What syrups are used in bubble tea?

Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, has become an extremely popular drink around the world in recent years. The signature element of bubble tea is the chewy tapioca pearls, or bubbles, that sit at the bottom of the cup. However, what really gives each bubble tea its distinct flavor is the sweetened syrup that is mixed in. Bubble tea syrups come in many delicious flavors and allow for countless flavor combinations. So what are the most popular syrups used to make bubble tea?

Fruit Syrups

Fruit flavored syrups are some of the most common ingredients in bubble tea. They provide a sweet, fruity taste and aromatics. Here are some of the fruit syrups you’ll often find in bubble tea:

  • Strawberry – Made from strawberry puree, this syrup provides an authentic sweet and tart strawberry flavor.
  • Mango – Mango syrup delivers a tropical, peach-like mango taste.
  • Passionfruit – This syrup has an intense passionfruit flavor with hints of tangy citrus.
  • Peach – Peach syrup has a juicy, stone fruit flavor with nice floral aromatics.
  • Pineapple – Made from pineapple juice, this syrup provides a bright, tropical pineapple taste.
  • Banana – Banana syrup imparts a sweet, ripe banana flavor and aroma.
  • Coconut – Coconut syrup has an exotic, tropical coconut flavor.
  • Guava – With notes of pear, this syrup tastes like a sweet tropical guava.
  • Lychee – Lychee syrup gives bubble tea an exotic, perfume-like flavor.
  • Mango – Mango syrup has a juicy, peach-like mango taste.

Fruit syrups pair especially well with black tea, green tea, and milk tea bubble tea recipes. They provide a fruit-flavored sweetness to balance out the tea. Popular combinations include mango black tea, strawberry green tea, and peach milk tea.

Vanilla Syrup

Vanilla is a classic flavoring for bubble tea. Vanilla syrup delivers a sweet, fragrant, vanilla taste. Vanilla goes well with nearly any type of milk tea or fruit-flavored black tea. It’s especially commonly paired with chocolate, caramel, or fruit flavors. Vanilla milk tea is a popular bubble tea order, often served with tapioca pearls.

Chocolate Syrup

What’s better than chocolate bubble tea? Chocolate syrup can be used to make a sweet chocolate milk tea or chocolate fruit bubble tea blend. Typically chocolate syrup is made from cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and sugar or corn syrup for sweetening. It provides a creamy chocolate flavor and richness. Chocolate pairs particularly well with mango, passionfruit, coconut, hazelnut, and mint.

Caramel Syrup

Caramel bubble tea is made by adding buttery, sweet caramel syrup to milk tea or fruit tea recipes. Caramel syrup contains caramelized sugar that gives it a creamy, smooth caramel taste with nice burnt sugar aromatics. Caramel pairs well with vanilla, chocolate, and tropical fruit flavors like mango, pineapple, and coconut. Salted caramel is also a popular syrup choice.

Honey Syrup

Honey syrup adds a distinct sweetness to bubble tea with its wildflower honey flavor. Honey syrup contains a mix of honey and sugar dissolved in water for a smooth, pourable consistency. The honey adds a pleasant floral aroma and natural sweetness compared to plain sugar syrup. Honey pairs particularly well with black tea and green tea bases for bubble tea.

Coffee Syrup

Coffee syrup can be used to make a refreshing iced coffee bubble tea. The syrup is made from brewed coffee that is sweetened with sugar. It delivers a nice coffee flavor without the bitterness. Coffee milk tea with tapioca pearls is a delicious twist on classic bubble tea. Coffee syrup also pairs well with chocolate, hazelnut, and vanilla.

Mint Syrup

Mint syrup gives bubble tea a cooling, refreshing mint taste. It’s commonly made from a simple syrup infused with fresh mint leaves. This allows it to impart natural mint flavors and aromas. Mint pairs well with fruit flavors like lime, lemon, mango, and strawberry. It’s also commonly mixed with chocolate syrup for a mint chocolate bubble tea.

Almond Syrup

Almond syrup contains extracts of real almonds, giving it an authentic almond flavor. It’s often used to make almond milk tea bubble teas. The nutty almond taste pairs well with fruits like strawberry, mango, and peach. An almond milk bubble tea with honey and tapioca pearls is a delicious combination.

Hazelnut Syrup

Hazelnut is another classic nutty flavor for bubble teas. Hazelnut syrup contains hazelnut extracts to deliver a sweet, nutty, chocolate-like flavor. It’s delicious paired with chocolate, coffee, caramel, or fruit flavors. A hazelnut milk tea with coffee jelly is an indulgent bubble tea drink.

