What Does Taro Tea Taste Like? Full Flavorful Profile

Have you ever tried taro tea?

This beverage is made from the starchy root vegetable taro and is taking the world by storm.

Taro tea has a distinct taste that combines mild, nutty, and slightly sweet notes with hints of vanilla, coconut, and buttery undertones reminiscent of cookies. Some have even described it as similar to buttery cookies and vanilla. Whether you’re a fan of green tea, black tea, or something in between, taro tea adds a unique flavor profile.

Want to learn what taro tea tastes like?

In this blog post, we’ll explore the unique flavor profile of taro, its versatility in cooking, and how it’s used to create deliciously creamy and refreshing taro tea.

We’ll also dive into taro tea’s health benefits and nutritional facts and provide you with a basic recipe to make your own authentic taro tea at home.

What Is Taro?

Taro is a starchy root vegetable typically cultivated in Asian countries and has an earthy, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor.

Fun fact: taro root has been grown in China and Egypt since 100 B.C.

If you haven’t had taro, its taste and texture are like a sweet potato. This root is commonly used in various dishes and has become popular in beverages like taro milk tea.

As a versatile ingredient, taro can be cooked in multiple ways. For example, taro gives off a more pronounced earthy and starchy taste when boiled or steamed. On the other hand, when baked or fried, it tends to develop a crispier texture that enhances its natural sweetness.

What Does Taro Taste Like?

Taro has a unique flavor combines earthy, starchy, nutty, and slightly sweet notes. When boiled, its taste is often compared to sweet potatoes. You may even notice a hint of vanilla in its taste profile.

This versatile flavor allows taro to complement a variety of dishes, making it a popular choice for boba teas as well.

The preparation method can alter the flavor profile of taro. The most natural way is by boiling or steaming the root. This gives taro a soft, creamy texture and a more natural taste.

When trying taro tea for the first time, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by its harmonious blend of flavors.

Taro has a mild flavor that compliments well with other flavor pairings. It’s often used for its subtle sweetness and vanilla-like flavor.

What is Taro Tea?

Taro tea, also known as taro milk tea, is a popular beverage made from the starchy root vegetable taro, native to Southeast Asia.

To create this delicious drink, taro is often boiled and pureed to extract its unique flavor. This flavor is combined with brewed tea, ice, and your choice of milk and topped with tapioca pearls.

The vibrant purple color and unique flavors make taro tea a refreshing and eye-catching option for enthusiasts. However, cooked taro is typically greyish. Taro tea is a vibrant purple, often due to artificial coloring or mixing it with ube paste.

You’ll also find some sweetness added through various sweeteners such as sugar, honey, simple syrup, brown sugar, maple syrup, cane sugar, coconut sugar, or even stevia. This balances out taro’s natural, nutty flavor, creating a sweet and satisfying beverage.

Boba or tapioca pearls add a unique chewiness to the experience of taro milk tea, making it a popular choice among those who love boba tea.

One popular preparation method is to use taro tea powder. Powdered taro is made by peeling, boiling, processing, mashing, and dehydrating taro until it reaches powder. It’s more purple than natural taro because artificial coloring is often added.

When you taste taro milk tea, you can expect hints of caramel, vanilla, and a subtle sweetness reminiscent of sweet potatoes.

What Does Taro Tea Taste Like?

Taro tea is a unique and delightful beverage with a distinct flavor profile. The flavor is described as a combination of mild, nutty, and slightly sweet notes, with hints of vanilla, coconut, and buttery undertones reminiscent of cookies.

Some people have even described the taste of taro tea as similar to buttery cookies and vanilla.

One of the nuances in how taro tea tastes is the variety of tea used.

For instance, green tea is known for its light, vegetal, and sometimes grassy flavor. Black tea possesses a robust, full-bodied, and often malty taste. Jasmine tea carries a delicate, floral aroma. While oolong tea strikes a balance between green and black teas, offering a slightly sweet taste with a hint of creaminess.

Compared to these teas, taro tea stands out with its unconventional flavor, delighting your palate with its unexpected nutty, sweet, and comforting tastes.

What Is Taro Milk Tea Made Of

Taro milk tea is a creamy drink made of brewed tea, milk or milk substitute, sugar, and puree or powdered taro. Tapioca pearls are often added for texture.

Tea: Most tea shops will use jasmine tea as the base. Jasmine tea is caffeine-free since it’s sourced from jasmine flower blossoms, although there are blends that contain green tea as well.
Taro: Either pureed or powdered taro is used. Pureed taro is natural and contains a much more nuanced taro flavor: creamy, vanilla, and floral.
Milk: Milk adds a rich, creamy texture that compliments the tea and taro. Dairy milk or alternatives, such as coconut, almond, or soy, can be used. Depending on the milk, it can impart its unique flavor.
Sugar: A sweetener is added to sweeten the tea, such as sugar syrup, honey, or brown sugar. Different sweeteners will impart their unique flavor to taro tea.
Tapioca Pearls: Tapioca pearls or boba pearls provide a delicious and chewy texture to taro milk. They can be coated in brown sugar syrup to infuse a nice caramel flavor into the tea.

