Taro milk tea has been one of the most popular and delicious bubble tea flavors across the many boba cafes and bubble tea shops. (Learn how to make taro milk tea at home). In fact, this exact flavor might’ve been your first bubble tea flavor you’ve ever tried too, let us know if that’s the case. Amongst the top 3 most popular boba flavors we must say it has to be the traditional black milk tea, Thai milk tea and taro milk tea. (Read those bubble tea recipes if you want to make them at home).
However, despite being so popular (taro milk tea)— many of you bubble tea drinkers might not even know exactly what taro actually is. But that’s okay, it’s still delicious and that’s all that matters! But, if you were curious about what exactly you might be drinking, we’re here to let you know what it is. Be prepared to learn something new today and feel free to get yourself a delicious taro milk tea after reading this too! Find the best boba places near you.
What is Taro?
Taro is a root vegetable (colocasia esculenta) found and grown in places like Africa, China, Hawaii and a few more tropical and humid environments. What does taro look like? On the outside, taro root appears like any other root vegetable brown and fuzzy but on the inside, you’ll find that it’s pale white with specs of purple all around the inner root. This tropical plant has a potato-like structure with a starchy texture popularly prepared for food like taro chips, taro ice cream, taro milk tea, taro buns, taro cakes and more. Read our taro milk tea recipe here.
Though taro root is used in many dishes and deemed safe to eat, you have to be sure you’re preparing the food correctly. Taro in its raw form is known to be toxic so cooking it properly is a must! When preparing the root itself, be sure to wear gloves to ensure your skin is protected. The outer layer of the taro root may cause skin irritations that can be very uncomfortable. View the image below to get a full glimpse of what does taro looks like.
Fun fact: kalo is taro in Hawaiian.
What Does Taro Taste Like?
The taro root when cooked simply tastes very much like a potato but sweeter, you can say it tastes like a sweet potato! Like we mentioned before, the structure and texture is very much like any normal Idaho potato, which is great because the overall flavor profile is quite familiar to most. Just like potatoes, taro root is typically used as the foundation of a dish to add texture whether it’d be crispiness or some other type of texture. The taro taste really depends on what type of dish you’re preparing.
For example, if you’re creating a soft serve ice cream flavor using taro root, you’ll find that the flavor is very subtle in the ice cream itself and tastes more like vanilla with a hint of something starchy like. Similar to taro milk teas, you’ll find the drink tastes like a creamy vanilla more so than a potato-like food. It’s very hard to describe taro taste into flavor profiles but ideally, it’s as simple as a subtle, more sweet potato— it’s like the middle ground between a potato and a sweet potato.
It’s great for making snacks like taro chips or fries but also perfect for a stew or soup! And of course bubble tea. If you’re curious about taro taste you’ll just have to give it a try soon!
What are the Health Benefits of Taro Root?
Just like many foods in the starch or carbohydrate category, the taro root is absolutely rich in fibers. In one cup of taro root, you’ll typically find about 5-7 grams of rich fibers. In general, fiber is great for regulating your body’s sugar levels which ultimately helps to maintain a healthy blood sugar amount.
Another great benefit from the taro root is that it can help lower the risk of heart disease. Being that it’s super rich in fiber, you’ll find that it will help to regulate your body’s cholesterol as well as blood sugar levels. Thus it may help with reducing heart disease overall.
And ultimately, being that a starch like this can be used in a variety of dishes, you can use this as a substitute for a lower calorie amount amongst other starches. So if you’re looking for alternatives to traditional potatoes or other major carbohydrates, you may use this as an alternative and start to see some changes to your overall weight. These benefits have been researched from other various notable sources however, be sure to do your own thorough research before making any changes to your diet or health in regards to using taro root.
Taro vs Ube
Many people might get taro and ube confused as they both have purple characteristics to them. However, they’re very much different in the way they look, the taste and flavor profile and even the texture.
Like we mentioned before, taro has more of a starchy texture and in terms of color, it is mainly pale white on the inside with purple specs. Whereas ube, when cut open, has a very rich royal purple color. Also, taro vs ube taste is very much different too. Ube is sweeter than taro root and the texture is very soft and delicate once cooked, similar to how a yam is.