Taro Syrup

Taro is a root plant used to make a vivid purple colored taro bubble tea. Taro syrup is made from taro root paste for an authentic, nutty, earthy taro flavor. The striking purple color also makes it visually appealing. Taro goes well with tea bases, fruit flavors, as well as milk and cream. Taro milk tea with pearls is a signature bubble tea choice.

Matcha Green Tea Powder

Matcha is a green tea powder that can be whisked into milk or fruit teas to make a matcha bubble tea. Matcha delivers a natural earthy green tea flavor with grassy, herbal notes. It also gives bubble tea a bright green color. Matcha pairs well with milk for a matcha latte bubble tea. Fruits like strawberry, mango, lychee also complement its flavor.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea can be steeped in hot water then chilled to make an oolong bubble tea. Oolong has floral, fruity notes that pair well with fruit flavorings. An oolong milk tea with peach or mango fruit syrup is a tasty combination. Oolong teas from Taiwan such as Jin Xuan are popular choices for bubble tea. They impart a creamy, nutty taste.

Black Tea

Black tea is the classic tea base used in bubble teas. Popular black tea varieties for bubble teas include Ceylon, Assam, and English Breakfast. these varieties have a bold, aromatic flavor that stands up to sweet fruit syrups and milk. Black tea pairs well with any fruit, floral, nutty, or creamy flavor.

Jelly

While tapioca pearls are the classic bubble tea topping, fruit flavored jelly is also a popular mix-in. Jelly is made from sweetened fruit juice that sets into a gelatinous bite-sized pieces. Common fruit jellies found in bubble tea include lychee, mango, peach, kiwi, coffee, strawberry, and lemon. The jellies provide nice bursts of fruit flavor that complement the fruity tea. Lychee and mango jellies are especially common additions to taro and matcha bubble teas.

Bubble Tea Syrup Brands

Torani

Torani is an Italian brand that makes high quality syrups for coffee shops and bubble tea stores. Their syrups use natural flavors and pure cane sugar. Popular Torani syrups for bubble teas include peach, raspberry, hazelnut, vanilla, and almond roca.

Monin

Monin manufactures premium syrups, purees, and fruit concentrates for foodservice businesses. Their products are made with natural ingredients. Monin offers many fruit, nut, and other flavor varieties that work well in bubble teas like passionfruit, ginger, coconut, and mint.

DaVinci

DaVinci Gourmet makes natural flavored syrups for specialty beverages and desserts. Their syrups contain pure cane sugar and real ingredients. DaVinci offers classic flavors like caramel, amaretto, Irish cream, and more for making unique bubble tea drinks.

Rooibos

Rooibos is a South African company best known for their natural herbal tea made from the rooibos plant. They also produce delicious flavors syrups like rooibos, honeybush, vanilla, and red cappuccino. These herbal syrups pair well with milk and fruit flavors in bubble teas.

Bubble Tea Supply Co.

Bubble Tea Supply Co. specializes in ingredients and kits for making bubble teas, including flavored syrups. They offer popular varieties like honeydew, Thai tea, lychee, white chocolate, and matcha. Their syrups are designed to provide authentic bubble tea flavor.

Making Homemade Bubble Tea Syrups

Many bubble tea syrups use simple ingredients that allow you to easily make homemade versions. Here are some recipes to try:

Strawberry Syrup

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water

Simmer the strawberries, sugar, and water over medium heat until the strawberries are very soft. Mash the berries then strain out the solids. Store the syrup in the refrigerator.

Honeydew Syrup

  • 2 cups honeydew melon chunks
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp lime juice

Puree the honeydew chunks in a blender until smooth. Mix in honey and lime juice. Strain if desired. Refrigerate up to 1 week.

Mango Syrup

  • 2 cups mango puree
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water

Mix mango puree, sugar and water in a small saucepan. Simmer for 5 minutes until sugar dissolves. Let cool and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Coconut Syrup

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp coconut extract

Whisk all ingredients together in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool before refrigerating. Keeps for up to 2 weeks chilled.

Lemon Syrup

  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 5 lemons)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • Zest of 2 lemons

In a small pot, combine lemon juice, sugar, and lemon zest. Heat over medium, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Syrup keeps refrigerated for up to 4 weeks.

Conclusion

Bubble tea gets its many diverse and delicious flavors from the array of syrups that can be mixed in. Fruit syrups like mango, strawberry, and lychee provide tropical fruit sweetness. Classic syrups like chocolate, honey, caramel, and vanilla also complement the teas. Unique additions like taro, matcha, coffee, and herbal syrups allow for creative flavor combinations. The syrups can be purchased pre-made or even made at home. They provide just the right amount of sweetness and flavors to craft the perfect bubble tea.

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