Avocado Banana Boba Milk

Creamy Avocado Banana Milk with Microwave Boba

Makes 2 drinks · Prep: 8 minutes · Cook: 2 minutes · Total: about 10 minutes

Pale green avocado banana milk topped with black tapioca pearls in a clear glass

In my first job, my avocado boba drink was the highlight of my day! I usually waited for the lunch rush to die down, and then wandered into the boba shop, where I shamelessly watched couples on first dates make small talk.

These days, microwave boba keeps it to about ten minutes. Blend the avocado and banana with cold milk and ice, then pour it over the warm pearls and serve it right away.

Ingredients

Microwave boba

2 single-serve packets microwaveable brown sugar boba, about 2 to 3 ounces each

Avocado banana milk

½ large or 1 small ripe avocado, about ½ cup flesh
1 medium ripe banana
1½ cups cold whole milk, plus more as needed
½ cup ice
1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk or honey, optional
½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
Small pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

1
Heat the boba
Microwave the boba packets according to their package directions. Most need 45 to 60 seconds, but brands vary. Knead the unopened packets carefully after heating so the brown sugar syrup loosens around the pearls.
2
Fill the glasses
Open the packets and divide the warm boba and all of its syrup between 2 tall glasses. Tilt and turn each glass if you want some brown sugar syrup along the sides.
3
Blend the avocado banana milk
Add the avocado, banana, milk, ice, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla if using, and salt to a blender. Blend until completely smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds.
4
Adjust the texture
The drink should be thick and creamy but easy to pour. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time if it is too thick for a boba straw. Taste before adding more sweetener; the banana and brown sugar syrup may already be enough.
5
Pour and serve
Pour the avocado banana milk over the warm boba. Stir once or twice so every sip gets some syrup, then serve immediately with wide straws.

Shortcuts and substitutions

Dairy-free milk

Oat milk gives the closest creamy texture. Coconut milk is also good if you want the coconut flavor to be noticeable. Use a little less milk at first because plant milks vary in thickness.

No microwave boba

Cook ½ cup quick-cooking black tapioca pearls according to the package. Drain, then soak them for 5 to 10 minutes in 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar mixed with 2 tablespoons hot water.

No sweetened condensed milk

Use honey, maple syrup, or plain sugar. Start with 1 teaspoon and blend again. A spotty ripe banana usually needs very little help.

No banana

Use another ¼ avocado and 1 to 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk. The drink will taste more clearly of avocado and will need a little more milk to loosen it.

Recipe notes

Use ripe fruit

The avocado should yield gently when pressed, and the banana should have brown spots. Firm avocado tastes grassy; an underripe banana makes the drink starchy rather than creamy.

Keep the banana in balance

One medium banana is enough for two drinks. A second banana makes the avocado disappear and turns this into banana milk wearing a green shirt.

Serve the boba promptly

Tapioca pearls are softest while warm. They become firm as they cool and do not recover well after refrigeration, so make only what you plan to drink.

Blend right before pouring

Avocado banana milk thickens and darkens as it sits. You can measure everything ahead, but wait to cut the avocado and blend until the boba is ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does avocado banana boba milk taste like?

It tastes creamy, lightly fruity, and gently sweet. Banana contributes most of the sweetness, while avocado gives the drink body and a mild buttery flavor. Brown sugar boba adds caramel notes and chewiness.

Is avocado boba milk the same as avocado milk tea?

Not necessarily. This recipe is an avocado banana milk drink with tapioca pearls and contains no brewed tea. Avocado milk tea usually includes black tea, green tea, or a tea-based milk mixture.

Can I make avocado banana boba milk without a blender?

A blender gives the smoothest drink. In a pinch, mash the avocado and banana through a fine-mesh sieve, then whisk them with the milk and sweetener. The texture will be less airy but still creamy.

Can I make avocado boba milk ahead?

It is best made just before serving. The blended fruit darkens and thickens in the refrigerator, and cooked boba turns firm. You can chill the milk and fruit ahead, then heat the boba and blend when you are ready to drink it.

Why did my microwave boba turn hard?

Boba firms up as it cools, especially in an iced drink or refrigerator. Heat it fully, keep it in the packet syrup, and serve it right away. Do not rinse microwaveable brown sugar boba under cold water.

How can I make the drink less thick?

Blend in more milk 1 tablespoon at a time until it pours easily through a wide straw. Large avocados and frozen bananas can make the drink much thicker than expected.

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