Bubble Tea Blender / Shaker

The blender (or shaker machine) is used to mix fruit teas, blend smoothie-style drinks, and shake milk teas with ice. It gets used for almost every boba drink we make.

What It Is Used For

Drink Type	Use Case
Fruit teas	Blend fruit puree, tea, ice, and sweetener together
Milk tea (iced)	Shake milk, tea base, ice, and sweetener
Smoothie-style drinks	Blend ice, milk, powder (taro, matcha), and toppings
Slushies	Crush ice with flavored syrup or tea

How to Use

Basic Blending (Fruit Teas, Smoothies)

1. Add ingredients to the blender cup in this order:
   • Liquid base (tea, milk, or water)
   • Sweetener (syrup, honey)
   • Powder or puree (taro, matcha, fruit)
   • Ice (last)
2. Secure the lid. Make sure it clicks or locks in place.
3. Select the speed:
   • Low speed -- for mixing liquids and powders together (no ice crushing)
   • High speed -- for crushing ice and blending smooth
4. Blend for 10-15 seconds on high, or until smooth.
5. Pour into the serving cup. Use a spatula to get everything out.

Shaking (Milk Teas)

If your shop uses a shaker machine instead of (or in addition to) a blender:

1. Add tea base, milk, sweetener, and ice to the shaker cup.
2. Lock the cup into the shaker machine.
3. Run the shaker for one cycle (usually 10-15 seconds).
4. Remove the cup and pour into the serving cup through a strainer if needed.

Ice Amount Matters

Too much ice = drink is watered down and hard to blend. Too little ice = drink is not cold enough. Follow the recipe card for each drink -- the ice amount is specified for a reason.

Speed Settings Guide

Speed	When to Use	Examples
Low	Mixing powders into liquid, gentle blending	Dissolving taro powder, mixing syrups
High	Crushing ice, making smooth blends	Fruit smoothies, slushies, blended drinks
Pulse (if available)	Breaking up large ice chunks before full blend	Start with a few pulses, then switch to high

Check the Lid

Never run the blender without the lid secured. Liquids and ice will spray everywhere. If the blender has a lid sensor, it will not start without the lid -- but still verify it is on tight.

Cleaning

Between Drinks

1. Pour out the drink.
2. Add a splash of clean water to the blender cup.
3. Run on low for 3-5 seconds to rinse.
4. Dump the rinse water.
5. The cup is ready for the next drink.

Quick Rinse Is Essential

Skipping the rinse between drinks means flavor contamination. A mango residue in someone's plain milk tea is not a good experience, and can be an allergen issue.

At Closing

1. Remove the blender cup from the base.
2. Wash the cup, lid, and blade assembly with warm soapy water.
3. Use a brush to clean around the blade -- be careful, blades are sharp.
4. Rinse all parts thoroughly.
5. Let everything air dry on the drying rack.
6. Wipe down the base/motor unit with a damp cloth (never submerge the base in water).

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely Cause	Fix
Blender will not start	Lid not properly seated	Remove and reseat the lid until it clicks
Blender will not start	Not plugged in	Check the power cord
Loud grinding or rattling	Ice jam or foreign object	Stop the blender, remove the cup, clear the jam
Drink is not smooth	Not enough liquid, or too much ice	Add more liquid base and blend again
Motor smells hot	Running too long on a heavy load	Stop, let it rest for 30 seconds, blend in shorter bursts

For persistent problems, see Troubleshooting or contact the manager.

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Last updated: March 2026