How to Make Milk Tea in 3 Easy Steps

In its simplest form, milk tea is exactly what it sounds like: tea mixed with milk. The potential combinations are endless, but the most common version is black tea and milk, which often gets sweetened with sugar. Milk tea is also used as another name for bubble tea, otherwise known as boba milk tea. Again, boba milk tea is exactly what it sounds like: milk tea with the addition of boba, or tapioca pearls. Boba milk tea originated in Taiwan, but has since become a popular drink around the world. It is known for its sweet flavor, creamy texture, and satisfying, chewy tapioca pearls. There are hot and cold versions of boba milk tea, but it’s mostly known as a cold, refreshing drink. 

Flavor options for milk tea run the gamut from fruity (like mango) to floral (such as rose or chamomile) to warm and toasty (e.g., pumpkin or caramel). However, the most classic milk tea flavor is brown sugar. Keep reading to learn how to make milk tea, with or without boba. 

How to Make Milk Tea

If you don’t have tapioca pearls or don’t want to include them, you don’t have to! You can make brown sugar syrup without adding tapioca pearls. This recipe is designed to yield one large milk tea, but can be scaled up easily to serve more people.

Brown Sugar Milk Tea Recipe

For the milk tea:

• ½ cup water
• 2 black tea bags
• ½ cup whole milk
• Ice cubes
• 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk

For the brown sugar syrup and (optional) boba:

• ¾ cup water
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• ¼ cup dried tapioca pearls

1. Boil water for tea. Add ½ cup of boiling water to a mug with the tea bags, and let steep for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags and let cool completely. Set aside. Your goal here is a strongly flavored black tea concentrate.
2. To make the brown sugar syrup, combine brown sugar and water in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring often until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil, then add tapioca pearls and reduce heat to low. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the syrup has thickened and the tapioca pearls are cooked. Let cool slightly.
3. Transfer the brown sugar syrup and boba to a glass. Add ice, tea, whole milk, and sweetened condensed milk, and gently stir with a spoon to combine the ingredients. The result should be a sweet, creamy, light-colored drink.