Creamy and rich Royal Milk Tea warmly satisfies from the very first sip. You don't have to be a royal to enjoy this decadent tea!
The creamy richness of milk combined with the undeniably malty black tea flavor should come with a warning label. Who could resist this nirvana in a cup? HEAVENS YES!
You might be thinking, why not just make a cup of black tea with milk added to it?
To begin, Royal Milk Tea is made on the stovetop. The process is slightly different than simply adding milk to a standard cup of English Breakfast Tea. It is similar to the method used for making Indian chai, another popular milk tea, minus the spices. Royal Milk Tea calls for more milk than water, giving it a rich full, and creamy flavor.
What is Milk Tea?
Tea with milk is prevalent in almost every tea-drinking country. They each have their variation of milk tea. Royal Milk Tea is the Japanese version.
It's a strong black Assam tea simmered together in a saucepan with whole milk and sugar. The slow simmering thickens the milk creating a rich, creamy tea.
Types of Milk Tea:
You might be familiar with some of these.
- Bubble tea: Taiwanese tea-based drink with sweetened tapioca pearls added.
- Cambric tea: Nursery tea - a sweetened hot-milk beverage with a small amount of tea added.
- Doodh pati chai: Milk, sugar, and tea leaves boiled together. Popular in Nepal, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh
- Hong Kong milk tea: Black tea sweetened with evaporated milk.
- Irani chai: A milk tea made with pure milk mixed with mawa or dry milk.
- Masala chai: A spiced milk tea from India.
- Po Cha: Tibetan yak butter and milk tea.
- Royal milk tea: Japanese tea decocting tea in milk.
- Shahi haleeb: Yemeni milk tea made with condensed or evaporated milk.
- Suutei tsai: A salty Mongolian milk tea.
- Teh tarik: A "pulled" milk tea popular in Malaysia and Singapore.
- Thai tea: A sweet spiced tea made with condensed and powdered milk popular in Southeast Asia.
Homemade Milk Tea
Ingredients:
Milk, black tea, and sugar. Use whole milk for the creamiest texture. You can use 1% or 2% milk, but it won't be as creamy. That’s where you get most of the decadence!
You'll want to start with a lovely malty Assam Indian black loose leaf tea. You can use bagged tea, but a higher grade loose tea tastes better!
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Add cane sugar for a little sweetness and extra flavor. That’s it.
The ingredients in milk tea couldn't be any more natural. Just add the loose black tea to boiled water in a saucepan, steep and add milk, then simmer. Stir now and then, and it’s done. Takes 2 minutes of prep and 2 minutes of steep with 5 minutes simmer time.
Make this decadent Royal Milk Tea on a chilly morning or for a calming nite cap at the end of a long day.
How to Make Milk Tea
Royal Milk Tea is very simple to make at home with this quick and easy recipe.
How to Easily Make Decadent Royal Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon black tea (Assam) heaping - 8 grams
- ¾ cup whole milk
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon cane sugar optional
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a saucepan.
- Add loose tea leaves and steep for 2 -3 minutes.
- Add milk. Bring to a boil and QUICKLY lower heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add sugar and stir to dissolve.
- Pour through a strainer into a teacup.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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Where to Buy Assam Tea
Assam is India’s second most famous tea-growing region. Assam is a low-grown tea producing a bold and brisk astringent cup of tea. Assam teas are from the large leaf Camellia sinensis var assamica and are often very robust. They are well known for their warm malty smoothness.
Because of their rich aroma and malty, robust character, Assam teas make good breakfast teas that go well with milk. Assam teas with golden tips in them are of the finest quality.
- Adagio - Offers the classic black tea from Assam, India from the Meleng Tea Estate.
- The Tea Spot- Offers a bold, malty, organic Assam from the Jalinga Estate — a 3rd generation family-owned estate in Northeast India. Less astringent than traditional Assam.
- Teabox tea- An Indian Tea company offering many different Assam teas. Their Assam Gold Second Flush Black Tea was a Global Tea Championship 2018 winner. This is a fine golden tippy tea from Assam with the sweet, malty, and distinct flavors you expect from an Assam tea.
Here's a little surprise I found although, to be honest, I haven't tried it! But I think it's very popular.
In Japan, Royal Milk Tea is so prominent you can buy it in cans.
Sangaria makes a pre-packaged option of the popular style of Japanese milk tea which is sold on Amazon.
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Hi! I just discovered your blog.. I am passionate about everything on tea!
I’d ask you, can I substitute whole milk with an dairy-free option?
Thank you!:)
Yes, absolutely, you can use any milk or nut milk. They all work in this recipe. The only reason I recommend whole milk is that it gives a fuller mouthfeel.
Hi, Jess... again!
Want to send my thanks (again!) because I just had a second milk tea since you posted your recipe.
I have an important question regarding my own routine. I always take sugar in my tea, but have always used raw sugar. It's simply too pricey, and cane is half the cost, and I noticed that you listed "cane sugar" above.I
I don't want to avoid the taste of brown sugar, and don't enjoy everyday white.
So! Long story short, do you recommend cane sugar for flavored black tea? Thanks again!!
Cheers!!
?☕~jess?☕
Apologies! Correction: I DO want to AVOID the taste of brown sugar.
Cheers!
?☕~jess☕?
Hi Jess, yes I do recommend cane sugar or whatever sweetener YOU enjoy. For black tea, it's just a matter of personal taste.
Heavens yes is right! Perfect recipe.
Thanks so much!! Excellent detail! After much research, I'd yet to find the "proper"method. Now I've got it! I tried this with Harney and Sons "Paris" then "Victorian London Fog." Both were excellent!! I'd definitely recommend using this method for your own personal flavored tea!!
Yes I imagine they would both make an excellent Royal Milk Tea. Glad you enjoyed the recipe.