What Is Bubble Tea Ice Cream?
Bubble tea ice cream combines the signature flavors of popular boba drinks with the creamy texture of ice cream. The best versions include actual chewy boba pearls mixed throughout, giving you that satisfying QQ texture in every bite.
Key Characteristics:
- Ice cream base flavored like popular bubble tea drinks
- Often contains real tapioca pearls or boba-like mochi pieces
- Available in pints, bars, cones, and specialty desserts
- Captures both the flavor AND texture of bubble tea
Why It Works: The combination is genius because bubble tea and ice cream share similar qualities—both are creamy, sweet, and comforting. Adding chewy boba pearls to frozen desserts creates an exciting textural contrast that elevates the experience beyond regular ice cream.
Popular Flavors
Bubble tea ice cream comes in all the classic boba flavors and then some:
Classic Milk Tea Flavors:
- Brown Sugar Milk Tea: The most popular variety, featuring caramel-like sweetness with tiger stripe swirls
- Taro: That distinctive purple color and sweet, nutty flavor
- Thai Tea: Bold, spiced, and unmistakably orange
- Matcha: Earthy green tea flavor with creamy base
- Oolong Milk Tea: Sophisticated, slightly roasted notes
Fruit Tea Inspired:
- Mango: Tropical and refreshing
- Passion Fruit: Tangy and sweet
- Strawberry: Classic fruity flavor
- Lychee: Floral and delicate
Specialty Flavors:
- Honeycomb Brown Sugar: Extra caramelized sweetness
- Black Sesame Boba: Nutty and unique
- Ube (Purple Yam): Filipino-inspired, similar to taro
- Coffee Boba: For the caffeine lovers
Where to Buy
Bubble tea ice cream is increasingly available at various retailers:
Grocery Stores:
- Trader Joe’s: Offers seasonal boba ice cream bars
- Whole Foods: Stocks specialty brands
- Asian supermarkets: Wide variety of imported and local options
- Target and Walmart: Expanding boba ice cream selections
Popular Brands:
- Trader Joe’s Boba Ice Cream Bars: Affordable, widely available
- Melona Boba Bars: Korean brand with various flavors
- Gyu-Kaku: Japanese-style boba desserts
- Tea Station: Specialty boba ice cream pints
- Magnolia: Filipino-inspired ube and boba flavors
Specialty Shops:
- Boba shops often sell their own ice cream versions
- Asian dessert cafes
- Korean and Japanese snack stores
Online:
- Weee! Asian grocery delivery
- Amazon (limited selection, shipping can be expensive)
- Goldbelly (premium specialty options)
Homemade Recipe
Making bubble tea ice cream at home is easier than you might think!
Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons black tea leaves (or 3 tea bags)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cooked tapioca pearls (cooled)
For the Brown Sugar Swirl:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions:
-
Steep the tea: Heat milk and cream until simmering. Add tea leaves, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain out tea leaves.
-
Dissolve sugar: Add brown sugar and salt to warm milk mixture. Stir until completely dissolved. Let cool completely.
-
Make the swirl: In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, and butter. Cook until thickened into a syrup. Let cool.
-
Churn: Pour the cooled mixture into your ice cream maker. Churn according to manufacturer’s instructions.
-
Add boba: In the last few minutes of churning, add the cooked tapioca pearls.
-
Swirl and freeze: Transfer to a container, drizzling brown sugar syrup between layers. Use a knife to create swirls. Freeze for at least 4 hours.
Tips for Perfect Boba Ice Cream:
- Cook boba pearls slightly underdone—they’ll firm up when frozen
- Soak pearls in brown sugar syrup before adding to keep them soft
- Use full-fat dairy for creamiest results
- For no-churn version, fold whipped cream into sweetened condensed milk base
Boba Ice Cream Bars
Boba ice cream bars have become particularly popular due to their portability and built-in portion control:
What Makes Them Special:
- Convenient individual servings
- Often coated in chocolate or tiger stripe shell
- Boba pearls throughout or concentrated at the bottom
- Perfect for on-the-go snacking
Popular Bar Varieties:
- Brown sugar milk tea bars
- Taro bars
- Matcha bars with mochi pieces
- Thai tea bars
Viral Sensation: Trader Joe’s brown sugar boba ice cream bars became a viral hit, often selling out immediately upon restocking. The bars feature a milk tea ice cream center with brown sugar boba pieces, covered in a brown sugar-flavored shell.
Creative Boba Ice Cream Ideas
Beyond traditional scoops and bars, here are creative ways to enjoy boba ice cream:
Boba Ice Cream Float:
- Scoop of boba ice cream in sparkling water or tea
- Topped with fresh boba pearls
Boba Sundae:
- Multiple scoops of different boba ice cream flavors
- Topped with brown sugar drizzle, whipped cream, and fresh boba
Boba Milkshake:
- Blend boba ice cream with milk
- Top with whipped cream and boba pearls
Boba Ice Cream Sandwich:
- Boba ice cream between two cookies
- Roll edges in crushed boba or sprinkles
Affogato Style:
- Scoop of matcha boba ice cream
- Topped with espresso shot
The Bottom Line
Bubble tea ice cream represents the perfect marriage of two beloved treats. Whether you’re grabbing a brown sugar boba bar from the freezer aisle, scooping homemade taro ice cream, or enjoying a specialty creation at a dessert shop, this frozen treat delivers all the flavors we love about bubble tea in an exciting new format.
The best part? You get that signature boba chew in every bite, making it an experience that goes beyond ordinary ice cream. As the bubble tea phenomenon continues to grow, expect to see even more creative boba ice cream innovations hitting the market.
Try making your own at home, or hunt down your favorite variety at local stores—either way, bubble tea ice cream is a must-try for any boba lover!
