Copycat Starbucks Joyful Medley Strawberry Milk Tea Recipe

If you’ve ever needed a drink that feels like a soft-spoken celebration in a glass, light, floral, and gently sweet, this Starbucks Joyful Medley Strawberry Milk Tea copycat might just be your new favorite ritual. It’s got that layered look Starbucks Japan made famous: a juicy strawberry fruit layer at the bottom, sweet milk in the middle, and a fragrant Joyful Medley tea base poured on top like a ribbon of soft perfume. You stir it and suddenly, it turns this dreamy pastel pink and tastes like strawberry jam met a holiday tea party.

The first time I had it was on a snowy morning in Osaka, tucked into a corner Starbucks by the train station. I didn’t expect much, just something pink and seasonal, but it hit different. That mix of fruity, floral, and creamy felt like winter dressed up as spring. I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since, and now this homemade version brings it back in every chilled glass.

This copycat Joyful Medley Strawberry Milk Tea is full of real strawberry bits, layered tea fragrance, and a silk-smooth milk finish. It’s easy to build at home, even if you’re nowhere near Japan’s festive drink menu.

How to Make Starbucks Joyful Medley Strawberry Milk Tea

Start by cooking down chopped strawberries with sugar and lemon until they’re glossy and jammy but still chunky. Brew a fragrant tea blend (ideally a Joyful Medley tea bag, but we’ve got a dupe if not). Then shake that tea with milk and sweetener until smooth and pour it slowly over the ice and strawberry base to get those beautiful café layers. Stir before sipping. Starbucks says so.

Nutrition Facts (Per 16 oz serving)

• Calories: 190
• Total Fat: 5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg
• Sodium: 55 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 35 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2 g
  • Sugars: 28 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Calcium: ~15% DV
• Vitamin C: ~30% DV
• Caffeine: ~25–35 mg (depends on tea strength)

Ingredients (1 tall-sized drink, 12–16 oz)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 1

Strawberry Layer

• ½ cup chopped strawberries (fresh or thawed)
• 1½ tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Pinch of salt
• Optional: 1 tsp strawberry jam (for extra gloss)

Tea Base (Joyful Medley-style)

• 1 Joyful Medley tea bag (or use substitute blend below)
• ¾ cup just-boiled water
• Optional substitute:
  • ½ black tea bag
  • ½ jasmine green tea bag
  • Pinch of oolong (or ¼ tsp loose leaf)
  • ¼ tsp apricot jam or 1 small piece of dried apricot

Milk Layer

• ½ cup cold milk (whole milk preferred)
• 2 tbsp half-and-half or cream (optional for extra richness)
• 1 to 2 tbsp simple syrup or sweetener of choice
• Optional: ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Extras

• 1 to 1½ cups ice

Tools You’ll Need

• Small saucepan
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Blender (optional, for super smooth base)
• Tall glass
• Spoon or cocktail shaker
• Straw and long spoon

Instructions

1. Cook the Strawberry Layer
Add strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt to a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 4–5 minutes until the fruit releases its juice and becomes syrupy but not mushy. Stir in jam if using. Let it cool.

Spoon into the bottom of your glass and chill while you make the rest.

2. Brew the Tea
Steep your Joyful Medley tea (or substitute combo) in ¾ cup hot water for 4–5 minutes. If using apricot jam or dried apricot, add while steeping. Remove the bag or strain, then chill the tea.

3. Shake the Milk Layer
In a jar or cocktail shaker, combine the cold tea, milk, half-and-half, sweetener, and vanilla (if using). Shake until slightly frothy.

4. Assemble the Drink
Add ice over the strawberry base. Slowly pour the milk tea over top to keep the layers distinct. Snap a photo if you’re feeling fancy.

5. Stir & Sip
Give it a good stir with a long spoon or straw. Sip slowly. Let the flavors unravel.

What to Serve With Starbucks Joyful Medley Strawberry Milk Tea

This drink has a gentle, fruity charm that pairs beautifully with soft pastries and light snacks. I love serving it with things that match its softness, nothing too sharp or spicy.