In terms of bubble tea, you’ll find that taro is very much like a sweet creamy vanilla with subtle flavors of taro. However, when you drink an ube based milk tea, you’ll really experience the flavor of ube as it has a richer flavor profile than taro. Both boba flavors are extremely great tasting though, have a try at both of them if you hadn’t already.
Are You Familiar with Taro Now?
We hope this helps you better understand what taro actually is. You can now drink taro milk tea knowing a bit more about what it actually is rather than assuming it is something that it is not. Thanks for reading with us here at Talk Boba feel free to read up on more related articles down below. Feel free to join our newsletter down below too, we’ll send you articles before everyone else can read them, exclusive discounts to our shop and some hidden secrets about Talk Boba and what we have in store for the future!
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You may also like…
- How to Make Taro Milk Tea
- Boba Tea Kit
- What is Boba?
If you’ve never had taro milk tea, then you are in for a treat. A few years back I was visiting my friend in Asia, the tea capital of the world. Her enthusiasm toward taro milk tea meant that I had to try it. She wasn’t wrong either! The soft lilac drink is not only eye-catching, it tastes amazing too. In fact, sometimes there is actually no tea present in taro milk tea! So what makes this tea so delicious? What does taro tea taste like, exactly? Keep reading below to find out more!
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Table of Contents
What Does Taro Taste Like?
Believed to be one of the oldest crops on earth, taro is a tropically grown crop in Asia. It is believed to have grown for over 10,000 years.
It is a major dietary staple throughout Asia, and many Pacific Islands, such as Fiji, New Zealand, and Hawaii.
Taro is a root vegetable coming from the plant called Araceae. The leaves are edible too and are actually heart-shaped!
The color of taro root is dependent on where it is cultivated but it can be white, purple, or pink. The root usually is covered in brown skin, and inside has white flesh with tiny purple spots.
The texture of taro is very similar to that of the potato because it is quite starchy. Also, people eat taro as they would a potato. Taro can also be boiled, fried, roasted, or baked.
Taro Taste Comparisons
Does Taro Taste Like Sweet Potato?
When cooked, taro tastes something quite similar to that of sweet potato. Taro is like a more vanilla-flavored, floral-tasting sweet potato.
It is also dependent on the way that the taro is prepared because fried and roasted taro tastes very similar to that of sweet potato.
Does Taro Taste Like Coconut?
Flavors of foods can taste different from person to person.
For some people, taro boba resembles a mild chocolate flavor. Others can taste caramel, coconut, or vanilla.
That being said, others describe the taste of the tea as nutty, milky, creamy, or buttery.
While taro doesn’t have any coconut flavor to it, it actually pairs really well with coconut. Taro has a plain, nutty, vanilla flavor to it, which is really complimented well when paired with coconut.
Does Taro Taste Like Tea?
There isn’t much of a similar taste to normal tea from taro boba. But let me explain.
Normally, when you order a taro milk tea, there won’t be any tea present in the drink. Taro boba tea can be made with just the root mixed with milk. In this instance, there is nothing in the drink that would give it a tea flavor.
While taro milk tea has an earthy tone from the nutty flavor of the root, this flavor is quite different to the earthy tones which you find in regular tea.
However, if you order a taro milk tea with a tea base (for example, ceylon or green tea), then that will certainly explain why it tastes similar to tea.
What Is Taro Milk Tea?
As you already know, taro can be used in many dishes. In fact, it can be eaten as a dessert. Or be an ingredient for drinks. The taro root can be used to make tea, cocktails, or even a taro smoothie.
A popular way of using taro root is in dessert drinks, aka milk teas.
What Does Taro Milk Tea Taste Like?
There are many different profiles for which taro milk tea has. The main flavors are sweet, nutty, and vanilla flavored. Depending on where your taro milk tea is being made, you might get different tasting notes for each place.
Below I will run through the flavor profile of each of the strongest flavors in which people have tasted from taro milk tea.
Sweet
There are many different tasting notes to taro tea. but above all, you should know it tastes super sweet.
Many people describe it as tasting like the leftover milk from a bowl of lucky charms, white chocolate, caramel, or melted marshmallow.
