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Home / Recipes / Mochi

Boba Milk Tea Mochi Recipe To Make at Home!

Last Updated: Aug 9, 2022 · Author: Juliet Huang · Jump to Recipe

Boba milk tea mochi is a fun version of daifuku with a sweet milk tea filling. If you've tried store-bought versions and feel like it didn't hit the spot, we've got a home recipe for you!

We've taste-tested most of the popular brands and came up with our own version. In our boba milk tea mochi recipe, you can choose anything you want to put in it.

So continue reading if you want to have a go at making this yummy treat! We promise it'll taste much better than the store-bought one.

boba milk tea mochi
One of the most well-known Japanese sweets is daifuku, and Boba Milk Tea Mochi is a variation of it. Let's get creative by making our very own mochi.| Image from snack.honey

What is boba milk tea mochi made of?

Boba milk tea mochi is made of glutinous rice flour wrapped around bubble tea paste. 

The paste is usually a mixture of sword beans, black tea powder and brown sugar. Bite open the daifuku, and there's a tapioca core hidden inside. Pillowy and smooth, each one is about the size of an adult thumb. 

Boba milk tea mochi review

There are several popular brands that you'll find while shopping. Our favourite boba mochi has to be Bamboo House's bubble tea mochi. If you're not in the mood to make your own at home, here are a few we've tried and a review of them.

Yuki and love

Yuki and love boba milk tea mochi is from Taiwan. It has a bold flavour and tastes exactly like the drink. The skin texture is soft and chewy.

It's labelled in Chinese as 'Quan Shu', which means it is vegan! So if you're vegan, stick to Yuki and love boba mochi.

yuki and love mochi
A few bites will make you feel like you are taking a sip of milk tea. | Image from lifestylewithbao

Royal Family

Next up is bubble milk tea mochi from Royal Family. This dessert has a fragrant milk tea bean paste. But what makes it unique is the brown sugar inner core.

So it's a layered flavour sensation of bubble tea, brown sugar and thin rice flour! Royal Family bubble tea mochi is a good choice for those who prefer a stronger flavour. 

royal family bubble tea mochi
Brown sugar flavours are incorporated into the soft, chewy, and fragrant milk tea mochi, giving you a multi-layered taste sensation. | Image from mimi415mc

Bamboo House

Another Taiwanese brand, Bamboo House. The small treats are a perfect size and is not too sweet.

Its subtle sweetness makes the treat perfectly balanced. Additionally, the texture is also soft and chewy.

Costco

This Costco Boba Milk Tea mochi has a soft, squishy texture. The outside is slightly powdery, whilst the inside is rich and sweet. There's a mild taste of brown sugar. 

bubble tea mochi costco
Soft, squishy yet firm texture. It's like drinking a small dessert!| Image from pubikboi

While the packaging shows a tapioca pearl inside, we could not taste much of it since there is a lot of filling. However, if enjoyed frozen, it tastes very refreshing even without the pearl. 

Nestle boba milk tea

Nestle boba milk tea mochi is a trendy product that has taken Southeast Asia by storm. Open the packet and find a single ball of daifuku ice cream. Inside, there is a dense core of brown sugar syrup and brown sugar pearls. A thin skin made of rice flour encases the wagashi.

It's very sticky sweet, as is typical of ice cream. But the brown sugar pearls are smaller than average-sized boba milk tea mochi. As a result, each bite tastes light and refreshing, and it's a very different sensation from your usual store-bought dessert. 

If you prefer to try making a similar version, use our recipe for mochi ice cream and boba ice cream to recreate your version at home! 

Out of all the ones above, our favourite is Bamboo House's bubble milk tea mochi. Its filling is not too sweet, and it tastes fresh. The skin is also bouncy, which makes it very pleasant to chew. 

Boba milk tea mochi calories

Each piece of boba milk tea mochi contains around 150-200 calories. However, this may change depending on the size of each piece, and the amount of sugar added.

Bubble milk tea mochi ingredients

Here's the list of boba milk tea mochi ingredients you will need first:

  • Glutinous rice flour such as Shiratamako and Mochiko 
  • Tea and milk (or milk tea powder)
  • White bean paste
  • Cane sugar or brown sugar
  • Cornstarch 

Glutinous Rice Flour

Shiratamako and Mochiko are both glutinous rice flour types. So, you'll find them used interchangeably in daifuku recipes.

shiratamako powder
Shiratamako is a type of flour that is essential for making different types of Japanese confections. | Image from sweetlikeeshley

We recommend using Shiratamako if possible. As the flour absorbs water faster, the rice cake will usually turn out plumper. However, if you cannot find shiratamako, use mochiko for boba milk tea mochi instead. Just add less water. Made from short-grain glutinous rice, both flours do not have any gluten.

The two types of flours also differ in textural properties when cooked. Shiratamako is sticky and chewy. Therefore, its consistency makes it more suitable for thickening gravies. Moreover, this stickiness makes it perfect for Asian desserts.

