Take advantage of juicy, summer sweet peaches and probiotic Yakult with an easy, refreshing drink: Peach Yakult Sago!
One of the best parts of living in Toronto: Ontario peaches.
Juicy. Sweet. Deliciously golden with rosy hues. Truly, there’s nothing better than a ripe, locally grown peach.
Every summer I consume an absurd amount. And now, there’s an even easier way to enjoy them: Peach Yakult Sago!
What is Peach Yakult Sago Drink?
Peach Yakult Sago is an Asian-inspired drink made from fresh peach puree and tangy Yakult. Tiny sago bubbles add a chewy, satisfying element.
Inspired by Boba or Bubble Tea drinks, it’s an easy and cost-effective way to enjoy a fruity summer drink at home.
My kids love this drink. In the hot summer months, I alternate between Korean Strawberry Milk and Peach Yakult Sago. SO good!
The combination of ripe, juicy peaches + fruity Yakult is especially refreshing and delicious!
Ingredients:
- Peaches. Sweet, juicy, ripe, summer fresh peaches are ideal. No need to peel them, as the skin texture isn’t an issue when pureed.
- Yakult. A probiotic yogurt drink made from fermented milk. Tastes like yogurt, but with a fruity, sweet tang. They come in small bottles, stamped with a foil lid.
- Sago. Tiny, plant-based tapioca pearls. When cooked, they turn clear with a squishy, chewy texture. Adds a fun textural element to drinks and desserts.
Instructions:
- Cook sago (tapioca pearls). Add to boiling hot water and cook until the sago turns clear. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Make the peach puree. Using a hand immersion blender or food processor, puree peaches until smooth and thick. Add sugar, if you’d like, to make it sweet enough to your liking.
- Assemble. in a tall glass add sago, peach puree, yakult, water, and ice (optional). Mix with a large straw (a bubble tea straw). Garnish and enjoy!
PRO Tips:
- Use Bubbletea or Boba straws. Extra-thick Bubbletea/Boba straws make Peach Yakult Sago much more enjoyable to drink. Ask for extras when visiting the Bubble Tea shop. Or wash and reuse old straws. They are sturdy and last a long time when washed and dried properly.
- Add sago to boiling water. The tapioca pearls need to be added to rapidly boiling water. The hot water will seal the tiny tapioca so they don’t dissolve. Otherwise, the texture will be gluey.
Helpful Kitchen Tools:
- Hand Immersion Blender. To easily and quickly crush the peaches into a thick, puree. A food processor also works well.
- Fine mesh sieve. For draining and rinsing the sago bubbles.
Make in advance:
Peach Yakult Sago can be made in advance, up to 24 hours. The key is to store the components separately, in tightly sealed containers, in the fridge.
When it’s time to assemble, run the sago tapioca pearls under hot water in a fine mesh sieve. The tapioca balls will be very sticky. When the bubbles have separated, run under cold water to chill.
Assemble as per usual and enjoy!
FAQ:
What is Yakult?
Yakult is a probiotic yogurt drink made from fermented milk. Originally from Korea and Japan, the taste is sweet, fruity, and tangy.
Koreans call it Yo-Gu-Ru-Tu, a Koreanized articulation of “yogurt.”
A popular South Korean drink, it’s enjoyed by children and adults alike. Yakult can be enjoyed plain, as is, or mixed with soju as a popular cocktail.
Yakult gained mainstream popularity and fame in North America from the Netflix movie, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Laura Jean, the half-Korean main character, gives Peter a “yogurt smoothie.” He’s never seen the little bottle topped with foil and stamped with red lettering. Not surprisingly, he loves it.
Where can I buy Yakult?
Yakult is commonly found in Asian supermarkets. The Yakult website even has a convenient store locator on their website.
There are many versions of this probiotic yogurt drink. Although the red Yakult brand is the most recognizable, there are several different Korean brands.
Look for little bottles covered with a foil top. They will be labeled: probiotic Korean drink.
FYI: Yakult freezes well. I store them in the freezer. To defrost, place in the fridge overnight. Or, if you’d like to enjoy in slushy form, leave out at room temperature a few hours before drinking. Chopsticks are helpful to coax the slushy, half frozen Yakult out of the tiny little bottles.
Is Yakult healthy?
Yakult is probiotic and contains gut-healthy bacteria. But the sugar amount is high. The nutritional information labels 1 bottle at 10g sugar per 80ml container.
My Korean American family considered Yakult good for digestion and overall health. The health benefits are negotiable but it’s certainly delicious!
Other refreshing recipes:
Peach Yakult Sago Drink
Equipment
- Hand immersion blender (or food processor)
- Large fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 4 medium ripe, sweet peaches (if using less sweet peaches, add 1-2 Tbsp sugar)
- 1/2 cup small tapioca pearls (see photo below for the brand I use)
- 8 2.7 oz Yakult
Adult-size portion:
- 3 Tbsp cooked tapioca (sago)
- 3 Tbsp peach puree
- 2 2.7oz Yakult
- 1/2 cup water
Kid-size portion:
- 2 Tbsp cooked tapioca (sago)
- 2 Tbsp peach puree
- 1 2.7oz Yakult
- 1/4 cup water
Optional garnish:
- mint
- lime wedges
Instructions
Prep ingredients:
- In a medium saucepan, bring (at least) 4 cups of water to a roiling boil. When you see big bubbles breaking the surface, add tapioca balls. Stir with a spoon so the tapioca doesn't stick to the bottom. Cook until the tapioca is mostly translucent with white centers, about 8-10 minutes. Stir from time to time so the tapioca doesn't stick to the bottom but they shouldn't need constant stirring.
- Drain tapioca into a fine mesh strainer. Immediately rinse with cold water, moving the tapioca around with a spoon to help the cooling process. Set aside.
- Quarter peaches, carefully removing the pits and stems. Add to a tall, narrow container (I use an old yogurt container) and puree until smooth. Set aside.
Assemble drinks:
- In a tall glass, add cooked + cooled tapioca to the bottom. Then add peach puree, Yakult, water, and ice (optional, it will dilute the drink). Mix with a large straw (for example, a bubble tea straw). Garnish, if using, and enjoy!
