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milk tea recipe

How to Make the Perfect Milk Tea: A Step-by-Step Recipe

Milk tea is a delightful and customizable beverage that blends tea with milk, creating a creamy and flavorful drink enjoyed worldwide. In this article, we walk you through a simple milk tea recipe, explaining the essential ingredients and providing step-by-step instructions. Whether you prefer a classic black tea base or want to try a richer variation like brown sugar milk tea or bubble tea, we’ve got you covered. Along with easy instructions, you’ll find tips on how to perfect your milk tea, from adjusting sweetness to experimenting with toppings like tapioca pearls or pudding. Explore the versatility of milk tea and discover how to create your ideal cup at home!

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 1 serving 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 black tea bags (or your preferred type of tea like green tea or oolong)
  • ½ cup of water (for brewing the tea)
  • ½ cup of whole milk (or any plant-based milk like almond milk, oat milk, etc.)
  • 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk (for sweetness, or substitute with honey, sugar, or brown sugar syrup)
  • Ice cubes (optional, for making iced milk tea)

Ingredients for Brown Sugar Milk Tea:

  • ¾ cup water (for the brown sugar syrup)
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar (to make the syrup)
  • ¼ cup dried tapioca pearls (for topping, optional but adds a chewy texture)

Instructions

  1. Brew the Tea:
    • Boil ½ cup of water in a small saucepan.
    • Add the 2 black tea bags (or your chosen tea) to the boiling water.
    • Let the tea steep for 5 minutes to extract a strong flavor.
    • After steeping, remove the tea bags and allow the tea to cool slightly.
  2. Prepare the Milk:
    • While the tea is cooling, pour ½ cup of milk (whole milk or a plant-based alternative) into a separate container.
    • Heat the milk in a small saucepan if you prefer warm milk tea or leave it cold for iced milk tea.
  3. Sweeten the Tea:
    • Stir in 2 tbsp of sweetened condensed milk into the brewed tea. If you like it sweeter, you can add more condensed milk or adjust the sweetness with sugar, honey, or brown sugar syrup.
  4. Combine and Serve:
    • Once the tea and milk are well mixed, add ice cubes to your glass if making iced milk tea.
    • Pour the milk tea mixture over the ice, stir well, and serve immediately.

Instructions for Brown Sugar Milk Tea:

  1. Make the Brown Sugar Syrup:
    • In a small saucepan, combine ¾ cup of water and 3 tbsp of brown sugar.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes until the syrup thickens.
    • Once thickened, remove the syrup from heat and set aside.
  2. Cook the Tapioca Pearls:
    • In a separate pot, bring water to a boil and add ¼ cup of dried tapioca pearls.
    • Let the pearls cook for about 10-15 minutes or until they become soft and chewy.
    • Drain the cooked pearls and add them to the brown sugar syrup, allowing them to soak in the syrup.
  3. Brew the Tea:
    • Brew your tea as per your preference, but make it slightly stronger than usual to balance the sweetness of the brown sugar syrup.
  4. Assemble the Brown Sugar Milk Tea:
    • Add the brown sugar syrup and cooked tapioca pearls into a glass.
    • Fill the glass with ice cubes (if making iced milk tea) and pour the brewed tea over the syrup and pearls.
    • Stir gently to combine and enjoy your sweet and chewy brown sugar milk tea.

Notes

  • Tea Strength: For a stronger flavor, steep the tea bags a little longer (around 6-7 minutes). If you prefer a lighter tea taste, reduce the steeping time to 3-4 minutes.
  • Milk Choices: Feel free to substitute whole milk with almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or any other plant-based milk. These alternatives will slightly change the flavor, but will still provide a creamy base for the tea.
  • Sweeteners: While sweetened condensed milk is traditional for milk tea, you can easily swap it for other sweeteners like honey, sugar, or agave syrup. Adjust the sweetness according to your personal preference.
  • Tapioca Pearls: Tapioca pearls are best when fresh. If you’re using pre-packaged pearls, follow the instructions carefully to ensure they achieve the desired chewy texture. If you’re making bubble tea, you can also experiment with different types of pearls like popping boba or coconut jelly for added variety.
  • Serving Hot vs. Iced: Milk tea can be served hot or cold. If you’re making iced milk tea, add a generous amount of ice to chill the drink. For a hot version, simply skip the ice and enjoy it warm.
  • Storage: Milk tea is best consumed fresh, but you can store it in the fridge for 1-2 days. For the best texture, store the tapioca pearls separately from the milk tea as they may become too soft or mushy after refrigeration.
  • Flavored Variations: Try adding different flavors to your milk tea, like matcha, taro, or lavender. Simply add 1-2 teaspoons of flavoring during the brewing process or stir in a flavored syrup to taste.
  • Customizing Your Drink: Get creative with toppings! Besides tapioca pearls, you can use pudding, coconut jelly, agar jelly, or even red bean paste for an interesting texture and flavor.
  • Author: tearevive
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Beverages
  • Cuisine: Asian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Calories: 220 kcal
  • Sugar: 25 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 35 g
  • Protein: 4 g

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