Papaya Milk Smoothie Recipe
Creamy, frothy Taiwanese papaya milk made with just 4 ingredients. Learn how to make it taste just like Taiwan’s night market smoothies!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 130 gram ripe papaya peeled, seeds removed, and cut into cubes
- 260 gram unsweetened soy milk or dairy milk
- 80 gram ice cubes about ⅓ cup
- 1 - 2 teaspoons honey or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the papaya: Use a sharp knife (not a peeler) to remove the skin. You’ll want to slice off a bit more deeply than just the surface to make sure you get past the tough outer layer and avoid any bitter green parts. Then cut the fruit in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and dice the flesh into small cubes.
- Into the blender: Add the papaya cubes, milk, ice, and honey to a high-speed blender.
- Blend to smooth & frothy: Blend on high for 1–2 minutes until smooth, creamy, and a little frothy. Make sure there are no small bits of papaya left in the blend.
- Serve cold & immediately: Taste and adjust sweetness if needed. Serve cold and immediately.
Notes
- Ripe papaya is key: Choose papayas that are mostly yellow-orange with a little give when pressed—like a ripe avocado. Avoid ones that are fully green or overly soft with dark spots. The flavor depends entirely on the fruit, so ripeness makes a big difference.
- Papaya-to-milk ratio: Use a 1:2 ratio of papaya to milk. Papaya is naturally thick and creamy, so this ratio gives you a smooth, drinkable texture—especially once ice is added.
- Ice tip: ⅓ cup of ice weighs about 80g. It chills the smoothie without watering it down too much.
- Sweetener: Honey adds a subtle floral flavor, but maple syrup or agave work too. If your papaya is very ripe, you might not need any sweetener at all.
- Milk options:
- Traditional papaya milk uses dairy milk, but it can turn slightly bitter if stored too long due to papaya’s natural enzyme (papain).
- Unsweetened soy milk is the most reliable dairy-free option—it’s creamy, neutral in flavor, and holds up well even after chilling.
- Recommended brands: Eden Foods and West Life.
- Storage & make-ahead:
- For the best flavor and texture, serve immediately or within 30 minutes to 2 hours. If storing, use an airtight glass jar and refrigerate for up to 12–24 hours.
- Papaya’s enzyme will naturally thicken the drink over time. Just give it a good shake and thin with a splash of milk if needed.
- After 24 hours, the texture may separate and develop a dull or “beany” taste (especially with soy milk) so it’s best to drink it fresh.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 443IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 0.4mg