Chocolate Milk Tea

This 5-ingredient dairy-free chocolate milk tea (with boba) is creamy, sweet, chocolatey, and so easy to make in just 10 minutes! Plus, homemade milk tea is healthier, more adaptable & much more affordable!

Refreshing Chocolate Boba Tea

When enjoyed frequently, a bubble tea obsession can cost an arm and a leg. Especially if the business charges extra for dairy-free options (sigh!). But that’s why making it at home is a great way to save money (and skip any artificial ingredients, too!). This time, chocolate lovers rejoice for this vegan chocolate milk tea recipe!

Combining cocoa powder, black tea (optional), dairy-free milk, and a sweetener (refined, unrefined, or even sugar-free!), this chocolate bubble tea is light, creamy, delicious, and definitely satisfies chocolate cravings. It tastes like a delicious blend of milk tea and a chocolate milkshake. What’s not to love?!

Even better, it’s inexpensive and easy to make and customize to your taste and dietary requirements. Once prepared, enjoy the vegan bubble tea warm or chilled with or without the boba, alone or at picnics and other gatherings. It’s decadent but refreshing and utterly delicious!

The Ingredients

• Black tea: Use robust flavored black tea, like Chinese black tea, Earl Grey, or English breakfast tea. However, you can use a weaker tea if preferred. While other teas (oolong, green, and jasmine) also work, you may not like them combined with the cocoa flavor.
• Water: To make up the black tea.  
• Cocoa powder: Use high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best flavor. Hot cocoa mix will also work (if vegan) but already contains sugar, so adjust accordingly.
• Plant-based milk: Use your preferred vegan milk. i.e., soy milk, almond milk, hazelnut milk, etc. Canned coconut milk is richer and creamier, and if you want it even more decadent, a vegan creamer will also work.
• Coffee: (optional) Though we already have tea in this vegan chocolate boba tea, a small amount of coffee pairs perfectly and enhances the chocolate flavor.
• Sweetener: Use granulated sugar if preferred (like white, brown, or coconut sugar), though liquid sweeteners also work (and will dissolve into hot or cold milk tea). I.e., maple syrup, agave, brown rice syrup, etc. Sugar alternatives (granulated or liquid) will also work, but the amount will need adjusting to taste.
• Tapioca pearls: Use regular or quick-cooking tapioca balls (brown or white), ensuring they don’t contain caramel (which isn’t vegan). Crystal boba will also work.

You can also add ice for a super refreshing dairy-free chocolate tea recipe. Don’t want to risk watering down the drink? Make some black tea Ice cubes!

Fun Vegan Chocolate Milk Tea Variations

• Dairy-free whipped cream: For when you serve the vegan bubble tea.
• Flavored syrups: An easy way to add more flavor to this vegan milk tea is with flavored syrups (regular or sugar-free). For chocolate milk tea, you could make dairy-free hazelnut chocolate milk tea, use chai syrup for extra warm spices, coffee syrup, vegan caramel, etc.
• Flavorings/extracts: Instead of syrup, you can add flavor with natural flavorings/extracts. I.e., hazelnut, almond, peppermint, vanilla, etc.
• Cinnamon: A little adds warmth and enhances the flavor of the vegan chocolate milk tea.
• Vegan jelly: To add alongside or instead of boba pearls. I.e., coffee jelly, coconut jelly, etc.

How to Make Chocolate Milk Tea?

There are just a few simple steps to preparing homemade vegan chocolate bubble tea.

• 1) First, if you haven’t already, cook the tapioca pearls according to their package instructions. Once they’re cooked, leave them to sit in the liquid so they don’t all stick together or dry out.

• 2) Then, steep the black tea in the boiling water for 5 minutes, then remove it from the liquid.

Over-steeping tea can lead to bitterness from tannins released into the water. Alternatively, you can use a cold-brew method and leave it to steep in cold water in the fridge for 10-12 hours.  

• 3) Next, stir in the cocoa powder and sugar (and coffee, if using it), and whisk until fully combined and the sugar has melted.

• 4) To assemble the dairy-free chocolate milk tea, first, divide the cooked tapioca pearls between two tall glasses. Then add plenty of ice (if preferred), followed by the vegan chocolate milk tea mixture and the dairy-free milk, then stir. Finally, taste it and add a little more sugar if preferred. Serve the vegan chocolate boba with a long spoon or wide bubble tea straw, and enjoy!

If you’d prefer to enjoy the dairy-free chocolate milk tea warm, omit the ice and heat the plant-based milk before adding it to the glass.  

FAQs

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

• To chill the tea quickly: Shake it in a shaker with ice.
• Adjust the creaminess: Use light or creamy dairy-free milk, a combination of plant-based milk and dairy-free creamer, or all vegan creamer. You can also adjust the ratio of dairy-free milk to tea.
• Tweak to taste: Increase or reduce the sweetener, cocoa powder, tea strength, etc., to your liking.
• Consume boba fresh: It will harden as it cools/sits. You have 3-4 hours maximum to enjoy them.
• Use a jumbo/boba straw: It makes it super easy to suck up all the boba.

How to Make Ahead and Store?

You can prepare the vegan chocolate tea mixture (with or without mixing in the dairy-free milk) 2-3 days in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator.

However, tapioca pearls need to be freshly prepared. Once fully assembled, you have about 3-4 hours to consume the fresh boba before they become tough.

More Fun Vegan Drinks

• Homemade Chai Concentrate
• Mexican Horchata
• Mexican Hot Chocolate
• Healthy Coffee Milkshake [Without Ice Cream]
• Cherry Chocolate Smoothie
• Easy Vegan Eggnog

You may also enjoy browsing our entire collection of budget-friendly vegan drink recipes!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla