milk before assembling the tea. The same is true for honeydew syrup. Blend the syrup with the milk before assembling the drink. Follow the directions on the package for how much powder or syrup to add. You may then need to adjust the sweetness in the recipe.
Which Boba Toppings Are Best With Honeydew Milk Tea?
There are many options for topping your honeydew milk tea. Popular boba toppings include:
Jellies: There are so many jelly flavors that add a zing to honeydew milk tea. Aloe jelly or grass jelly complement the melon taste. Strawberry, pineapple, apple, and coconut-taro jelly are also good options.
Popping boba: These boba spheres are flavored with juice, and, as their name suggests, they pop in your mouth. Try strawberry popping boba with your honeydew milk tea for an exciting pick-me-up.
Tapioca pearls: The traditional topping for classic boba recipes. These chewy pearls add texture and sweetness to your tea drink.