Weight Watchers-Friendly Iced Matcha Bubble Tea
Servings: 1
Total Time: 10 minutes (plus tapioca pearls soaking time, if needed)
Ingredients:
For the Iced Matcha:
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder (make sure it’s high-quality matcha for the best flavor)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any other low-fat milk of choice)
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1-2 teaspoons honey, agave, or sugar substitute (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional for added flavor)
- Ice cubes (to fill your glass)
For the Tapioca Pearls (Optional, for bubble tea):
- 1/4 cup dry tapioca pearls
- 1-2 teaspoons honey or sweetener (optional, for sweetening pearls)
- Water (for cooking pearls)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Tapioca Pearls (if using):
- Cook the tapioca pearls according to the package instructions. Generally, you’ll bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the tapioca pearls, and cook them for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once cooked, let them sit for a few minutes.
- After the pearls are cooked, drain them and rinse them under cool water to stop the cooking process.
- If you’d like to sweeten the pearls, toss them in a teaspoon or two of honey or your preferred sweetener and set them aside.
2. Make the Matcha Mixture:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the matcha powder and 1/2 cup of cold water until the matcha is fully dissolved and smooth. You can use a bamboo whisk or a small whisk.
- Add the sweetener to taste. You can also add a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor.
- Once mixed, add the unsweetened almond milk (or your milk choice) to the matcha mixture and stir well.
3. Assemble the Iced Matcha Bubble Tea:
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- If you’re using tapioca pearls, add them to the bottom of the glass.
- Pour the matcha mixture over the ice and pearls.
- Stir the drink to combine everything and chill.
4. Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve immediately with a wide straw to enjoy the tapioca pearls (or without, if you prefer a regular iced matcha drink).
- If you’d like it extra creamy, you can add more milk or even a splash of coconut milk for a tropical twist.
Optional Variations:
- Coconut Matcha Bubble Tea: Use coconut milk in place of almond milk for a richer, creamier texture.
- Sweetener Adjustments: If you prefer a sweeter drink, use more honey, agave, or a sugar substitute of your choice, but keep in mind this may adjust the WW points.
- Iced Matcha Latte: If you prefer a latte version without bubbles, skip the tapioca pearls and enjoy it as a creamy iced matcha latte.
Nutrition (Per Serving – Based on 1 serving with almond milk and without tapioca pearls):
- Calories: 25-40 (depending on sweetener and milk choice)
- Fat: 1-2g
- Carbs: 2-5g
- Protein: 1g
- Sugar: 1-3g
- WW Points: 0-1 points (depending on the sweetener and milk choice)
Note: The tapioca pearls will add extra calories and WW points (approximately 3-4 points for 1/4 cup of cooked tapioca pearls, depending on how you sweeten them).
This Weight Watchers-Friendly Iced Matcha Bubble Tea is a refreshing, guilt-free way to enjoy the classic bubble tea while staying on track with your WW goals. Enjoy the earthy flavor of matcha, the refreshing chill of ice, and the chewy fun of the tapioca pearls!