Milk tea is the most comfort drink, especially in winter. For many, it’s an essential part of daily life—imagine how much money is spent on bubble tea globally each year! While store-bought milk tea is delicious, it often contains artificial creamers, which aren’t the healthiest option.
Making milk tea at home is surprisingly easy, and with the right method, you can create flavors that rival your favorite tea shop. Forget simply boiling milk and adding tea bags—I'll show you techniques that enhance the taste and texture for a rich, satisfying experience. Here are five incredible milk tea recipes, including the trendy cheese foam tea!
1. Earl Grey Milk Tea – A Fragrant Twist
After experimenting with different teas, I found that Earl Grey pairs exceptionally well with milk. Its unique citrusy aroma adds a sophisticated depth to the drink, making it even more flavorful than classic black tea milk tea.
Ingredients:
- 2 Earl Grey tea bags
- 1 cup milk
- Sugar to taste
Instructions:
- Heat sugar with a small amount of water in a saucepan until caramelized (for a richer taste). If using a stainless-steel pot, ensure it's thick-bottomed to prevent burning.
- Alternatively, microwave sugar with a few drops of water for about 1 minute, pausing to check for caramelization.
- Pour hot milk over the caramel and stir.
- Steep the tea bags in the hot milk for 2 minutes. Enjoy!
2. Taro Milk Tea – Real Taro Flavor, No Artificial Syrup!
Taro milk tea is a fan favorite, but most store-bought versions rely on artificial flavoring. This homemade version uses real taro for an authentic taste and a creamy texture.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 2 black tea bags
- Taro, diced (preferably Lipu taro for a richer taste)
- Sugar to taste
Instructions:
- Prepare a classic milk tea base, replacing Earl Grey with black tea.
- Steam taro until soft (you should be able to pierce it easily with chopsticks).
- Mash the taro and mix two spoonfuls into the milk tea. Stir well and enjoy!
3. Cheese Foam Milk Tea – Café-Style at Home
Cheese foam milk tea is a viral favorite, and now you can make it easily at home with a thick, velvety cheese topping!
Ingredients:
- 2 black tea bags
- 1 cup milk
- Sugar to taste
- 50g heavy cream
- 50g cream cheese
- 25g milk
Instructions:
- Prepare a cup of milk tea.
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature, then whisk until smooth.
- Add milk and sugar (or sea salt) and mix well.
- Whip in the heavy cream until thick—ideally, it should be creamy enough to coat a spoon but still slowly drip.
- Pour the cheese foam over your milk tea and enjoy!
4. Cheese Foam Black Tea – Simple & Elegant
You don’t always need milk to enjoy cheese foam tea! You can pair it with different teas like jasmine or fruit teas for a refreshing twist.
Ingredients:
- 1 black tea bag
- Pre-made cheese foam (from the recipe above)
- Sugar or honey to taste
Instructions:
- Brew black tea and let it cool slightly.
- Sweeten with sugar or honey.
- Top with the cheese foam for a delightful contrast of flavors!
5. Soy Milk Tea – A Dairy-Free Delight
Soy milk and tea make a surprisingly good pair. Try this with black tea or jasmine tea for a light yet flavorful drink.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup soy milk
- 1 black tea bag
- Sugar or honey to taste
Instructions:
- Brew black tea and sweeten as desired.
- Add soy milk in a 3:1 ratio (soy milk to tea).
- Stir well and enjoy a dairy-free alternative to traditional milk tea!
Tips for making Milk Tea:
Caramelize sugar before adding milk for a deeper, richer flavor.
Customize your cheese foam with matcha, cocoa powder, or crushed Oreos for added texture.
For fruity milk teas, blend freeze-dried fruit into powder and mix it into your milk tea.
Adjust tea strength by adding more tea bags for a stronger taste or fewer for a creamier drink.
Use tea leaves instead of tea bags for a more robust and aromatic brew.
For extra creaminess, replace some milk with light cream (not whipping cream).
With these easy milk tea recipes, you can skip the long lines at tea shops and enjoy high-quality, homemade milk tea anytime.