Fresh & Light

• Butter cookies or shortbread biscuits – They crumble like a whisper and soak up that creamy tea flavor beautifully.
• Fresh melon cubes or berries – Adds brightness to your snack board and enhances the strawberry.
• Matcha mochi – Earthy, chewy, and mild. It’s like tea and dessert having a quiet conversation.

Cozy & Comforting

• Almond croissant halves – Buttery, flaky, and nutty, they match the richness of the milk without stealing the spotlight.
• Lemon pound cake – Especially chilled. The citrus lifts the floral tea notes even higher.
• Milk bread toast with honey – Soft, warm, slightly sweet. Pure comfort.

Savory Pairings

• Mini ham and cheese sandwiches – That salty, creamy combo helps balance the sweet drink.
• Toasted salted cashews – A good munch in between sips, especially if you’re sipping slow on a sunny afternoon.
• Egg salad tea sandwiches – A little quirky, but somehow delightful next to this mild, floral milk tea.

Variations

Boba Version
Add ¼ cup cooked tapioca pearls before the strawberry layer. Makes it feel like a crossover between Starbucks and your favorite bubble tea shop.

Sparkling Tea Twist
Replace half the milk with sparkling water. It turns into a lightly fizzy strawberry tea soda with a creamy hint.

Extra Creamy
Use sweetened condensed milk instead of half-and-half and simple syrup. It becomes a silky dessert drink, like tres leches in tea form.

Stone Fruit Upgrade
Add a spoonful of apricot or plum preserves to the strawberry base. This mimics the “mirabelle fruit nuance” Starbucks added to the 2025 version in Japan.

Holiday Spiced
A dash of cinnamon or clove (just a pinch!) in the milk layer can make it feel more wintry.

Dairy-Free Version
Use oat milk and coconut cream for a dreamy vegan version. Oat milk is the best match for texture. You won’t miss a thing.

Ingredient Substitutes

Strawberries

• Fresh, frozen, or even freeze-dried rehydrated with a little water and sugar.
• Sub: Raspberries, cherries, or blended strawberry preserves.

Joyful Medley Tea

• Original: Joyful Medley sachet
• Sub: ½ bag black tea + ½ jasmine green tea + pinch of oolong + apricot jam or dried apricot

Milk

• Whole milk gives it the classic creaminess.
• Sub: Oat milk (closest), almond milk (lighter), coconut milk (more tropical)

Sweetener

• Simple syrup works best for cold drinks.
• Sub: Honey (floral), maple syrup (warmer), agave (neutral)

Half-and-Half

• Adds richness.
• Sub: More milk, coconut cream, or sweetened condensed milk for ultra creamy

Apricot Jam

• Gives a hint of stone fruit for a real Joyful Medley vibe.
• Sub: Peach, plum, or skip if using jasmine + oolong combo

Honest Review

After a few tries and a lot of tea-sipping, I can honestly say this version of the Joyful Medley Strawberry Milk Tea lands surprisingly close to the Starbucks original. The layered look? Nailed it. That strawberry base with real chunks? Sweet and just a little tart, like the drink got dressed up for the holidays. The tea blend was the hardest part to mimic, but once I added a hint of apricot to my jasmine-black-oolong combo, the flavor got beautifully close, floral, fruity, and smooth without being too strong.

Is it 100% identical to what you’d get in a Tokyo Starbucks? Probably not. They’ve got access to proprietary tea blends and some serious layering magic. But does this hit that same comforting, delicate, lightly celebratory mood? Absolutely.

If you’re craving something pretty, gently sweet, and more “feel good” than “sugar rush,” this copycat is genuinely worth the effort. Especially on a slow afternoon when you just want to sip something that feels like a personal treat. Honestly, I might like this version even more since I get to tweak the sweetness and creaminess exactly how I like.