Health Benefits and Nutritional Facts Of Taro Tea

Taro tea shouldn’t be labeled a “healthy beverage” because it contains a lot of sugar and carbohydrates. The only ingredients of nutritional value are natural taro root and tea. At the same time, powdered taro root doesn’t retain many nutrients.

The taro root is an excellent source of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants. These nutrients offer a variety of potential health benefits, including improved blood sugar management, gut and heart health, and reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

The antioxidants found in tea, specifically polyphenols, are known to boost heart health over time.

Additionally, milk contains calcium and manganese, essential minerals for maintaining strong bones and overall health.

Here are several known health benefits of taro tea.

Fiber supports digestion

One of the most common advantages of taro root is its high fiber content. It contains almost twice as much fiber as a regular potato.

High fiber promotes healthy digestion, controls blood sugar levels, and regulates bowel movement. Studies indicate that taro can also lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Antioxidants reduce diseases

Jasmine, green, oolong, and black tea are all rich sources of antioxidants. The tea used to make taro milk tea contains antioxidants that protect the body from harmful free radicals. These free radicals damage cells and increase the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The caloric and nutritional information of taro tea

When considering the addition of taro tea to your diet, it’s essential to understand its caloric and nutritional content.

Taro tea is relatively low in calories; however, the milk and sweeteners often added can increase the calorie count. Therefore, you may enjoy taro tea as part of a balanced diet by moderating your intake, especially if milk and sugar are used.

Nutrient	Amount per 100 g
Dietary Fiber	2 g
Potassium	6 mg
Vitamin C	2.4 mg
Calcium	17 mg
Manganese	0.43 mg

Since taro tea does contain sugar, always consume it in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Preparing Authentic Taro Tea: A Basic Recipe

Ingredients to make taro tea

To prepare authentic taro tea, selecting high-quality ingredients is important. The main components you’ll need include:

Taro root: You can find fresh taro root at a local Asian grocery or use taro root powder.
Milk or milk creamer: You can use cow’s milk, almond milk, or any alternative you choose.
Tea base: Jasmine tea, black tea, or green tea can be used as a base for taro tea.
Vanilla extract (optional): To enhance the flavor of the taro tea.
Ice cubes: Chilled taro tea provides a refreshing taste.

Add tapioca pearls, honey, or sugar to sweeten, and adjust to your preference.

Instructions to make taro tea

Follow these steps to create a delicious taro tea:

Prepare the taro root: Peel and cut it into small cubes if using fresh taro root. Boil the taro for about 15 minutes or until soft. Alternatively, use taro root powder if fresh taro root is unavailable.
Brew the tea base: Bring water to a boil in a separate saucepan. Add the jasmine, black, or green tea bag, steep for 3-5 minutes, and remove the tea bag. Allow the tea to cool down.
Combine ingredients: To a blender, add the cooked taro (or taro root powder), tea base, milk or creamer, ice cubes, and vanilla extract (optional). Blend until smooth and creamy.
Sweeten as desired: Taste the taro tea and add honey, sugar, or other sweeteners as desired.
Serve and enjoy: Pour the taro tea into a glass, add ice cubes, and enjoy your delicious, authentic taro tea! Optionally, add tapioca pearls for a satisfying texture.

You can experiment with different tea bases, milk alternatives, and sweeteners to create a taro tea that suits your taste buds perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Taro Tea

Does taro taste fishy?

No, taro does not taste fishy. Taro has a unique taste and is often described as a combination of sweet potato and coconut with a slight nuttiness. The flavor can vary depending on how it is prepared, but it typically does not have a fishy taste.

Why is taro purple?

Taro is not naturally purple, but the color of taro in taro milk tea comes from added food coloring. The natural color of the taro flesh is white with tiny specs of purple. Some varieties of taro have a more pronounced purple hue, but the vibrant purple color you often see is from added coloring agents. Another reason why taro is purple is because it’s often mixed with ube, a vibrant purple root vegetable.

Are there health benefits to drinking taro tea?

Yes, there are health benefits to drinking taro tea. Taro root is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins C, E, B6, potassium, and magnesium. Additionally, taro contains dietary fiber, which supports digestion and helps maintain a healthy weight. Taro tea can be a nutritious and delicious addition to your diet when consumed in moderation.

How many calories are in a typical taro milk tea?

The calorie content of taro milk tea can vary based on the specific ingredients and serving size, but a 16-ounce cup typically contains around 200-300 calories. The calorie count can increase by adding sugar, sweeteners, creamers, or toppings such as boba pearls or jelly. Consider using a lower-calorie milk alternative or reducing added sugars to reduce the calorie content.

Does taro milk tea contain caffeine?

Yes, taro milk tea does contain caffeine because it’s made with caffeinated tea. Typically it uses either jasmine, black, or green tea. A 16 oz serving of taro milk tea contains approximately 25-30 mg caffeine. However, taro itself doesn’t naturally contain caffeine.

Final Thoughts

Taro tea is a unique beverage that offers a delicate and nuanced flavor. With its mild, nutty, and slightly sweet taste, taro tea will delight your taste buds. Whether you’re a fan of bubble tea or just looking for a new and exciting drink, taro tea is worth considering.