Mango Boba Smoothie

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The mango boba smoothie is made with frozen mango, yogurt, and boba pearls. A sweet tropical smoothie that's fabulous to ENJOY as a breakfast or mid-day meal. This recipe is easy to make and could be a show-stopper drink when served at a party.

Mango boba smoothie recipe is made with fresh mango, yogurt, and tapioca pearls. Learn how to make this restaurant-style drink at home easily. Best drink to serve for the breakfast or mid-day meals.

How We Came Up With This Recipe?

I was surprised when I first had a boba smoothie in a Thai restaurant two years ago. With every sip of the smoothie, I was getting gel-like boba — an amazing experience that my family loved, too(also with mango juice).

I tried to recreate this smoothie at home the same day by adopting a few tweaks. The result? It turned out super delicious, with more natural flavors than the restaurant.

What is Boba?

Boba is a pearl-shaped soft and chewy ingredient commonly used in an Asian-style drink. It is made with tapioca starch and is native to Taiwan. This boba drink is becoming increasingly popular in the States as 'bubble tea.'

You can find these boba(tapioca pearls) in Asian or online stores. These dry(with a hard texture), but once cooked, they turn to soft, chewy, gel-like pearls.

These tapioca pearls are available in black and white. However, the black ones are more popular as they provide a contrast-pleasing look when paired with light-colored drinks.

The Ingredients

Tapioca pearls: Also known as boba pearls, are like soft bubbles. You can find them in Asian stores or online markets.
Yogurt: I have used plain, unsweetened yogurt. You can also use Greek or plant-based yogurt like almond or coconut yogurt. If you are using sweetened yogurt, adjust the sugar mentioned in this recipe.
Mango: I have also used frozen mango chunks; feel free to use canned diced or fresh mangoes. Firstly, taste the mangoes and adjust the sweetener accordingly.
Refined Sugar: You can substitute brown sugar or natural alternatives like honey or agave nectar(but they slightly alter the overall smoothie's taste).

How To Make Mango Boba Smoothie?

Cook the Boba: The Boba Pearl package comes with the cooking instructions. If the Boba packaging does not have cooking instructions, add 1 cup of boba to 4 cups of water. Cook it for 12-15 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally to avoid the bubbles sticking to the bottom of the pan. Then drain and transfer it to a bowl.
Make the Smoothie: To a blender jar, add mango cubes, yogurt, sugar, water, and ice cubes. Blend until 2-3 minutes and until it turns to a smooth consistency.
Arrange: Add the boba to the bottom of the glass, fill it with the mango smoothie, top with chopped mango cubes or mint leaves, and ENJOY immediately.

The Leftovers

Refrigeration: This mango boba smoothie is best enjoyed immediately, as the tapioca pearls lose their softness and become slightly harder after 2 to 3 hours. If you have leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to two days; while the taste remains delicious, the texture of the boba will be slightly harder.
Freezing: When planning to freeze, note that the boba becomes much harder. To freeze, remove the boba and store only the smoothie. When ready to enjoy it, you can make fresh boba and add it to the smoothie while serving.
To Thaw: Place the frozen smoothie in the refrigerator overnight or for about eight hours. Use a whisk or fork to stir gently until all the ingredients are combined.
Reheating: This smoothie is best enjoyed as chilled and does not require reheating.

Mango boba smoothie recipe is made with fresh mango, yogurt, and boba.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you use refined sugar for this recipe?

I wanted to preserve the mango's natural flavors in this mango boba smoothie, so I used refined sugar. However, you can replace it with natural sugars like honey or maple syrup. Note that these sweeteners have unique flavor profiles that can alter the overall taste of the mango smoothie.

What other fruits can I add to the mango boba smoothie recipe?

Other tropical fruits like strawberries or bananas work well for the creamy texture.

Can I make this mango smoothie with milk?

I highly recommend using yogurt for this recipe, but if you prefer milk, you can use plant-based milk like coconut, almond, or soy milk. If the mango is acidic in taste, there are some changes for curdling. Chill the milk and mango before adding them together to prevent it from curdling.

Are there any variations I can try with this mango boba smoothie?

You can add other fruits like apples, strawberries, or bananas. You can also try using different types of milk, like coconut or almond milk. For toppings, small mango pieces, boba pearls, or a scoop of ice cream would make the drink fabulous.

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