Others have said it tastes like Captain Crunch or cake flavored. Cookies and cream or buttered popcorn jelly beans are other flavor profiles that have been used to describe the taro boba taste.
Nutty
The nutty flavor of taro milk tea resembles a nut that is quite fatty – similar to an enriched, earthy mix of pecan and walnut.
Vanilla
Vanilla is another strong flavor that is given off when tasting taro. The vanilla flavor makes taro perfect for making ice cream or even taro-flavored mochi.
Why Is The Taste Of Taro Milk Tea So Familiar?
It has often been said that when people try it for the first time, they recognize the taste of taro for some reason. This may be because taro is actually sometimes used in baby food!
So, people have recognized the flavor from back when they were a toddler. This recognition almost brings a nostalgic element, which I think almost enhances the flavor.
Also, as previously mentioned, taro milk tea has more of a nutty, sweet, vanilla-like flavor. If you usually drink your tea with lots of creamer, sugar and milk, then you may find some similar tastes to tea that would come from these additions.
How Is Taro Bubble Tea Made?
If you are buying your tea from a boba shop, these shops will usually produce the drink using taro powder. You can even produce taro milk tea from home if you purchase this
- Firstly, bring some water to a boil, and once it begins to bubble, reduce the heat to a medium-high level. If adding in any type of tea, such as green, it needs to be added here. This creates a different taro bubble milk tea flavor if you are up for trying it! Green tea is a great addition to taro bubble milk tea so make sure you give this a go too!
- After having boiled the water with the tea leaves for three to five minutes, remove it from the heat source.
- While the tea is still hot, add in the taro powder (2 teaspoons). Stir until all the powder has completely dissolved in the tea. This will serve as your base for the taro bubble milk tea.
- There are different variations of how to proceed depending on your tea preferences. For example, honey, sugar, or condensed milk can be added to sweeten the tea. Here you can also add in whatever your favorite milk is – whether it’s cows’ milk, almond, oat, or coconut, they all taste good. If you like coconut milk, make sure to give this a go – coconut milk pairs really well with taro!
- Finally, you can add ice cubes to cool your drink and tapioca pearls will add an extra pump of excitement to your drink! If you want to find out more on how to cook your own tapioca pearls, I have written a short recipe on how to cook tapioca pearls in our Hokkaido milk tea recipe.
Is Taro Healthy?
There are many different health benefits to consuming taro root.
Firstly, taro root is rich in fiber, magnesium, vitamin B6, and potassium. The starch content and high fiber are great for controlling blood sugar levels, while decreasing the risk of heart diseases.
For those who are trying to lose weight, taro is great because it keeps people feeling fuller for longer. That being said, if you are trying to lose weight, it is recommended you order this tea without any sugar in it. This will help to decrease the calorie content.
Taro is also a great substitute for potatoes or other high-calorie carbohydrates because taro is naturally lower in calories. Taro is good for digestion and can help to improve poor digestion. Once again, it is important that if you are drinking taro milk tea for the health benefits, you should order your drink without any sugar in it.
For more information on the health benefits of taro milk tea, check out this video below!
FAQs
What Is Taro?
Taro is a root vegetable similar to that of sweet potato that has the texture of potato due to its starchiness. If fried or roasted Taro has a sweet and vanilla flavor profile, similar to that of sweet potato.
What Flavor Goes With Taro?
Taro pairs the best with coconut. If you add taro to plain flavors such as coconut yogurt (or even normal yogurt), it truly enhances the flavor. If you add taro to sweeter dishes, such as mooncakes or pudding, it helps to balance the sugar while adding texture to the dish.
What Does Taro Smell Like?
If taro has been fried or roasted, it smells very similar to that of sweet potato or parsnip. Boiled or mashed taro root is more similar to normal potato prepared in the same way.
What Does Taro Taste Like – Explained!
If you haven’t tried taro milk tea already, hopefully, this description will have compelled you to try this delicious tea! This deliciously nutty, sweet, vanilla-flavored boba is such a treat. And thanks to the (nearly nonexistent) caffeine levels, can be enjoyed at any stage of the day!
Let me know what you think of this tasty drink in the comments, or if you’ve any other additions to the tea I’ve missed out on, I want to hear about it!