DIRTEA Matcha Bubble Tea Recipe: How to Make Matcha Boba at Home

Taiwan's Gift to the World Gets a Mushroom Upgrade

 

Bubble tea makes no logical sense when you think about it. Someone in Taiwan decided that what tea really needed was chewy balls floating around in it, and somehow this became a global phenomenon. Those tapioca pearls bouncing around in sweetened tea created something entirely new—part drink, part snack, part oddly satisfying experience.

This matcha bubble tea recipe uses DIRTEA's Matcha Super Blend to bring actual functional benefits to the boba experience. The mushroom matcha powder includes Lion's Mane mushroom and Tremella mushroom alongside a comprehensive B vitamin complex.

The result? All the Instagram-worthy layers and chewy satisfaction of proper bubble tea, but with ingredients that work as hard as they taste good.

Everything You Need

 

For the Tapioca Pearls:

• 1/2 cup dried tapioca pearls (black or white)
• 3 cups water for cooking
• 3 tbsp brown sugar or maple syrup

 

For the Matcha Base:

• 1 scoop (6g) DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend
• 100ml hot water (80°C)
• 2-3 tbsp honey or simple syrup
• 300ml oat milk or your preferred milk
• Ice cubes
• Wide straws (essential for the full experience)

 

What's Inside DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend:

• Organic Ceremonial-Grade Japanese Matcha (18%)
• Organic Lion's Mane Extract (21% - 1,250mg per serving)
• Organic Tremella Extract (21% - 1,250mg per serving)
• Organic Moringa Leaf Powder
• MCT Oil
• Organic Coconut Sugar
• Organic Coconut Milk Powder
• Organic B Vitamin Complex

The Boba Cooking Process

 

Step 1: Cook the pearls 

Bring 3 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add tapioca pearls and stir immediately—they stick together if you don't. Cook for 12-15 minutes until they float and look translucent rather than chalky.

 

Step 2: Let them rest 

Turn off heat, cover the pot, and let pearls sit for another 12 minutes. This develops the chewy texture that makes boba work. Drain and rinse with cold water.

 

Step 3: Add sweetness 

Toss warm pearls with brown sugar or maple syrup. Let them absorb the sweetness for at least 5 minutes—otherwise they taste like flavourless rubber.

 

Building Your Matcha Base

 

Create the matcha concentrate 

Whisk DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend with hot water until completely smooth and slightly frothy. This prevents the gritty texture that can ruin the experience. Add sweetener while it's still warm so it dissolves properly.

Assembly 

Spoon sweetened tapioca pearls into the bottom of your glass—about 3-4 tablespoons per drink. Add ice cubes, then slowly pour in your milk to create the first layer.

Final layer 

Pour the cooled matcha mixture over the back of a spoon to create distinct layers. The green matcha floating on creamy milk with dark pearls at the bottom looks properly impressive.

The Functional Breakdown

 

Ceremonial-Grade Matcha Powder 

DIRTEA uses authentic Japanese ceremonial-grade matcha that dissolves properly in cold preparations—something cheaper alternatives often fail at. The L-theanine creates sustained alertness without the jittery energy that can make concentrating difficult. It's steady energy that enhances focus rather than overwhelming your system.

 

Lion's Mane Mushroom Extract (1,250mg per serving) 

While you're enjoying the drink, Lion's Mane works on cognitive function in the background. The afternoon energy dip that usually hits around 3 PM becomes less of an issue when B vitamins contribute to normal functioning of the nervous system and normal psychological function, helping maintain mental clarity throughout the day.

Explore Lion's Mane cognitive benefits →

 

Tremella Mushroom Extract (1,250mg per serving) 

Traditional Chinese medicine has used Tremella for skin health for centuries, long before anyone thought to add it to bubble tea. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, working from within while you enjoy your drink. It's functional skincare that happens to taste good.

