If you’re looking for an easy-to-make and refreshing beverage at home, you’ll never go wrong with coconut milk tea. It’s easy to make and doesn’t require many ingredients. Coconut milk is something you can get from the grocery at any time!
What’s amazing about this tea with coconut milk is its health benefits. It has dramatically evolved as an ingredient. Before, buying coconut milk meant you’d have a specific meal in mind you’d want to prepare. Today, however, it has become a staple in grocery lists because its purpose has become endless.
One of the most common uses is coconut boba tea.
Before diving in, let’s get some background information about this refreshing drink made with the milky white extract.
What is a Coconut Milk Tea?
Coconut milk tea is a light but refreshing drink, accented by sweet and chewy boba pearls. It offers a heavenly feel of the tropics without you having to leave your home. One sip will transport you to a tropical island with a beach lined with coconut trees.
Yes, it’s effective for putting anyone, especially those stressed by the daily hustle and bustle of city life, to pause and refocus.
You may think about coconut milk tea as tea with coconut milk. That’s partly true. However, there may be so much that you still don’t know about coconut milk.
Coconut milk is a by-product of coconut meat–the white flesh of coconut fruit. When shredded or grated and mixed with water, this coconut meat turns into coconut milk with a thick, creamy consistency and rich texture.
While coconut milk is readily available in any store, wherever you are in the world, be warned that you won’t find coconut milk tea commonly served in coffee shops. So, if you’re craving it out of the blue, you have no choice but to make it from scratch.
Note: Coconut milk is different from coconut water. Coconut water is the “juice” of the green coconut fruit, found inside when they aren’t ripe enough to have the coconut meat that produces coconut milk.
Essentially, coconut milk is part water and part coconut meat.
What Does Coconut Milk Tea Taste Like?
You might wonder about the taste of coconut milk tea, particularly its rich flavor. The coconut milk taste isn’t as strong as you might expect. There’s a misconception that this drink will have a strong coconut flavor, similar to what you would get from coconut cream when used as an ingredient in food items. However, coconut milk has a coconutty taste with hints of sweetness.
This sweet coconut taste blends perfectly with green or black tea. It also works with fruity tea mixes, such as Ceylon and Darjeeling.
The overall taste of coconut milk tea depends on the type of tea used, along with other additional ingredients. When combined with boba pearls that are mixed with sugar, it will have a sweet note and refreshing vibe.
Coconut Bubble Tea Benefits
Coconut bubble tea is popular for the benefit of offering a sweet treat to break the stress of the day. Bubble teas, in general, should be consumed in moderation, because they have high levels of sugar and carbohydrates. These characteristics give it a high caloric content.
However, if you take out the sugar and the boba, making a pure coconut milk tea, you’ll get the following benefits:
Fights Inflammation
When you use black tea for your coconut milk tea, you get the tea’s anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Such properties can help you lower your risk of developing chronic diseases, such as lung and breast cancer.
Boosts Immune System
Not only does the consumption of tea help your body beat inflammation and oxidation, but it also helps boost your immune system, allowing your body to stay healthy and strong amid the growing strain of the illness.
Helps with Weight Loss
Drinking coconut milk tea won’t help you shed off the pounds overnight. However, it will help you accelerate the process of weight loss. Coconut milk tea helps suppress your appetite. When you have fewer cravings, the lesser your food consumption will be less, contributing to boosting weight loss.
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
Regular tea consumption has also been associated with insulin and glucose metabolism management. A study found that those who consume four or more cups of tea daily have a 30% reduced risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
Improves Metabolism
One of the ways coconut milk tea helps one lose weight is its ability to boost metabolism. If you want to increase your weight loss or build your body, replace snacks with this beverage.
If you plan to make your coconut milk tea, we suggest using organic ingredients to maximize the benefits you will get from this tropical beverage.
Coconut Bubble Tea Ingredients
Ready to explore a heavenly place without leaving the comforts of your home? Let us take you to a tropical island with this coconut milk tea recipe!
Yield: 2 glasses
Preparation Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Cooking Time (tapioca pearl): 20 to 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- Coconut Milk (2 cups): You can buy packed coconut milk from any grocery store if you want to enjoy the coconutty flavor of this beverage in no time. However, if you have trouble finding one, you can still make it on your own. For coconut milk, you should have at least 500 grams of shredded coconut meat to get two cups of coconut milk.
- Tea (2 bags or 2 tsp of leaves): The common tea choice is black or green tea. Having a simple base is advisable for other types of flavored milk tea drinks. However, for coconut milk tea, it’s best to use tea with a fruity flavor. Use the one that suits your taste.
- Sugar (4 tbsp): You’ll need the sugar for the tapioca pearls. Mix and boil it in water to reduce it to sugar syrup. If you want to skip this part, you can opt to use honey as your sweetener.
- Tapioca Pearls (½ cup): Adding boba pearls to your coconut milk drink will add depth. If you’re conscious about the calorie content, you can only add some to amp up the sweetness.
- Ice Cubes: Add ice for a refreshing take on this milky drink!
How to Make Coconut Milk Tea
You’re now closer to your one-of-a-kind tropical experience! Let’s start making your refreshing coconut milk drink.
Step 1: Brew the Tea.
Start brewing your chosen tea. If you want to get a more concentrated tea flavor, you can use less water and allow the tea to steep for at least three minutes. There are tea varieties that you can brew for up to five minutes. Infusing them longer, however, will bring out the bitter taste.
Step 2: Cook the Boba Pearls.
While you’re brewing your tea, start cooking the boba pearls. Boil the water and wait for it to come to a roiling boil before adding the tapioca starch balls. Once you add the pearls, stir them lightly now and then to prevent them from sticking together.
Note: Don’t forget to check the tea that you’re steeping.
Once the pearls start to float, turn off the water. Fish out the balls with a strainer and run them over cold water or put them in an ice bath. Once they’re cold, add the sugar syrup and mix them well until they’re fully coated.
Step 3: Mix the Tea and Coconut Milk.
Set the boba pearls aside. Then mix the steeped tea and coconut milk. If you don’t have pre-packed coconut milk, you can use shredded coconut meat. Here’s how you can extract the milky white milk:
- Wash the shredded coconut meat.
- Prepare a clean cotton cheesecloth.
- Soak the shredded coconut meat in lukewarm water.
- Scoop and place them on the cheesecloth.
- Squeeze it to “milk” the meat into a clean container. The “first extraction” is the coconut cream. It’s well-concentrated and may be too rich to use for your milk tea.
- After the first extraction, soak the coconut meat in lukewarm water again and then squeeze it again to get the second extraction, which is now your coconut milk.
Once ready, you can mix the steeped tea and coconut milk.
Step 4: Assemble and Enjoy Your Coconut Milk Tea!
Putting the ingredients together, start with the sugar syrup as the base, followed by the tapioca pearls. Add the ice cubes then pour coconut milk tea into the drink. Serve and enjoy!
Notes:
- Don’t throw away the coconut cream. You can use it for other cooking purposes. You can also use bits of it to add a rich flavor to your drink.
- It’s best to use coconut milk immediately. You can store both the coconut cream and milk in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
FAQs
Does Coconut Milk Curdle in Tea?
Coconut milk has a high-fat content that can turn solid when refrigerated. When you mix the coconut milk with hot tea, the heat breaks down the fat into liquid form. Clumping can form on the surface if you use chilled coconut milk. Pour the coconut milk first before adding the hot tea for the best results.
Can You Use Coconut Milk for Tea?
Yes, you can use coconut milk for tea. Unlike other dairy milk, coconut milk gives your drink that fresh, nutty taste, reminiscent of the great tropical islands.
