The refreshing flavor of lychee milk tea is derived from the delicate harmony of sweet lychees and a robust milk tea base. Boba Buddha's lychee bubble tea recipe is perfect for summertime sipping. Here's the complete rundown on making lychee milk tea at home in under 30 minutes.
Lychee milk tea is a refreshing and fruity twist on traditional milk tea. The sweet lychee pulp, the refreshing milk tea base, and the chewy boba pearls combine harmoniously to make the perfect fruity concoction. Best of all: this beverage can be served and enjoyed in under 30 minutes!
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Lychee Milk Tea
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
This lychee milk tea will transport your taste buds on a tropical vacation. Lychee boba tea is composed of fruity notes and hints of citric acidity, balancing the sweet milk tea base to near perfection. This is an easy-to-follow recipe that yields a unique and refreshing boba drink.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 black tea bag (or green tea bag, depending on your preferences)
- 2 tbsp simple syrup
- 3–5 fresh lychees
- 1/4 cup boba pearls
- 1/4 cup plant-based milk (soy, coconut, or almond are our suggestions)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Bring the water to a rolling boil. Add the tea bag and let it steep for 4-7 minutes. Remove the tea bag and set the brewed tea aside to cool.
- Prepare the tapioca pearls according to the package directions.
- Run the tapioca pearls under cold water to stop the cooking. Place them in a bowl and sprinkle 1 tbsp of brown sugar over them and mix.
- Prepare the lychees; peel and seed the fruit until you have only white, pulpy fruit.
- Blend the lychees with plant-based milk and simple syrup until the mixture becomes creamy.
- Strain the lychee puree through a mesh strainer.
- Pour the tapioca pearls into the bottom of a serving glass. Add ice before topping the pearls with the lychee syrup and brewed tea.
Notes
We recommend plant-based milk for this recipe because the lighter texture helps the lychee flavor stand out.
You may also adjust the sweetness level to your preference, adding or subtracting a tablespoon of simple syrup as you please.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
What Does Lychee Milk Tea Taste Like?
The fruit has subtle citric hints with a mildly floral aroma. Its delicate flavor shines through in milk tea.
Lychee is a popular fruit of the soapberry variety commercially grown throughout tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, particularly Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It can also grow in warmer areas of the US and Mexico.
Lychee is characterized by its sweet, fruity, and exotic flavor profile. Bite into the white pulp of lychee, and you’ll enjoy a juicy burst of flavor, similar to the mouthfeel of biting an orange slice, but with a noticeably smoother texture.
What Is the Difference Between Lychee Milk Tea and Lychee Thai Tea?
| Lychee Milk Tea | Lychee Thai Tea |
| Plain tea base | Spiced tea base |
| Fruit syrups, purees, and fresh fruit are common additions to milk tea | Not common to add fruit flavors to Thai iced tea, but possible |
| Made with a milk and tea base, plus lychee flavoring | Usually made with a sweetened tea base and lychee flavoring, without milk |
| Can be served hot or iced and with tapioca pearls, lychee jelly, or popping boba | Typically served iced and without toppings |
Both options are refreshing and sweet, but lychee milk tea is richer and creamier due to the addition of milk. For a lychee Thai iced tea recipe, click here.
How Much Caffeine Does Lychee Bubble Tea Have?
The amount of caffeine in bubble milk tea depends on the tea type you use and the quantity.
For a standard cup of lychee bubble tea (the above boba recipe), there’s as much as 50 mg of caffeine present in one serving. That said, this figure can vary from 30 mg to 50 mg depending on the type of tea you choose for the bubble tea base.
Should You Drink Lychee Milk Tea Cold or Hot?
You can enjoy lychee milk tea cold or hot.
While the traditional recipe is iced, it’s possible to switch up some steps to make a hot version of lychee milk tea. To do so, heat the milk and retain the heat in your brewed tea, pour in the lychee mixture, and enjoy.
Health Benefits of Lychee Tea
Fruit-based teas, like lychee tea, come with a slew of health benefits thanks to the fruit’s abundance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
- Dietary fiber is one of the nutrients that can be found in lychees. Fiber helps relieve constipation by softening stools, making them pass with ease through the digestive system.
- Lychee is rich in Vitamin C, which can bolster the immune system. This boost helps your body fight off harmful pathogens that may linger in food or the environment.
- Lastly, lychee can also improve skin health. If you’re struggling with acne, regular consumption of lychee tea may help keep your skin radiant and blemish-free.