Honeydew Milk Tea

This honeydew milk tea is a refreshing, vibrant drink that’s both easy on your wallet and simple to make! With a base of ripe melon, green tea, and plant milk, it’s the perfect way to cool down during the summer months.

With just a handful of ingredients and no fancy equipment required, you can enjoy a tea shop-quality beverage from the comfort of your home. As with my taro milk tea, this honeydew tea has a beautiful hue and uniquely fruity flavors you’ll love!

Why I love this recipe

Honeydew milk tea is my go-to when I want a sweet, tropical, and creamy drink to cool off with. Made with just a few ingredients, like ripe melon, plant milk, and chewy tapioca pearls, it’s a budget-friendly way to satisfy your boba cravings at home.

All you have to do is steep some green tea, then blend it with honeydew cubes, simple syrup, plant milk, and a touch of matcha for color.

Serve it over freshly cooked tapioca pearls for the most refreshing milk tea ever! If you love boba and are looking for a twist on classics like oolong milk tea, this flavor is perfect!

Ingredient notes

You only need 6 ingredients for this honeydew milk tes! Find a full breakdown and suitable substitutes below.

Honeydew
It’s common to use honeydew powder, but I prefer fresh melon for this bubble tea. Make sure your honeydew is nice and ripe for an extra sweet and delicious flavor.

Green tea
The earthiness of green tea complements the light and refreshing honeydew. Loose-leaf or green tea bags both work, but do not let it steep for more than 2-3 minutes to prevent a bitter taste.

Substitute: You can also try other teas like jasmine green, oolong, black, or herbal. There is even honeydew-flavored green tea available nowadays.

Plant milk
My preferred choices for honeydew milk tea are soy, coconut, or oat milk. If you prefer a thinner consistency, use almond or rice milk.

Tapioca pearls
Tapioca pearls, or boba, are available at any Asian food market. Uncooked tapioca pearls can be purchased online, or you can use quick-cooking boba to save time. Just note that the texture and flavor won’t be quite as good with quick-cooking boba.

Sweetener
Cane sugar sweetens both the tapioca pearls and the tea itself, balancing the bitterness of the tea and the mild flavor of the honeydew.

Substitute: Try beet sugar, brown rice syrup, or date sugar instead. Or, use a sugar-free sweetener like stevia or monk fruit. You can also leave out the sugar if you have an extra-ripe honeydew.

Matcha
I add a scoop of matcha mainly for color and subtle earthy flavors. If possible, source ceremonial-grade matcha for the best flavor and health benefits. Matcha is optional, but I love it because it contains brain-healthy nutrients like L-theanine.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to the recipe card.

How to make

Learn the best way to make honeydew milk tea with my straightforward, easy-to-follow instructions. Look for the tips in green throughout this section for consistent and successful results!

Preparation

Wash the honeydew melon thoroughly, then peel and cut it into cubes. Bring water to just under a boil (175-180 degrees Fahrenheit), then brew the green tea for 2-3 minutes before removing the leaves and letting the tea cool.

To prevent a bitter honeydew milk tea, don’t steep the tea past 3 minutes.

Cooking

Step 1
In a medium-large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Once it’s boiling, add the tapioca pearls and lower the heat to just under medium. You don’t want to overcook them. Simmer the boba for 15-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

The total cooking time will depend on the specific type of pearls you’re using, so make sure to check the package for instructions. For reference, mine took 30 minutes, but quick-cooking boba usually take 5 minutes.

Step 2
In the meantime, whisk the cane sugar and more water in another small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer for a few minutes until the sugar fully dissolves. Remove the saucepan from the heat and reserve a few tablespoons, then add the rest to a medium mixing bowl.

Step 3
When the tapioca pearls are cooked, strain them through a fine-mesh strainer, rinsing them lightly. Transfer the pearls to the mixing bowl with the syrup and stir to combine. Set the bowl aside to soak while you make the honeydew milk tea.

Step 4
Add the honeydew cubes to a blender, followed by the brewed tea, matcha, plant milk, and 3 tablespoons of simple syrup. Blend it together for about 60 seconds until smooth, then taste and adjust the sweetness to your preference.

Step 5
Strain the honeydew mixture through a fine-mesh strainer for a smoother drink. If you don’t mind a few little bits of melon, skip this step!

Step 6
Using a slotted spoon, add a few tablespoons of tapioca pearls to a serving glass. Add a handful of ice, then fill the rest with the blended honeydew milk tea mixture. Give it a stir before serving. Happy drinking!

Cooking tips

Prep in advance: To make things quicker, prepare the simple syrup and tea a few hours in advance so they have time to cool.

Use fresh pearls: For the softest and chewiest boba, use cooked tapioca pearls right away. When they cool, they start to harden again.

Bubble tea straw: If you are serving your honeydew milk tea with boba, use a wide-mouth straw made for bubble tea. There are a lot of different materials to choose from, like bamboo and metal, but I like glass bubble tea straws.

Frequently asked questions

Storing

It’s best to consume the fully made honeydew milk tea immediately after it’s made since the tapioca pearls become less soft and chewy the longer they sit. However, you can store the components separately.

Fridge
Honeydew milk tea without boba can be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours. The honeydew mixture should be placed in an airtight container, and the cooked tapioca pearls should be placed in a separate sealed container.

Freezer
I like to freeze extra milk tea without boba in ice cube trays. This way, I can use flavored ice in another honeydew milk tea or even this matcha latte!

More tea & coffee recipes

Recipe

Note: I’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.