How to Make a Copycat Raspberry Green Tea with Bubbles

It’s summer here in the Midwest, which means sun, heat, and humidity.

And this summer has, thus far, been hotter than usual.

Although I love iced lattes and cold brew, sometimes I crave something a little different.

Something with a hint of sweetness, a kick of caffeine, and a unique texture.

If you, too, are craving a unique and refreshing summer drink, it’s time for you to check out the epic raspberry green tea with bubbles!

In this post, I’ll give you all the insider information you need to successfully recreate this drink at home.

We’ll cover the basic ingredients, alternative ingredient ideas, and why you should try your hand at becoming a home barista.

Let’s get to it!

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Warning: Mixed-texture drinks pose a choking hazard. Please closely supervise children who are consuming this beverage.

What is the Raspberry Green Tea with Bubbles?

The raspberry green tea with bubbles is a staple of the Caribou Coffee menu during the summer, and the return of bubbles heralds the start of the best part of the year!

This fan favorite drink is an exhilarating blend of creamy raspberry green tea and sweet, coconut coffee-flavored jellies.

This drink is the type of treat that requires both a straw and a spoon to enjoy!

And thanks to the coffee-flavored “bubbles,” coffee drinkers can still quench their thirst for hot bean water.

What’s in a Raspberry Green Tea with Bubbles?

Although this recipe is slightly more involved than other copycat recipes off the Caribou menu, it’s so worth it!

And the simple ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store.

Green Tea

Both green and black teas offer various health benefits, including antioxidants and hormone-balancing properties.

And although this recipe makes use of green tea, it would also be tasty with black tea.

Green tea is naturally caffeinated, so choose a decaf blend if you’re trying to cut back on caffeine. 

My favorite tea brand is The Republic of Tea, but feel free to use whatever is your preference.

Although I haven’t tried it this way, you can also buy Crystal Light or Lipton raspberry green tea powders that would eliminate the need to create your own tea.

Milk

Feel free to use whatever type of milk you have on hand. My preference is a plant-based alternative, namely, oat milk.

But you can use almond milk, coconut milk, or even low-fat milk of the dairy variety.

If you like a thicker mouthfeel, try 2% or even whole milk. 

Again, I’ve found oat milk to be the best substitute for the creamy texture of full-fat dairy milk in most copycat versions of my favorite drinks.

Raspberry Syrup

There are several ways to infuse bold raspberry flavor into this drink.

The first is by using raspberry flavor syrup. My favorite brand is DaVinci, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

If you want to eliminate additives in this drink, you can make your own raspberry flavored simple syrup. 

Combine 1/2 cup cane sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1/4 cup fresh fruit, in this case, raspberries, in a small saucepan. Heat until the sugar dissolves, and pour through a strainer to remove the raspberry seeds.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

You can also make a basic simple syrup recipe and add a hint of raspberry extract once it has cooled.

Coconut Coffee Bubbles

And now for the really fun part of this recipe …. the flavored bubbles!

I use a combination of unflavored gelatin (or agar agar if you’re vegan), sugar, coconut extract, and cold brew coffee.

You can substitute strongly brewed drip coffee or espresso; however, I have found that cold brew has the best flavor profile for this recipe.

And feel free to skip the coconut flavoring per your personal preference.

Note: Depending upon how many bubbles you add per drink, the recipe makes enough bubbles for 4+ drinks.

The raspberry syrup also makes a decently sized batch, so you will have enough for several other drinks.

This recipe was developed for a 10 ounce glass, so you may need to adjust slightly for a larger-sized glass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Raspberry Green Tea with Bubbles a Bubble Tea Recipe?

No. Bubble tea is fruit-flavored tea mixed with milk and containing boba pearls. This tea-based drink contains black tapioca pearls made from tapioca flour rather than gelatin. 

Either is a fun drink to enjoy on a hot summer day!

What are Boba Tapioca Pearls?

Boba is those little round chewy tapioca pearls found in bubble tea. They’re made from tapioca starch and are naturally white.

Food coloring or brown sugar is often added to give them the characteristic black color.

Boba is made by combining tapioca flour and water into a dough which is then boiled.

It’s sometimes heated in caramel syrup to add flavor; otherwise, on their own, boba is more about adding texture than flavor to boba tea drinks.

Is Raspberry Green Tea with Bubbles Vegan-Friendly?

You can substitute plant-based milk, such as soy milk, and agar agar for the gelatin to make this refreshing drink recipe vegan-friendly.

Does a Raspberry Green Tea with Bubbles have Caffeine?

Green tea is naturally caffeinated, so the drink you get at Caribou will have caffeine. One of the perks of becoming a home barista is the ability to completely customize your brew.

In this case, you can swap the regular for decaf green tea. Don’t forget to use decaf coffee for the bubbles!

Check out The Republic of Tea and Bizzy Cold Brew if you need decaf recommendations. 

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What’s the best way to serve this drink?

Caribou offers huge straws to drink their version; however, I have mixed feelings about that due to choking hazards.

I suggest serving this drink in a tall glass and offering both a spoon and a straw.

Use the straw on the refreshing green tea and the spoon on the bubbles!

The drink is sweet enough to be considered dessert, so it’s a great way to top off a nice dinner.

Can you adapt this recipe for different flavors?

Absolutely! Using different fruit syrups, you can make a peach, strawberry, or even mango-flavored drink. 

Final Thoughts

Making custom coffee shop drinks at home is not only fun, but it saves so much money!

Granted, specific recipes take slightly more time than others, but completely controlling the ingredients is worth it in the end.

Please try this recipe, and if you do, leave a comment below!

And if you’re looking for more excellent coffee inspiration, check out a few of my other posts:

• The Best Cold Brew Container for Home Brewing
• How to Make a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew with Caramel
• How to Make an Iced Blonde Vanilla Bean Coconut Latte
• How to Make a Raspberry Chai Tea Latte
• How to Make a Caramel Raspberry Espresso Shaker
• How to Make a Caribou Caramel Espresso Shaker
• How to Make Your Own Dutch Bros Campout Cold Brew
• How to Make Your Own Version of Dutch Bros Cocomo
• Can You Froth Oat Milk? Your Guide to Frothing at Home
• How to Make a Copycat Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew at Home