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    Home » Recipes » How to Easily Make Decadent Royal Milk Tea

    How to Easily Make Decadent Royal Milk Tea

    Published: Jan 16, 2020 · Modified: Sep 9, 2021 by Mary Ann Rollano · 8 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

    106 shares
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    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!

    milk tea in a teacup

    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!

    Related:

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

    Add cane sugar 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. 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.

    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 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 7 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.


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    About Mary Ann Rollano

    Mary Ann is a 3x award-winning tea specialist, nurse, and author of Life Is Better With Tea - introducing tea drinkers to the world of specialty tea, herbs, and wellness. Click here for your FREE Tea Guide.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    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!:)

      Log in to 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.

        Log in to 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?☕

      Log in to 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☕?

        Log in to 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.

          Log in to Reply
    3. Gail M

      January 22, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      5 stars
      Heavens yes is right! Perfect recipe.

      Log in to 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!!

      Log in to 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.

        Log in to Reply

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    Here you will learn to select quality teas and herbs, brew tea properly, and create recipes with tea. I take you on a journey supporting wellness through the beauty of tea.

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