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    Home » Recipes » Milk Tea & How to Easily Make Japanese Royal Milk Tea

    Milk Tea & How to Easily Make Japanese Royal Milk Tea

    Published: Jan 16, 2020 · Modified: Feb 6, 2023 by Mary Ann Rollano · 8 Comments I independently review all recommendations. Some links may earn commissions to support this publication.

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Milk tea is creamy and rich. This Royal Milk Tea recipe warmly satisfies from the very first sip. You don't have to be a royal to enjoy this decadent cup of tea!

    milk tea royal milk tea in tea cup and saucer with creamer

    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 wonder, what's different from adding fresh milk to a cup of black brewed tea?

    Royal Milk Tea is made on the stovetop to create this tasty beverage. 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. Each has its variation of milk tea. Royal Milk Tea is the Japanese version.

    The type of tea is important. It's a strong black Assam tea simmered together in a saucepan with whole milk and white sugar so the sugar dissolves. The cooking process involves a slow simmering that thickens the milk creating a rich, creamy tea with a robust flavor.

    Types of Milk Tea Recipes

    You might be familiar with some of these hearty blends:

    • Bubble Tea or Boba Tea: Taiwanese tea-based drink with sweetened chewy tapioca pearls or boba pearls added. Sometimes called pearl milk tea.
    • 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 whole milk powder.
    • Masala chai:  A spiced milk tea from India. Also called a chai latte.
    • 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. The high pour enhances the flavor of the tea.
    • Thai Tea: A sweet spiced tea made with condensed and powdered milk popular in Southeast Asia.

    Homemade Milk Tea Ingredients


    Always use the best high quality ingredients.

    • Milk
    • Black tea
    • Sugar
    • Cold water

    The uniquely delicious drink uses whole milk for the creamiest texture. You can use 1% or 2% milk, non-dairy creamer, or plant-based milk, but it won't be as creamy. Coconut milk will likely change the flavor. Whole milk flavor is 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!

    Related:

    • How To Make The Best Authentic Yogi Tea From Scratch
    • Quick and Easy Homemade Masala Chai
    • How To Make The Best London Fog Drink
    • 10 Best Online Tea Shops

    The best kind of sweetener for this recipe is cane sugar or simple syrup for a little sweetness and extra flavor. That’s it.

    assam tea milk and sugar for royal milk tea

    The ingredients in milk tea couldn't be any more natural. You want to make a strong black tea. Add the loose robust black tea or tea bags to boiled water in a small saucepan, steep and add milk, then simmer on low heat. High heat will burn the milk.

    Stir now and then, and it’s done. Takes two minutes of prep and two minutes of steeping with five minutes of simmer time.

    Make this decadent Royal Milk Tea on a chilly morning or for a calming nightcap at the end of a long day.

    How to Make Milk Tea

    Royal Milk Tea is simple to make at home with this quick and easy recipe. This perfect tea recipe doesn't use too much sugar, and you get a great taste with the addition of milk.

    Recipe

    milk tea in teacup with teapot and flowers

    How to Easily Make Decadent Royal Milk Tea

    Mary Ann Rollano
     Creamy and rich Royal Milk Tea warmly satisfies from the very first sip.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 7 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Japanese
    Servings 1 cup
    Calories 127 kcal

    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

    Use whole milk for a creamier drink. Use Assam loose black tea for a good tea flavor.
    You can also use any flavored black tea such as a chai spiced tea already blended.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @betterwithtea on Instagram and hashtag it #lifeisbetterwithtea

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 6gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 85mgPotassium: 242mgSugar: 13gVitamin A: 296IUCalcium: 207mg
    Keyword Milk Tea, Royal Milk Tea
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    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.

    royal milk tea in a can

    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.


    New To Tea? START HERE >>

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    About Mary Ann Rollano

    Mary Ann is a nurse turned award-winning tea specialist creating recipes and writing stories where tea, wellness, and nature meet. Newsletter

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 5 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Anonymous

      September 07, 2021 at 9:00 am

      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!:)

      Reply
      • Mary Ann Rollano

        September 08, 2021 at 2:24 pm

        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.

        Reply
    2. Jess

      February 01, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      5 stars
      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?☕

      Reply
      • Jess Ricketts

        February 01, 2020 at 5:45 pm

        5 stars
        Apologies! Correction: I DO want to AVOID the taste of brown sugar.
        Cheers!
        ?☕~jess☕?

        Reply
        • Mary Ann Rollano

          February 04, 2020 at 1:25 pm

          Hi Jess, yes I do recommend cane sugar or whatever sweetener YOU enjoy. For black tea, it's just a matter of personal taste.

          Reply
    3. Gail M

      January 22, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      5 stars
      Heavens yes is right! Perfect recipe.

      Reply
    4. Jess

      January 17, 2020 at 7:58 am

      5 stars
      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!!

      Reply
      • Mary Ann Rollano

        January 17, 2020 at 5:28 pm

        Yes I imagine they would both make an excellent Royal Milk Tea. Glad you enjoyed the recipe.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Mary Ann Rollano

    I share my culinary and medicinal tea expertise as an award-winning tea specialist and registered nurse.

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    More about Mary Ann →

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