Does Taro Milk Tea Have Caffeine?
Taro milk tea is nutritious, has great texture, and is perhaps one of the best types of bubble teas in the market!
This vegetable drink pairs extremely well with tapioca pearls and there are dozens of variations that you can try.
But when it comes to caffeine, taro milk tea may not be the best contender, especially if you are looking for a good fix for your daily caffeine needs.
Does taro milk tea have caffeine? Taro milk tea has varying levels of caffeine. Some versions of it have 0 mg caffeine but when made with special green tea or black tea leaves, taro milk tea can have up to 30 mg of caffeine in a typical serving!
Read below to learn more about taro milk tea, how it is made, how it varies in caffeine quantities, and the best way to drink it!
What Is Taro Milk Tea?
Taro milk tea is typically made using the following ingredients:
- Taro root or powder
- Milk
- Tea leaves
- Ice cubes
- Sweeteners
Taro is a common root vegetable found in Asia but has grown in popularity all over the world.
This root is known by many names and is also available in several varieties but its core characteristics remain the same: it is starchy, earthy, nutty, and has a firm texture.
From afar, some might even confuse taro with sweet potatoes, especially when it is peeled and cut.
Taro milk tea is popular in Asia and is known for its health benefits.
Combining taro with tea leaves gives it a unique earthy, nutty and mellow flavor! This flavor along with the slightly grainy texture of the root makes it an excellent milk tea that tastes both like a traditional bubble tea and a smoothie!
There is no set recipe for making taro milk tea. Some like to use herbs; others like to use green or black tea leaves. There are also versions of this drink where people use espresso shots and bursting boba instead of tapioca pearls!
This diversity is partly why this drink is so famous among bubble tea fans. It can be customized to anyone’s liking and more importantly, it can also be made to fit anyone’s dietary needs!
Does Taro Milk Tea have Caffeine?
Since there are many versions of this tea, you would easily find huge variations in terms of caffeine.
Traditionally, taro milk tea is made as a smoothie with herbs and sweeteners. This particular version does not contain any caffeine and is used more medicinally than for leisure purposes.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that taro root is only enjoyed for its health benefits!
Taro root lends a lot of delicious flavors when it is boiled and blended. It is a starchy drink and takes up any flavor you add to it which makes it a fantastic base that provides both, health benefits and flavor!
The versions of this drink that are mixed with green tea or black tea leaves are the most caffeine-laden.
On average taro milk tea made with tea leaves can contain as much as 30mg of caffeine but you may be able to squeeze out more if you opt for stronger blends.
Taro milk tea can also be made using black tea leaves which gives the tea an interesting color and aftertaste.
Mix and match green tea and black tea leaves for a more customized and potent drink that is sure to keep you awake for hours!
How To Make Taro Tea
Taro milk tea is very easy to make. The first step is to purchase taro root from your local supermarket.
Please note that you can also use processed taro powder for this drink. The powder form has arguably less nutrition but is more convenient but if you want to keep this drink close to the traditional recipe, then you need to use fresh taro!
This root vegetable can be quite large and you would only need a few 1-2-inch cubes to make one serving of tea so make sure that you get a size that best fits your needs to minimize wastage.
Wash the taro under the sink and peel it using a potato peeler.
The skin isn’t that thick so you will not need to shave off much of the taro, but do get all of the skin off of it since it can add a differing flavor and can also affect the texture of the drink.
Cut the taro in half and then further cut one half into cubes. You don’t need precise measurements for this and since taro is a dense starchy vegetable, we will only use about 1-2 cubes to make one cup of tea.
Since the taro cubes are very firm, you will have to process them in a large pot with boiling water.
Taro root is like a sweet potato so you have to boil it until it has a similar texture—or the best way to check its doneness is to stick a fork in it. If the fork passes through without resistance, then you are ready!
Take the cubes out of the pot and allow them to cool down completely. Now all that is left is to assemble the drink!
Prepare a tea base using green tea or black tea, then allow the tea to cool down just a bit. You would want the temperature to be lukewarm to preserve the natural flavor and micronutrients of the vegetable.
Now add taro cubes/taro powder, ice cubes, tea base, sweeteners, and other additives of your liking and blend away! Pour in a tall glass with boba pearls and enjoy!
Read below to get the exact quantities and for a great fool-proof recipe for taro milk tea!
Best Types Of Tea For Taro
Whether you are using herbs or tea leaves, the naturally nutty and sweet undertones of taro will beautifully complement the flavor of just about any tea ingredient.
But if you are looking for a caffeine kick then we highly recommend that you pick out high-quality green tea leaves.
You can go with either loose leaves or tea bags but we recommend sticking with loose leaves as they tend to steep better and provide a stronger flavor.
Make sure that the green tea leaves are dark green and have a dense texture, as those tend to contain more caffeine than processed green tea leaves.
If you want even more caffeine then we recommend that you pick any high-quality black tea. Japanese black tea, in particular, pairs extremely well with taro and will provide you with up to 28-30mg of caffeine per serving!
Also, if you value convenience then you can use your favorite tea bag too. Any great-tasting black tea or green tea bag will work great with taro milk tea!
For a better flavor, we recommend going with specialty tea bags that have better tea leaves and more flavor.
Best Recipe For Taro Milk Tea
To make a serving of taro milk tea you will need:
- 1 cup water
- 1 green tea bag
- 2 tablespoons taro powder or one 1-inch cooked taro cube
- 1 ½ cups ice
- ⅓ cup Boba Pearls and Brown Sugar Syrup
- 2 tablespoons half-and-half
Instructions
- Bring a pot with 240ml water to boil and turn off the heat. Add the tea bag and let it steep for about 2 minutes. You can also leave the bag in for longer if you want a stronger-tasting beverage. Allow the mixture to cool down to room temperature.
- If you are using taro powder then whisk it with the tea until fully incorporated.
- If you prefer using taro cubes then place 1-2 cubes in a blender along with the tea and all the other ingredients. Also, add about 10g of brown sugar syrup. Do not blend boba pearls.
- Assemble the drink by adding boba pearls, syrup, and ice to the bottom of a tall glass. Now add the taro-tea mixture. If you used taro powder then you can now add the half-and-half and mix well.
- Garnish any way you like or with coconut shavings. Serve with a wide boba straw and enjoy!
Related Questions
Taro milk tea is an excellent beverage to add to your diet as it is both nutritious and refreshing!
Now that you know how to make it and how to adjust its caffeine level, here are a few related questions!
Can you make taro powder at home?
Yes, taro powder can be made at home by dehydrating boiled cubes of taro until they can easily be processed into a dry powder using a blender.
Can taro be mixed with coffee?
Yes, taro tea can be mixed with espresso shots and can be prepared in a latte too.
It is generally preferred with green tea or black tea though to preserve its natural flavor and color.
Is taro available in purple?
This root vegetable is available in several varieties, one of which has purple specks in the flesh too. Many confuse taro with ube (purple yam) which comes from the Philippines.
They are both different root vegetables with different flavors and can be used in many ways.