You can use bubble milk tea powder if you're looking for an easy way to get the flavour for the boba milk tea mochi filling. Using the powder means you do not have to brew your own. 

White Bean Paste

Shiroan is the Japanese name for White Bean Paste. It is a smooth sweet white paste made from lima beans, also known as butter beans.

shiroan
The white bean paste has been a dessert staple and is notable for its sweet, thick, and silky consistency. | Image from wagashi_sayaka

White Bean Paste is a standard filling for Japanese confectionary. The paste has a mild taste, making it a great alternative to red bean paste if you want something more subtle!

However, if you prefer to use red bean paste, feel free! Everything is really up to your preference. 

You can also check out our microwave mochi recipe to make this dessert.

Is bubble milk tea mochi halal?

Bubble milk tea mochi is halal. Many people think the tapioca pearls inside the dessert are made of gelatin. But these pearl balls are made from seaweed extract, also known as agar. So this is a halal product.

Many assume that since boba originated from Taiwan before spreading to Southeast Asia, it is not halal. But since Southeast Asia has a sizeable Muslim population, many products have been created for this market or tweaked to suit their needs. 

Therefore, yes! This confectionery is halal, including the skin of the wagashi too! 

Traditional azuki mochi on cutting board
Just like traditional mochi, the boba flavour mochi is Muslim-friendly. | Image from Instagram

Is it vegan? 

Unfortunately, most store-bought bubble milk tea mochi is not vegan.

To be vegan, it must not have dairy or other animal products. But most manufacturers will add diary into the dessert-making process to get a creamy core. But you do not have to do so if you want a vegan option.

The way of making this wagashi is to soak the rice flour with water, then steam and pound it into a sticky state. Many retailers use milk for a denser taste, but it still works if you don't.

You can skip this step or substitute the dairy with almond or coconut milk to make it vegan. For the tea, you can brew black tea instead and sweeten it with vegan substitutes.  

If you feel this might make the dessert too watery, you can use red beans, matcha paste or fruits to fill the wagashi. This creates a dense inner core, so you will not even notice that the confectionary tastes less creamy. 

How to store

When you want to store your boba milk tea mochi, keep them individually wrapped to keep them fresh.

They do not taste good at room temperature after one day. So, store them in the freezer or keep them in a cool, dry place.

individually wrapped mochi
Putting the mochi pieces onto individual packs would help retain its original flavour over time. | Image from kumiko5698

The tapioca pearls will harden after three days. If you do not want that to happen, make sure you consume them within three days. 

For the ice cream, you can store it in an airtight container for up to a week. 

How to eat boba milk tea mochi

You can consume boba milk tea mochi all in one bite. But if you like, some matcha tea is an excellent pairing to offset the sweetness.

mochi ice cream and tea
Mochi and green tea - the perfect duo. | Image from momoko22s
boba milk tea mochi

Boba Milk Tea Mochi Recipe

Boba Milk Tea mochi is so easy to make at home. If you're in love with both boba and mochi, then this is one that you have to try! It only takes 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
Author: Juliet Huang
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Taiwan
Keyword: boba, mochi, tapioca pearls, tea
Servings: 12 pieces
Calories: 176kcal
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup milk tea powder
  • 50 g brown sugar
  • 100 g glutinous rice flour
  • ½ cup tapioca pearls
  • 12 tablespoon white bean paste
  • Cornstarch (for dusting)

Instructions

  • Mix water or milk, brown sugar and glutinous rice flour. Cover tightly with plastic and microwave for 1 minute.
  • Remove from the microwave and mix the mixture. Cover and microwave at 30s intervals. Take it out to mix, then pop it back into the microwave again. Mix after each interval until a thick mixture forms. The total microwave time is about 2.5 minutes. Then remove and let the steam vent.
  • Cook tapioca pearls per instructions on the package. When the tapioca pearls are ready, strain and mix them in a bowl with brown sugar, and let them soak in the sugar mixture.
  • Heat white bean paste over medium heat. Add tea powder and stir to mix. Stir with a wooden spoon so the paste thickens again.
  • Taste and adjust sweetness by adding more tea or sugar. Let it cool and harden.
  • Check that your flour mixture from Step 2 has formed a smooth dough. Take a tablespoon of the mixture to make a flat dough. Then, place a tablespoon of cooked white paste into the centre of the dough. Put the tapioca pearl inside the paste before sealing it to form a sphere.
  • Finally, dust your boba milk tea mochi with cornstarch, so it does not stick to your hands.

Notes

If you need a vegan option for boba milk tea mochi, try unsweetened green tea or use soy, coconut or almond milk.
For the white paste, while it is easier to buy pre-made, you can also try making your own. First, you need to find lima beans, cook them and pound them into a fine paste.

Nutrition

Calories: 176kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 65mgPotassium: 131mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 35IUCalcium: 55mg

Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and are only rough estimations.

Tried this recipe?Follow us @honestfoodtalks for more delicious recipes!

We hope you like your boba milk tea mochi! If you want more Asian dessert inspiration, follow Honest Food Talks on Instagram @honestfoodtalks!

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