Learn about Tremella's beauty benefits →

 

B Vitamin Complex Support 

This is where the functional benefits accumulate. Riboflavin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, while vitamin B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Pantothenic acid contributes to normal mental performance—turning your afternoon treat into something that supports sustained energy and brain function rather than just providing temporary satisfaction.

 

Tapioca Pearl Function 

Beyond the textural interest, tapioca provides quick carbohydrates that work well with matcha's sustained energy release. The chewing action also triggers satiety signals, making this more satisfying than drinks that disappear quickly.

 

MCT Oil Integration 

The MCT oil in DIRTEA's blend enhances absorption of the mushroom compounds while providing its own steady energy contribution. It works behind the scenes to make everything else more effective.

 

Pro Tips for Perfect Boba

 

Pearl timing is everything. Overcook them and they dissolve into mush. Undercook them and they're hard centres that hurt your teeth. The sweet spot is when they're translucent but still have that satisfying chew.

Layer creation takes patience. Pour slowly over a spoon to create distinct layers rather than muddy mixing. The visual payoff makes the extra seconds worthwhile.

Straw width matters tremendously. Regular straws are useless—you need wide boba straws to actually get pearls with every sip. It's the difference between drinking bubble tea and drinking tea while staring at unreachable bubbles.

Fresh pearls beat stored pearls every time. They start getting tough within hours, so cook them right before you want to drink. Planning ahead ruins the texture.

 

Why Homemade Beats Store-Bought

 

Commercial bubble tea shops often use artificial matcha flavouring and excessive sugar to mask poor ingredients. This version uses ceremonial-grade matcha that actually tastes good on its own, plus functional mushrooms that provide benefits accumulating over time rather than just momentary satisfaction.

The B vitamins contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and normal psychological function as part of a balanced diet, while you control exactly how much sweetness goes into each glass. No artificial colours, no mysterious powders, no wondering what's actually in your expensive afternoon treat.

Time to Ruin Regular Boba for Yourself

 

This matcha bubble tea works perfectly as an afternoon energy boost when focus starts wandering, a post-workout treat that actually supports recovery, or weekend indulgence that happens to contain functional ingredients. The combination of immediate satisfaction and genuine nutritional benefits makes it worth the small effort required.

Many people find this becomes their preferred alternative to expensive boba shop visits and regular afternoon snacks. The complexity keeps it interesting, while the functional mushrooms provide value that extends well beyond the drinking experience.

Try DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend →

Questions About Matcha Bubble Tea

 

"Is making matcha bubble tea at home actually worth the effort?" 

Absolutely, especially considering boba shops charge £5-7 for drinks that often use artificial matcha flavouring. This version costs a fraction of that and uses ceremonial-grade matcha with functional mushrooms that provide genuine benefits rather than just momentary satisfaction.

 

"How much caffeine is in this mushroom matcha bubble tea?" 

DIRTEA's matcha provides natural caffeine balanced by L-theanine for calm alertness rather than jittery energy. The B vitamins contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, supporting sustained energy that works well with the afternoon timing most people prefer for boba.

 

"Can I make the tapioca pearls ahead of time for this matcha boba recipe?" 

Fresh pearls taste dramatically better than stored ones, which become tough and chewy in unpleasant ways. Cook them right before serving for optimal texture. The matcha base can be prepared earlier and chilled, but pearls are best fresh.

 

"What's the best matcha powder for bubble tea recipes?" 

DIRTEA's ceremonial-grade matcha works perfectly because it dissolves smoothly and has naturally sweet, complex flavour that doesn't need masking with excessive sugar. Lower-grade matcha often tastes bitter and creates gritty textures that ruin the drinking experience.

 

"Do the functional mushrooms actually make a difference in bubble tea?" 

The Lion's Mane and Tremella work cumulatively with consistent consumption, so while you'll enjoy immediate satisfaction from the drink itself, the mushroom benefits build over time. The B vitamins contribute to normal psychological function and normal energy-yielding metabolism as part of regular consumption, making this more than just a tasty treat.